The Impact Of Contemporary Family Dynamics On Indian Family
- IJLLR Journal
- 28 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Sineha. S, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan University, School of Law, Samayapuram, Trichy
ABSTRACT
In recent years, Indian families have begun to look very different from the traditional models that shaped society for generations. Instead of the familiar joint family structure or clearly defined gender roles, we now see a growing number of nuclear families, working couples, single parents, live-in partners, blended families, and newer forms of parenthood made possible through technology, such as IVF and surrogacy. These shifting patterns reflect a society that is becoming more urban, more independent, and more accepting of individual choices. Yet, while families evolve, the law has not always kept at pace.
Indian family law continues to rely heavily on older personal laws and social assumptions that were created for a very different era ,where families were expected to follow traditional norms, marriages are the central basis of family life, and gender roles were sharply divided.
Because of this, many modern family situations do not fit into the existing legal framework. Issues like the rights of partners in live-in relationships, the legal status of children born outside marriage, custody in blended families, inheritance rights in non-traditional households, and protection for LGBTQ+ families plays significant gaps in the law.
This study explores how contemporary family dynamics are reshaping the expectations and demands placed on Indian family law. It examines the ways in which changing social values, evolving relationship patterns, and new forms of parenthood challenge traditional legal principles. It also looks at how courts are attempting to bridge these gaps and how inconsistencies across personal laws create unequal outcomes for different families. Ultimately, this research highlights the urgent need for legal reforms that recognise the realities of modern family life and ensure fairness, dignity, and protection for all individual regardless of the form their family takes.
Keywords: non-traditional family, LGBTQ+, contemporary family dynamics, traditional legal principles.
