Vocabulary Tricks Part 21: The Joint Family System

In earlier times, the joint family system was prevalent. Setup of the society was patriarchal. Male member was the head of the family. His wife, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren used to stay together. However, with a passage of time, joint families disintegrated.
People these days migrate to cities for jobs. So, nuclear families have become the order of the day. Due to escalating prices and less space for accommodation, people find it difficult to accommodate their parents in their houses.
Media is also responsible for the disintegration of the joint families. Media portrays the wrong image of mother-in-law. It also shows tyrannical hold of elders in the family.
Young people crave for independence, privacy and affluence. So, they prefer nuclear family. As a result, grandparents are bereft of the love of their grandchildren. Children are also left rudderless.
There is a need that young people should empathize with their old parents.

WORDS WITH MEANING AND ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

Patriarchal

Meaning: Relating to or denoting a system of society or government controlled by men
Example: Previously, all western religions, had been rigidly patriarchal.

Disintegrated

Meaning: Break up into small parts
Example: The front of the car had disintegrated.
Synonyms: fall apart, fall to pieces, fall to bits, fragment

Escalating

Meaning: Increase rapidly
Example: The price of tickets escalated.
Synonyms: soar, rocket, shoot up, mount, surge, spiral

Portray

Meaning: Describe (someone or something) in a particular way.
Example: Media portrays young people as lazy and disrespectful.
Synonyms: sketch, depict, represent, illustrate, present, show, render

Tyrannical

Meaning: oppressive and controlling.
Example: His father has a tyrannical hold over the household.
Synonyms: dictatorial, despotic, autocratic

Crave

Meaning: Feel a powerful desire for (something)
Example: Human beings crave love, acceptance and security.
Synonyms: long for, yearn for, hunger for, thirst for, dream of, aspire to

Affluence

Meaning: The state of having a great deal of money; wealth.
Example: This is a sign of our growing affluence.
Synonyms: prosperity, opulence, fortune, richness, luxury

Bereft

Meaning: Deprived of or lacking.
Example: Her room was bereft of colour.
Synonyms: robbed of, denuded of

Rudderless

Meaning: Lacking a clear sense of one's aims or principles.
Example: Today's leadership is rudderless

Empathize

Meaning: Understand and share the feelings of another.
Example: Counsellors need to be able to empathise with people.
Synonyms: identity, be in tune, have a rapport, feel togetherness