Pre-marital Relationships and the Family in Modern India (original) (raw)
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In this study, we examine love marriage in India, its trends, the diversity of practices across cultural groups and regions and the relation of love marriage with the educational level of parents and parents-in-law. Using data from the second round of the Indian Household and Development Survey (IHDS) in 2011-12, this study contributes to enriching the still limited literature on marriage in India. Moreover, while previous studies on the topic have mostly been descriptive, we adopt a multivariate, multilevel approach at the regional level and focus on the emancipatory role of education with respect to traditional marriage. Although still marginal, we find that the practice of love marriage is increasing and is strongly entrenched in the cultural system based on caste, religion and region. Moreover, the education of mothers and mothers-in-law is positively associated with love marriage. The effect of mother-in-law’s education on love marriage appears to be particularly strong. This f...
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Family and Marriage are the two extremely important institutions of human existence. They have helped in the sustenance and maintenance of society on the one hand, and provided change and dynamism on the other. The adaptability or adjustment of these institutions to the social integration and social change has been a crucial issue to many social thinkers and sociological writings. Given the present state of rapid transformation due to processes of modernization and globalization, family and marriage institutions are witnessing significant changes leading to new trends and patterns. In India, particularly in the northwest region, such changes have several causes and consequences. The economic state of the region, new developments, spread of education, urbanization, expansion of cities, inflow of migrants, impact of media and communication technology, among others; have been important reasons for the recent changes. Impact of these on the structure of the family, intra and inter family relations, kinship networks and community ties, age and gender relations has been critical. The implications and consequences of such changes can be seen in both positive and negative effects on family and marriage. On the positive side there are improvements in education, job opportunities, choices in selecting mate and living of healthy and prosperous life; while on the other side one finds increasing cases of alienation, rising consumerism, declining joint family values, divorce or desertion, increase in suicide rate and violence in family and society. In short, family and marriage as social institutions are witnessing vast changes that need to be captured.