Family is the basic and universal social structure of human society. It fulfill
requirements or desires and performs functions, which are obligatory for the
stability, integration and transformation in the social system (Badiger, 2015). The
Merriam-Webster dictionary (2016) defines "Family is a fundamental social
group which typically consists of one or two parents and their children." The forms
and functions of family have undergone adaptive changes in the scientific and
economic structure of the current civilization. It determines the growth and
development of individuals, in that; it is a major basis of nurturance, expressive
attachment and socialization (Bahadur & Dhawan, 2008). One of the most
prominent feature of modern societies is the occurrence of a range of family
variations, from the most customary, extended families with strict, gender based sex
roles to the modern dual occupation families based on liberal, equal sex roles and to
adults cohabiting without marriage. The term "alternative family patterns" suggests
those family patterns that result from personal situation outside one's control (death
of a partner, infertility) or from socio-economic conditions (male migration, work
participation of women). In Indian context, most family variations are a result of
personal or socio-economic circumstances. Experimental or selected lifestyles like
living without marrying, and being childless willingly are restricted to a
tremendously small group of people. These types of life styles are generally seen in
western societies. Rather, the most commonly observed family variations in India
include single parent families, female headed households, dual earner career
families, childless families and adoptive families (Mishra et al., 2012; Joseph &
James, 2017.
