NCERT Class 6 Social Science Chapter 9
Family and Community
This chapter explores the concept of family as the basic unit of society and examines different types of families including nuclear and joint families. Students learn about the roles and responsibilities of family members, the importance of community, and how families and communities provide support, transmit values, and maintain cultural traditions. The chapter also discusses changing family structures in modern India.
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Key Terms
- Nuclear Family
- A family unit consisting of parents and their children living together, without other extended family members in the same household.
- Joint Family
- A family structure where multiple generations including grandparents, parents, children, and sometimes uncles and aunts live together and share resources.
- Community
- A group of people living in the same area or sharing common interests, values, or identity, who interact and support each other.
- Socialization
- The process through which individuals learn the values, norms, behaviors, and social skills of their society, primarily through family and community.
- Extended Family
- A family group that includes not just parents and children but also grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a nuclear family and a joint family?▾
A nuclear family consists of only parents and their children living together, while a joint family includes multiple generations (grandparents, parents, children) or multiple related families living under one roof. Joint families share resources, responsibilities, and decision-making.
What are the advantages of a joint family system?▾
Joint families provide emotional support and security, shared financial responsibilities, built-in childcare by grandparents, preservation of family traditions and values, social support during difficulties, and a sense of belonging and identity for all members.
How do families transmit culture and values?▾
Families transmit culture through storytelling and sharing family histories, observing festivals and religious rituals together, practicing traditions and customs, teaching languages and mother tongues, modeling behavior and moral values, and maintaining connections with the broader community.
Why is community important in our lives?▾
Community provides a sense of belonging and identity, mutual support during celebrations and hardships, shared resources and skills, collective action to solve common problems, and the social bonds that make life meaningful. Communities also preserve local culture, traditions, and knowledge.
How are family structures changing in modern India?▾
Modern India is seeing a shift from joint to nuclear families due to urbanization, migration for work and education, changing economic conditions, and evolving social values. However, many families maintain close ties with extended family even while living separately, creating what some call 'modified extended families.'
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