Topic: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
1. The economic challenges of the 21st century have been a major influence on the life cycles of joint families. Discuss. (250 words)
Reference: www.un.org
Why the question:
The question is aims to discuss the role of economic factors on the joint families in the society.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss in what way economic challenges of the 21st century have been a major influence on the life cycles of joint families.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
The life cycle of a joint family denotes the different phases that a family goes through. A joint family evolves into a nuclear family, and then goes back to being a joint family. For example, parents and their child live together till the child reaches marriageable age.
Body:
Explain that once the child grows up, he/she leaves home to start his/her own family. At this stage, the joint family evolves into a nuclear family. At a later stage, the old parents might move back in with their son/daughter for various reasons.
Explain the phases of joint family and various factors influencing them.
Discuss in what way economic factors are a bigger influence. The economies of sharing and running a common household make it simpler for extended families to share a living space. By sharing accommodation, members of the same extended family can save their expenditure on rent, which can be quite substantial in big cities. Rising property prices also makes it difficult for people of the lower and working classes to afford a home of their own; which, again, makes a joint family an economic necessity. Hence, though cultural and social perspectives that attached importance to living in a joint family have changed.
Conclusion:
Conclude with your opinion.
