Social Institutions – Solved PYQs of Sociology – UGC NET

Marriage, Family, and Kinship

1. Which one of the following is not an institution? (JUNE 2012)
(A) Marriage
(B) Education
(C) Policing
(D) Pick-pocketing

Correct Answer: (D) Pick-pocketing

In sociology, an institution refers to an established and organized system of social norms, values, roles, and practices that fulfills important functions in society. Institutions provide stability, regulate human behavior, and help maintain social order. They are socially approved and recognized patterns of behavior that persist over time. Major social institutions include family, marriage, education, religion, economy, and political systems.

Marriage is a social institution because it regulates relationships between individuals, defines rights and responsibilities of spouses, and plays an important role in family formation and socialization. Education is also a social institution as it transmits knowledge, skills, cultural values, and social norms from one generation to another. Similarly, policing is associated with the institution of law and social control, helping maintain order, enforce rules, and protect members of society.

Pick-pocketing, on the other hand, is a form of theft and represents deviant behavior rather than an institution. It is not socially approved, does not perform a recognized social function, and lacks the organized normative structure that characterizes institutions. Sociologists distinguish between institutionalized patterns of behavior and acts of deviance. While institutions are supported by society and contribute to social organization, pick-pocketing violates legal and social norms and is treated as a criminal activity within the framework of social control and law enforcement. The distinction between institutional behavior and deviant behavior is a fundamental concept in sociology and is important for understanding how societies maintain order and regulate conduct.

2. The prohibition of sagotra marriage among the Hindus is an example of marriage (JUNE 2012)
(A) Taboo
(B) Clan exogamy
(C) The rules of caste endogamy
(D) The incest taboo

Correct Answer: (B) Clan exogamy

In Hindu society, gotra refers to a lineage or clan traditionally traced to a common ancestor, often a Vedic sage. The rule prohibiting sagotra marriage means that a man and a woman belonging to the same gotra are not permitted to marry each other because they are considered to share a common ancestral origin. This prohibition is a classic example of clan exogamy, a marriage rule that requires individuals to marry outside their own clan or lineage group.

Exogamy is a form of marriage regulation in which a person must choose a spouse from outside a specified social group. In contrast, endogamy requires marriage within a particular group, such as a caste, tribe, religion, or community. Traditional Hindu marriage practices combine both principles: individuals are generally expected to marry within their caste (caste endogamy) while avoiding marriage within their own gotra (clan exogamy). This dual system helps maintain caste boundaries while preventing unions between individuals believed to be closely related by descent.

The option taboo is too broad because it refers generally to social or cultural prohibitions and does not specifically identify the type of marriage rule involved. The rules of caste endogamy are incorrect because sagotra prohibition requires marriage outside the clan rather than within a particular caste group. The incest taboo refers to the prohibition of sexual or marital relations between close biological relatives and is a universal social norm, but the specific sociological classification of the sagotra restriction is clan exogamy. Sociologists and anthropologists studying kinship systems often cite the Hindu gotra system as an important example of how descent groups regulate marriage alliances and maintain social organization through exogamous rules.

3. The concept of ‘Symmetrical Family’ has been propounded by (JUNE 2012)
(A) Young and Willmott
(B) Oakley
(C) Bauman and Smart
(D) Smart

Correct Answer: (A) Young and Willmott

The concept of the Symmetrical Family was developed by Michael Young and Peter Willmott in their influential study of family life in Britain. They introduced this idea in their book “The Symmetrical Family” (1973), where they argued that modern industrial societies were witnessing significant changes in family relationships. According to them, the traditional division of labour between husband and wife was gradually becoming more balanced, leading to a family structure in which both partners shared responsibilities more equally.

A symmetrical family is characterized by a more equal distribution of domestic work, child-rearing responsibilities, decision-making, and leisure activities between spouses. Young and Willmott observed that increasing levels of education, rising living standards, urbanization, and greater employment opportunities for women contributed to this transformation. They suggested that husbands were becoming more involved in household tasks and childcare, while wives were increasingly participating in paid employment outside the home.

The concept emerged as a contrast to the traditional family model in which men were primarily breadwinners and women were responsible for domestic duties. Young and Willmott believed that technological advancements such as household appliances, along with changes in social attitudes, were reducing gender inequalities within the family. Their work became an important contribution to the sociology of family and social change.

