Understanding Indian family life: The gender perspectives Chowdhury Aparajita*, Patnaik Manoj Manjari** *Professor, Post Graduate Department of Home Science, Berhampur University, Odisha, India **Associate Professor, Post Graduate Department of Law, Berhampur University, Odisha, India Online published on 4 September, 2013. Abstract Gender seems to be one of the most powerful variables that influence human development from conception till death especially in Indian society. The life events of an individual born into an Indian family is found to be totally gendered, which results in making the family life ‘heaven’ or ‘hale’. Hence understanding family life from gender perspective is the main aim of this paper, which tries to throw light on the theoretical structure of gender, gender system and gender socialization prevailing in family life. Further, the paper discusses the challenges faced in terms of changing family values and ethos; identity confusion especially on the part of the girls and women; family and work interface, its impact on gender roles and violence within family. The paper concludes by pointing to the fact that the concept of ‘androgyny’ is particularly relevant in the Indian socio-cultural context for a healthy, peaceful and balanced family life. Top Keywords Family life, family and work interface, gender socialization, gender and family violence, identity confusion, androgyny. Top |