Marriage and Family in Indian Context and Its Changing Patterns

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19. Marriage and Family in Indian Context and Its Changing Patterns

Marriage and family in India represent deeply entrenched social institutions, historically shaped by cultural, religious, and economic factors. In the traditional Indian context, marriage is not merely a union between two individuals but a sacred alliance between families, often arranged to preserve caste, community, and kinship ties. Rooted in ancient texts like the Manusmriti, marriage is viewed as a sacrament (samskara) in Hinduism, emphasizing duties (dharma) over personal choice. Family structures predominantly follow the joint or extended model, where multiple generations cohabit, sharing resources, responsibilities, and authority under a patriarchal head. This system fosters interdependence, elder care, and cultural continuity but often reinforces gender inequalities, with women expected to prioritize homemaking and childbearing. In diverse religious contexts—Islam (nikah as contract), Christianity (monogamous sacrament), and others—variations exist, but endogamy (marrying within caste/religion) remains common. From a Master of Social Work (MSW) lens, these institutions influence social issues like domestic violence, child marriage, and intergenerational conflicts, requiring interventions focused on empowerment and family counseling.

Traditionally, Indian marriages emphasize stability, with low divorce rates (historically under 1%) due to social stigma and legal hurdles under acts like the Hindu Marriage Act (1955), Muslim Personal Law, and Special Marriage Act (1954). Families serve as social safety nets, providing economic support and socialization, but they can perpetuate dowry demands, female subjugation, and honor-based violence. Joint families, comprising 50-60% of households in the 20th century, promoted collective child-rearing and resource pooling, aiding in agrarian economies. However, globalization, urbanization, and economic liberalization since the 1990s have catalyzed profound changes, shifting patterns toward individualism, nuclear families, and diverse relationship forms.

Changing patterns are evident in rising age at first marriage and declining child marriages. In 1992-93, 65.9% of women married before 18, dropping to 23.2% by recent surveys, though child marriage persists in rural areas due to poverty and traditions. The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, aims to raise the minimum age for women to 21, reflecting empowerment trends. Late marriages, now common among urban educated youth (average age 22-25 for women, 26-28 for men), correlate with smaller family sizes, women's education, and career focus. This shift empowers women, reducing fertility rates from 3.4 in 1990s to 2.0 in 2021, but parental pressure for early marriage endures, especially for daughters aged 22-26.

Family structures are evolving from joint to nuclear, with nuclear households rising from 20% in 1990s to over 70% in urban areas by 2025, driven by migration, job mobility, and privacy desires. Urbanization fragments extended families, leading to elder isolation and childcare challenges, but also fosters egalitarian dynamics. Studies show these changes associate with better health outcomes, as nuclear setups reduce conflicts. Globalization introduces Western influences, promoting love marriages (up from 5% to 30% in urban India) and inter-caste/union unions, challenging endogamy. Self-arranged marriages now consider consent, with dating apps facilitating matches beyond traditional networks.

Divorce rates are climbing, signaling marital instability. Urban rates doubled to 2.6% by 2025, exceeding 30% in cities like Delhi and Mumbai, attributed to women's financial independence (more employed women file for divorce), incompatibility, and domestic abuse. Grounds under Hindu law include adultery, cruelty, and desertion. In Kerala, psychosocial and economic factors drive higher rates, impacting mental health. This reflects societal shifts toward individualism, but stigma persists, affecting children and women economically.

Emerging trends include live-in relationships, recognized by courts for rights under the Domestic Violence Act (2005), though socially taboo. Same-sex unions gained traction post-2018 decriminalization of homosexuality, but lack legal marriage recognition despite 2023 Supreme Court petitions. Women's independence has surged, with financial autonomy and sexual assertiveness reshaping roles. Wedding trends lean toward micro-luxury, eco-conscious, and tech-integrated ceremonies, blending tradition with modernity.

These changes stem from education (female literacy at 70%), urbanization (35% population urban), and media exposure, but pose challenges like elder abuse, work-life imbalance, and mental health issues. MSW interventions involve family therapy, anti-dowry campaigns, and support for single parents. Positively, they promote gender equality and smaller, sustainable families, aligning with SDGs. However, rural-urban divides persist, with joint families dominant in villages (60%), perpetuating inequalities. Generational shifts show younger cohorts prioritizing education over early marriage, reducing child brides globally (India hosts one-third).

In conclusion, while traditional marriage and family endure in India, changing patterns reflect a transition toward autonomy, diversity, and equity. This evolution demands adaptive policies like the Uniform Civil Code for secular laws, and MSW efforts to mitigate disruptions, ensuring families remain resilient amid modernizatio