Attitudinal Change and Traditionalism In The Hindu Family.

This article focuses on attitudinal change and traditionalism in the Hindu Family. In India, at the present time, multidirectional forces of industrialization, urbanization, and socio-educational advancement are affecting various aspects of the traditional Indian society. This article does not purport to take up the task of conceptualization, but it instead suggests a scheme which can be helpful in the study of change in the Hindu family. The analysis points out a rather differential attitude of educated youths of Gujarat regarding various elements of the Hindu family on the traditional-nontraditional continuum. In general, only a few indications of deviation in the hypothesized traditional attitude regarding the Hindu joint family were found among the graduate students of the Gujarat University. Although women, rural-born, and low caste students were more traditional than men, urban-born, and high caste students respectively, women students seemed to be more concerned for equality in family relationships and viewed living in the joint family as a barrier in achieving this end.