manipur
Family system and there structure
The family structure in Manipur has undergone and is undergoing a great many changes. In the 1950s and 1960s, most of the parents had more than 5 children, some even going beyond 10. Though child marriage was not common nor known in Manipur, a majority of the young population got married quite early in life (early by today’s standards). The normal age for boys for marriage was usually 20 years and above. For girls, the marriageable age used to range from 15 to 19 years. Marriage at a young age was an important contributor to having many children in the 50s and 60s of Manipuri society.
Family planning was not known or almost absent in the earlier days. There was a strong belief that children were the gifts of God. As such, men had no power to limit the number of children. The family was patriarchal in structure and the senior most male member was usually the head of the family. Sometimes, when the senior most member of the family happened to be a female, may that be a widow, the female headed the family without any societal deterrence. The Manipuri society in this matter can be said to be very liberal and progressive. A majority of the families were joint family systems. Members of the joint family were governed by a code of conduct mainly implemented by the senior most female member of the family. Discipline amongst the members of the family were strictly governed based on a senior and junior relationship, the old and the young. Even the language used in addressing one another was based on the elder and the younger relationship. Like other patriarchal societies, the parents commonly preferred sons to daughters. Compared to other patriarchal societies of India, the preference can be said to be of a lesser extent. In Manipuri society, daughters were also equally welcomed by the parents. Love and affection amongst the members of the family, close bonding among the cousins born of the same siblings (especially cousins born of
The family structure in Manipur has undergone and is undergoing a great many changes. In the 1950s and 1960s, most of the parents had more than 5 children, some even going beyond 10. Though child marriage was not common nor known in Manipur, a majority of the young population got married quite early in life (early by today’s standards). The normal age for boys for marriage was usually 20 years and above. For girls, the marriageable age used to range from 15 to 19 years. Marriage at a young age was an important contributor to having many children in the 50s and 60s of Manipuri society.
Family planning was not known or almost absent in the earlier days. There was a strong belief that children were the gifts of God. As such, men had no power to limit the number of children. The family was patriarchal in structure and the senior most male member was usually the head of the family. Sometimes, when the senior most member of the family happened to be a female, may that be a widow, the female headed the family without any societal deterrence. The Manipuri society in this matter can be said to be very liberal and progressive. A majority of the families were joint family systems. Members of the joint family were governed by a code of conduct mainly implemented by the senior most female member of the family. Discipline amongst the members of the family were strictly governed based on a senior and junior relationship, the old and the young. Even the language used in addressing one another was based on the elder and the younger relationship. Like other patriarchal societies, the parents commonly preferred sons to daughters. Compared to other patriarchal societies of India, the preference can be said to be of a lesser extent. In Manipuri society, daughters were also equally welcomed by the parents. Love and affection amongst the members of the family, close bonding among the cousins born of the same siblings (especially cousins born of