Who lives in your home? Only parents and brothers and sisters, or grandparents, uncles and aunts too? Whose lineage do you carry, and who leads the household? In the book's eyes, these three questions are the three ways to sort families.
1. What a family is
The family is the oldest institution of society. The book defines it as a group of people related by blood or marriage, where the adults look after the minors.
The American sociologist R. M. MacIver says: “A small group organized for giving birth and rearing of children is called a family.”
2. Lineage and leadership
A family is classified on three principles: (a) lineage count and leadership, (b) family structure, (c) marital status. Start with the first.
In a patriarchal family the children are known by the father's lineage and the father leads. In a matriarchal family the children are known by the mother's lineage and the mother leads.
Most families in our country are patriarchal. Matriarchal families are found among the Garos and the Khasis in Bangladesh.
spot itlineage and leadership go together
Whose lineage?
Patriarchal. The father's lineage and the father's lead.
Matriarchal. The mother's lineage and the mother's lead.
Both seen. Whoever gives the lineage also leads.
3. Family structure
A nuclear family is made of a mother-father and brothers-sisters, so it is small. In an extended family, grandparents, uncles-aunts and other relatives live together with them, so it is a large family.
Bangladesh has both kinds. At present, though, the number of nuclear families is on the rise.
4. Marital status
The third principle gives three types. Monogamous: one husband, one wife. Polygamous: one husband, several wives. Polyandrous: one wife, many husbands. “Patni” means wife and “pati” means husband. Tap a cell to see.
gridtap a cell
Husbands and wives
family
husbands
wives
monogamous
1
1
polygamous
1
several
polyandrous
several
1
Monogamous. One husband has one wife. Remember: one patni = 1 + 1.
Polygamous. One husband has several wives.
Polyandrous. One wife has many husbands.
In our society most families are monogamous, and a few polygamous families are also seen. Polyandrous families are not seen in Bangladesh.
Now build a family yourself. Choose once on each of the three principles; the family's name builds itself, and tells you whether such a family is seen in Bangladesh.
build a familychoose on three principles
the name comes from the principles
5. Putting it together
Seven names, three principles. Drop each name in the box of the principle it belongs to.
sort themthree principles
By which principle?
Pick up a name, then drop it in a box.
Right. Next one.
Not yet. Ask: is this about lineage and leadership, about who lives together, or about the number of husbands and wives?
All seven in place. Two by lineage and leadership, two by structure, three by marital status.
Now look at Bangladesh. Of these six, only one is absent.
sort themonly one is absent
Families in Bangladesh
Pick up a chip, then drop it in a box.
Right. Next one.
Not yet. Recall which sentence of the book mentions it.
All correct. Polyandrous families are not seen in Bangladesh; all the rest are.
6. Check yourself
Three questions in the exam's style.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 1
Which type of family is seen in Garo society?
That is not the answer: Patriarchal. The book says matriarchal families are seen among the Garos.
Right. The book says matriarchal families are seen among the Garos.
That is not the answer: Secondary. The book says matriarchal families are seen among the Garos.
That is not the answer: Nuclear. The book says matriarchal families are seen among the Garos.
In the second, do not mix up the names.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 2
On the basis of lineage count and leadership, families are-
i. i. patriarchal ii. ii. extended iii. iii. matriarchal
This combination does not match; the true statements are i and iii. By lineage and leadership: patriarchal and matriarchal; extended is by family structure.
Right. By lineage and leadership: patriarchal and matriarchal; extended is by family structure.
This combination does not match; the true statements are i and iii. By lineage and leadership: patriarchal and matriarchal; extended is by family structure.
This combination does not match; the true statements are i and iii. By lineage and leadership: patriarchal and matriarchal; extended is by family structure.
The last follows the book's sentence.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 3
Shimul's classmate is Kanta. Shimul's family is run under his father's leadership. But Kanta's family is run under her mother's leadership. What type of family is Shimul's family?
Right. Lineage and leadership with the father means a patriarchal family.
That is not the answer: Matriarchal. Lineage and leadership with the father means a patriarchal family.
That is not the answer: Nuclear. Lineage and leadership with the father means a patriarchal family.
That is not the answer: Extended. Lineage and leadership with the father means a patriarchal family.
The whole note on seven cards.
cut from the notetap to turn over
Seven cards
QuestionWhat is a family, according to the book's definition?
AnswerA group of people related by blood or marriage where the adults look after the minors.
QuestionOn which three principles is the classification of family based?
AnswerLineage count and leadership, family structure, and marital status.
QuestionIn a patriarchal family, whose lineage do children take and who leads?
AnswerThe father's lineage; the father leads.
QuestionAmong which groups are matriarchal families seen in Bangladesh (Bangla version)?
AnswerAmong the Garos and Khasis.
QuestionWhich type of family is on the rise in Bangladesh at present?
AnswerNuclear families.
QuestionIn a polyandrous family, who has how many partners?
AnswerOne wife has many husbands.
QuestionWhich marital-status type of family is not seen in Bangladesh?
AnswerThe polyandrous family.
Source: Civics and Citizenship, Classes 9-10 (NCTB), Chapter 1 “Civics and Citizenship”, the “Family and Classification of Family” part.