Option (B), Ann Oakley, is well known for her feminist critique of the family and argued that domestic labour remained highly unequal despite claims of increasing equality. Options (C) and (D), associated with Bauman and Smart, contributed to contemporary discussions on personal relationships and modernity but did not formulate the concept of the Symmetrical Family. The idea remains a key topic in the sociology of family, particularly in debates concerning changing gender roles, division of labour, and the impact of modernization on household relationships.

4. In an Indian family the parents prepare their daughters to be a good wife/daughter in her in-law’s home, this is an example of (JUNE 2014)
(A) Socialization
(B) Resocialization
(C) Adult socialization
(D) Anticipatory socialization

Correct Answer: (D) Anticipatory socialization

The situation described in the question is an example of anticipatory socialization, a concept developed by Robert K. Merton. Anticipatory socialization refers to the process through which individuals learn and adopt the values, norms, attitudes, and behavior patterns of a group or role that they expect to join in the future. It helps people prepare themselves for new social positions and responsibilities before they actually enter them.

In many Indian families, daughters are often taught household responsibilities, family values, customs, etiquette, and expected behavioral patterns that are considered appropriate for married life. These teachings are aimed at preparing them for their future role as a wife and daughter-in-law in their husband’s family. Since the individual is being trained for a social role that she has not yet assumed, the process fits the concept of anticipatory socialization.

Option (A), socialization, is a broader concept that refers to the lifelong process through which individuals learn the culture of society. While anticipatory socialization is a part of socialization, the question specifically concerns preparation for a future role. Option (B), resocialization, involves discarding previously learned norms and adopting new ones, often in situations involving major life changes such as military training, prisons, or rehabilitation institutions. Option (C), adult socialization, refers to learning new roles and behaviors during adulthood, but it does not specifically emphasize preparation for a future status.

The concept of anticipatory socialization is widely used in sociology to explain how individuals prepare for roles such as becoming a spouse, parent, professional, student, or member of a particular social group. By learning expected behaviors in advance, individuals are better able to adjust to new social environments and role expectations when they eventually enter those positions.

5. The temporary form of marriage found among Muslims is called (JUNE 2014)
(A) Nikah
(B) Muta
(C) Mehar
(D) Purdah

Correct Answer: (B) Muta

Muta is a temporary form of marriage recognized primarily in Shia Islamic law. It is a contractual marriage entered into for a specified period, which may range from a few days to several years, depending on the agreement between the parties involved. At the time of the contract, both the duration of the marriage and the amount of compensation to be paid to the woman are clearly determined. When the agreed period ends, the marriage automatically terminates without the need for a formal divorce.

The term Muta literally means “pleasure” or “enjoyment.” Historically, it emerged in the early period of Islam under specific social and practical circumstances. While it continues to be recognized within certain branches of Shia Islam, it is generally not accepted by the majority of Sunni Muslims, who regard it as invalid and emphasize permanent marriage as the accepted form of marital union.

Option (A), Nikah, refers to the regular and permanent Islamic marriage contract that establishes legal rights and duties between husband and wife. Option (C), Mehar (or Mahr) is the mandatory dower or gift that a husband agrees to provide to his wife as part of the marriage contract. It is a financial right of the wife and an essential component of a valid Muslim marriage. Option (D), Purdah, refers to the practice of seclusion, modesty, or veiling observed in some Muslim societies and is not a form of marriage.

From a sociological perspective, marriage is a socially recognized institution that varies across cultures and religious traditions. The existence of forms such as Muta marriage illustrates the diversity of marital arrangements found in different legal and cultural systems. In the study of family and kinship, Muta is often discussed as a distinctive example of a temporary contractual marriage within the broader framework of Islamic marital practices.

6. Religion, marriage, family, caste are example of (JUNE 2014)
(A) Social values
(B) Social institutions
(C) Social norms
(D) Social segmental division of society

Correct Answer: (B) Social institutions

Religion, marriage, family, and caste are examples of social institutions because they are organized systems of social relationships, norms, values, statuses, and roles that fulfill important functions in society. Social institutions provide established patterns of behavior and regulate various aspects of social life, helping maintain social order and continuity across generations.

