Patrilineal solidarity, resource sharing, and gender roles in the contemporary Indian family: comparing salaried workers and business owners in middle-class Delhi

In North India, family solidarity has traditionally been structured exclusively along patrilineal lines, with old-age support expected to come solely from sons and multigenerational households being typically patrilocal. Among the urban middle classes, this model appears to be changing, though not in a uniform manner. This study investigates the hypothesis that salaried households are moving away from intergenerational dependence more rapidly than their self-employed counterparts, particularly business owners, while also beginning to adopt elements of matrilineal solidarity. To develop this comparative analysis, we draw primarily on qualitative data collected from 30 upper-middle-class households in Delhi, supplemented by statistical evidence from the India Human Development Survey. The analysis unfolds in two stages. We begin by examining whether current practices and expectations relating to patrilineal family solidarity really differ between salaried and self-employed households. Our findings having confirmed that traditional norms and behaviors are persisting more strongly among self-employed families, we then explore the underlying factors driving this divergence. Specifically, we analyze how shared financial resources are generated and managed within households in each group, focusing on the contributions of female family members. This reveals crucial dynamics that can either sustain or challenge the traditional, male-centered model of family solidarity.