The type of family in which father has highest status in family who controls the social life of family is cal… - ESIC Nursing Officer-7July 2024

ESIC Nursing Officer-7July 2024

Applied Sociology

Easy

Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer-7July 2024

Explanation

The question describes a family where the father has the highest status and controls the social life.
This is the definition of a patriarchal family, where 'patri' refers to the father and 'arch' refers to rule or authority.
In this system, the male head of the family possesses all powers and is the administrator of the family property and rights.

Option B: This is the opposite of what the question describes. In a matriarchal family, the authority rests with the woman as the head of the family.
Option C: This term relates to the residence pattern after marriage, not the power structure within the family.
Option D: This term describes how lineage and inheritance are traced, not who holds the authority in the household.

Visual 1: Infographic - A chart comparing Patriarchal, Matriarchal, Patrilocal, and Patrilineal family systems based on authority, residence, and descent.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Types of Family Structures based on Authority as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding family structure is crucial in community health nursing. It helps in assessing family dynamics, support systems, and decision-making processes, which are vital for patient care and health education.
In a patriarchal family, a nurse may need to involve the father or male head of the household in health decisions concerning his wife or children to ensure compliance and support.
What if? If a nurse is working with a matriarchal family (e.g., from the Khasi community in India), she would need to direct health education and decision-making discussions primarily towards the mother or eldest female to be effective.

How to Approach the Question

First, carefully read the question to identify the core concept being asked. Here, the keywords are 'father', 'highest status', and 'controls', which all point to a power structure.
Next, analyze the options by breaking down the terms. 'Patri-' relates to father, 'Matri-' to mother, '-archal' to rule, '-local' to location, and '-lineal' to lineage.
Evaluate the option 'Patriarchal'. 'Patri' (father) + 'archal' (rule) means 'rule by the father'. This directly matches the description in the question.
Systematically rule out the other options. 'Matriarchal' is the opposite. 'Patrilocal' and 'Patrilineal' describe different aspects of family organization (residence and descent, respectively), not the power structure.
Confirm your choice. The question is about authority, and only 'Patriarchal' and 'Matriarchal' refer to authority structures. Since the question specifies the father, 'Patriarchal' is the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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