ABSTRACT
The two key contributions of this chapter are - the problematization of individualism in the contemporary family context, and a comparative perspective of the journeys of the discipline in Indian and the Western contexts. As part of the former contribution, the chapter covers two interlinked debates i.e., 1) the debate on nuclear vs. joint family including their association with certain variables, and 2) about the nature of value orientations in Indian families i.e. familism vs. individualism, and their implications. Regarding the latter, an attempt is made to analyze the developmental shifts the discipline of family studies has gone through in India and in the West, especially US, starting from early 1920s in order to understand the differences in shifts, and relationship between family structures and family value orientations. The chapter concludes with a critical reflection of the observed trends and suggestions for future research in family studies.
