Living Apart Together – New Form of Family | UPSC Sociology Optional
July 8, 2024
Marriage between two individuals is considered to be one of the most sacred bonds within the Indian family system. With the rise of globalisation, a considerable number of married couples are opting to live apart from each other post marriage.
How LAT emerged:
- Anthony Giddens – The Transformation of Intimacy: Giddens introduces the concept of the “pure relationship,” which is characterized by individuals seeking mutual satisfaction and personal growth within a relationship. The pure relationship is based on emotional communication, trust, and shared experiences.In LAT relationships, the decision to live apart can be seen as a manifestation of the pursuit of individual autonomy and personal fulfillment, aligning with Giddens’ notion of the pure relationship.
- Fuller and Narasimhan (2013) suggest that in post-liberalisation India and with the emergence of modern professions such as the IT, middle-class women had more control over their lives and also bargain for more equality within the marriage system.
- The present study demonstrates that with the rise in educational levels and lucrative career opportunities, neither partner is willing to change base post marriage – this being a deviation from the normative structure. Even those respondents who have children do not plan to relocate and sacrifice their education or job
Sociological Analysis of LAT
- Impact of Patriarchy on LAT: There is a constant pressure on the female partner to quit her job or education and shift in with her husband or in-laws. Despite high rates of urbanisation, globalisation and modernisation, patriarchal structures continue to remain embedded in the Indian family system. Thus, it may be suggested that Indian parents find it difficult to accept the concept of LAT and as a result reinforce restrictive gender norms.
- Traditional living arrangements cannot be denied. According to Grover, middle-class women in India are challenging the sanctity of the Hindu marriage and in the process they are receiving support from their natal kin
- Goffman’s dramaturgical approach to social interaction is also relevant in the context of LAT relationships. LAT partners use technology to selectively share information. This may include showcasing achievements, experiences, or aspects of their daily lives.
- Traditional Family and LAT: The findings of the present study by Jagriti Gangopadhyay highlight that parents play a key role in the smooth functioning of LAT as a new living arrangement. It suggests that for the continuity of LAT, traditional familial structures, such as parental support in the form of grandparenting are also essential. In contrast to Giddens’s argument that with the advent of globalisation, all traditional norms would be replaced, the findings of this study suggest that for the sustenance of a new familial form such as LAT, which is an outcome of individual choice, the relevance of traditional living arrangements cannot be denied. According to Grover, middle-class women in India are challenging the sanctity of the Hindu marriage and in the process they are receiving support from their natal kin
- Technology and LAT: Technology aids these couples in remaining connected virtually and sharing their emotional moments via phone or video calls aligning with Giddens’ idea of relationships based on emotional communication.
- Division of Labour and LAT: LATs are more expensive as two separate establishments have to be maintained. Additionally, there is no division of household chores and there is no daily comfort of companionship offered by marriage and thus can be inferred that it is affordable mostly to upper-middle-class couples in urban India.
UPSC Sociology Optional – Practice Question
Socio-Discourse*
1. How do societal norms and expectations influence the acceptance or stigmatization of Living Apart Together relationships?
2. To what extent do economic factors, such as housing costs and job opportunities, influence the choice to engage in a Living Apart Together relationship?