In sociology, a social institution is a stable and enduring structure that meets fundamental social needs. The family is responsible for reproduction, socialization of children, emotional support, and care of members. Marriage regulates sexual relationships, legitimizes family formation, and establishes rights and responsibilities between spouses. Religion provides beliefs, moral guidance, rituals, and a sense of collective identity. Caste, particularly in the Indian context, has historically regulated social status, occupation, marriage patterns, and group identity through a structured system of social stratification.

Option (A), social values, refers to shared ideals and standards that people consider desirable, such as honesty, equality, freedom, and respect. While institutions are based on values, they are not themselves values. Option (C), social norms, refers to rules and expectations that guide behavior in society. Norms operate within institutions but are different from institutions themselves. Option (D), social segmental division of society, relates to the division of society into separate groups or segments and does not accurately describe all the examples given in the question.

Classical sociologists such as Émile Durkheim viewed social institutions as essential mechanisms for maintaining social cohesion and collective life. Institutions shape individual behavior, transmit cultural traditions, define social roles, and contribute to the functioning of society. The study of social institutions forms a central part of sociology because they influence nearly every aspect of human interaction, social organization, and cultural continuity.

7. The maintenance provided by the husband to the divorced wife is called (JUNE 2014)
(A) Dower
(B) Mehar
(C) Alimony
(D) Bride price

Correct Answer: (C) Alimony

Alimony refers to the financial support or maintenance that one spouse, usually the husband in traditional legal contexts, is required to provide to the other spouse after divorce or legal separation. The purpose of alimony is to help the financially dependent spouse maintain a reasonable standard of living and meet essential needs following the dissolution of marriage. The amount and duration of alimony are generally determined by legal provisions and may depend on factors such as the income of the spouses, duration of marriage, age, health, and financial dependence.

From a sociological perspective, alimony reflects the recognition that marriage involves not only emotional and social relationships but also economic obligations. Since spouses often contribute differently to family life, particularly through household work and childcare, maintenance provisions seek to address the economic consequences that may arise after divorce. Modern family laws in many countries provide mechanisms for ensuring financial security to divorced spouses who may be economically disadvantaged.

Option (A), Dower, is a property or wealth traditionally brought by a woman into marriage or settled upon her under certain legal systems. Option (B), Mehar (Mahr) is an obligatory payment or gift promised by the husband to the wife at the time of a Muslim marriage contract and is a right of the wife independent of divorce. Option (D), Bride price refers to money, goods, or property transferred by the groom or his family to the bride’s family as part of marriage customs found in various societies.

In the study of family and marriage, concepts such as alimony, dower, mehar, and bride price illustrate the economic dimensions of marital relationships and the ways different societies regulate rights, obligations, and financial exchanges associated with marriage and divorce.

10. When spouses are legally recognised as living in separate households, but are not free to remarry, it is called: (DEC 2014)
(A) Judicial separation
(B) Divorce
(C) Desertion
(D) Marital-termination of spouses

Correct Answer: (A) Judicial separation

Judicial separation is a legal arrangement in which a court permits a married couple to live separately without dissolving the marriage. Under this arrangement, the husband and wife are legally recognized as living apart and are relieved from the obligation of cohabitation, but the marriage itself continues to exist in the eyes of the law. Since the marital bond is not terminated, neither spouse is free to marry another person during the period of judicial separation.

This provision is often used when spouses experience serious marital conflicts but do not wish to seek an immediate divorce. Judicial separation may provide an opportunity for reconciliation while also protecting the legal rights of both parties. Matters relating to maintenance, child custody, and financial responsibilities may be addressed by the court during this period. If reconciliation does not occur, judicial separation may later serve as a basis for seeking divorce under certain legal provisions.

Option (B), divorce, is incorrect because divorce completely dissolves the marriage and restores the legal right of both spouses to remarry. Option (C), desertion, refers to the abandonment of one spouse by the other without reasonable cause and without consent. It is a ground for legal action but is not a legally sanctioned status allowing separate residence. Option (D), marital-termination of spouses, is not a recognized legal term in family law and does not accurately describe the situation mentioned in the question.

In the sociology of marriage and family, judicial separation is viewed as an intermediate legal mechanism between marital cohabitation and divorce. It reflects the effort of legal systems to balance the preservation of marriage with the need to protect individuals from intolerable marital situations. The distinction between judicial separation and divorce is important because the former suspends certain marital obligations while retaining the legal status of marriage, whereas the latter permanently ends the marital relationship and its associated legal ties.