Nighat Iqbal, Muhammad Shamim, Zubaida Zain, Muhammad Jawad Anwar, Ali Afzal, Fizzah Iqbal, Abdul Bari, Iqbal Mughal.
Attitude of Married Ladies towards Joint Family System.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;13(1):43-8.

Background: In the recent years there are many marital strains which pertain to partner choice, parent child conflictor domestic violence. It has been observed that living in a joint family system has much influence on these issues. In different societies at different timings there is variable approach about joint family system. Aims: To assess the changes in values of the society and the attitude of married ladies towards joint family system Methods: Study design: Cross-sectional study Setting: Central Park Medical College, Lahore. Sample Size: 30 married ladies were included in the study belonged to various locations of city of Lahore. Results: The study included 30 married females ranging between 22-45 years of age with mean age 32.40+/-7.24. The majority (53%) belonged to joint families, maximum participants (33%) were in income group from 20001/- to 30000/-, sixty percent were on job, 40% were married within 5 years, 56% were well educated, 26% were living in joint families and the same number in nuclear families during past 5 years. In 56% families the number of family members was 5-8. In 56% families the number of children ranged from 1-3. Most of the participants were of the opinion that there are some good points in joint family system like facilitation in children brought up (60%), better moral learning (66%), better children care (76%), sharing in expenses (50%) opportunity of saving (53%), given value to their opinions (66%) and ranked life better in nuclear style of living (70%). However some negative points in joint family system were also highlighted like, incidence of more conflicts and disputes (83%), interference from others (53%), more stress in joint families (66%), chances of exposure (56%), adverse effects on budget (70%), lack of independence (56%), insufficient time spending with husband (60%). Conclusions: The majority has liked nuclear system of living. However, many people have appreciated the positive aspects of joint family system like supporting attitude among the family members. Therefore society still finds a place for joint family system. It has come out that education plays an important role in minimizing the negative factors of the joint family system. It is recommended that public awareness should be enhanced to look after the rights of others particularly of women in Islamic and legal perspective.

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