The Impact of Capitalism on Family Transition in Nepal

Table of Contents

CHAPTER- I INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

1.2 Statement of problem

1.3 Objective of the study

1.4 Significance of the study

1.4.1 Theoretical significance

1.4.2 Empirical significance

1.5 Organization of the study

CHAPTER- II LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Definition of the Family

2.1.1 Types of Family

2.2 Family transition in world

2.3 Family Transition in Asia

2.4 Family Transition in South Asia

2.5 Family Transition in Nepal

CHAPTER-III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Rational of the site selections

3.2 Research Design

3.3 Nature and Source of data

3.4 Universeand Sampling

3.5 Technique of Data collection

3.5.1 Structure /semi structure interview

3.5.2 Case study

3.6 Presentation and analysis of data

3.7 Limitation of the study

CHAPTER- IV DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION

4.1 General feature of the respondents

4.1.1 Age of the respondents

4.1.2 Religion of the respondents

4.1.3 Marital status of respondents

4.1.4 Gender of the respondents

4.1.5 Caste of the respondents

4.1.6 Education status of the respondents

4.1.7 Occupation of the respondents

4.1.8 Family members at home

4.1.9 Migrant family members

4.2 Types of family in past and present

4.2.1 Type of family in the past

4.2.2 Type of family in the present

4.2.3 Mode of production and family types in the past

4.2.4 Mode of production and family types in the present

4.2.5 Reason to be extended / joint family in the past

4.2.6 Changing factors to bring change in nuclear family

4.3 The role of capitalism to bring the change in the family

4.3.1 Changing factors of family

4.3.2 Role of job to bring change in the family

4.3.3 Role of education to bring change in the family

4.3.4 Role of migration to bring change in the family:

4.3.5 Role of business to bring change in the family

4.3.6 Role of late marriage to bring change in the family

4.3.7 Role of family separation to bring change in the family

4.3.8 Role of marriage to bring change in the family

4.3.9 Role of foreign employment to bring change in the family

4.3.10 Role of wage labour to bring change in the family

4.3.11 Role of agriculture to bring change in the family

CHAPTER- V SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

5.1. Summary

5.2. Conclusion

Research Objectives and Thematic Focus

This study aims to investigate the impact of capitalism on family structure within the Malika Rural Municipality of the Gulmi District in Nepal. The primary research objective is to determine how capitalist modes of production, such as wage labor, business, and foreign employment, have contributed to the transition of traditional extended and joint families into nuclear family units.

• The historical versus contemporary shift in family types.
• The influence of capitalist modes of production on household composition.
• Local cultural factors, such as traditional marriage and family separation, as catalysts for change.
• The role of migration and foreign employment in reshaping kinship networks.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

CHAPTER- I INTRODUCTION: Defines the core concepts of family transition and outlines the study's relevance and structural organization within the Nepalese context.

CHAPTER- II LITERATURE REVIEW: Provides a comprehensive overview of global, Asian, and Nepalese perspectives on family structures and the drivers of their transition from extended to nuclear forms.

CHAPTER-III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: Details the explanatory and descriptive research design, data collection methods including surveys and case studies, and the limitations of the small-scale field study.

CHAPTER- IV DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION: Presents the empirical findings concerning respondent demographics and the correlation between capitalist modes of production and present-day family structures.

CHAPTER- V SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: Synthesizes the main findings and reaffirms that capitalist integration is a primary driver of the shift toward nuclear family units in the studied region.

Keywords

Capitalism, Family Transition, Nepal, Malika Rural Municipality, Nuclear Family, Joint Family, Extended Family, Mode of Production, Rural Development, Migration, Social Change, Agricultural Economy, Wage Labor, Sociological Study, Kinship Structure

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary goal of this research?

The core objective is to analyze the impact of capitalist modes of production on the transition of family structures from traditional extended or joint models to modern nuclear configurations in the Malika Rural Municipality of Nepal.

What are the main thematic areas of the study?

The study examines historical and present family types, the role of capitalist factors like foreign employment and industrial labor, and the influence of cultural variables such as marriage and land division.

How is the research conducted?

The researcher employs a sociological approach using both quantitative and qualitative data gathered through structured and semi-structured interviews with 60 household heads in the Malika Rural Municipality.

What is the theoretical contribution of the study?

It links Marxian infrastructure theory (mode of production determines social superstructure) to family dynamics to explain why economic changes necessitate shifts in household size and structure.

What does the study cover in its main sections?

The work covers theoretical frameworks of family sociology, evidence of change in both global and Asian contexts, original field data from Nepal, and case studies detailing how families have adapted to new economic realities.

Which keywords characterize the research?

Key terms include capitalism, family transition, rural Nepal, nuclear family, social mobility, modes of production, and intergenerational co-residence.

Is the transition toward nuclear, independent families absolute in the study area?

Not entirely. While capitalism drives a shift toward nuclear households, the study notes that traditional culture and agricultural reliance maintain the existence of joint and extended family structures as a strategic or necessary choice for some households.

How does migration shape family life in the study region?

Migration, particularly foreign employment of sons, acts as a major capitalist driver. It often reduces the number of family members living under one roof but creates complex, split-household dynamics as individuals send remittances to stay connected to their rural roots.