Joking Relationships

Within the traditional Hindu joint family,
the types of relationships within a single
generation differ markedly according to
family status, particularly among the
family’s adult brothers and their wives.
As the eventual head of the family, the
oldest brother is usually portrayed as a
serious and grave authority figure,
toward whom everyone must act with
respect. The eldest brother’s wife is also
given considerable respect, but she is
also said to share a “joking relationship”
with her husband’s younger brothers, as
do all wives with their husband’s
younger brothers. Whereas women are
expected to behave decorously toward
relatives with higher status, joking relationships have much greater freedom of
expression. These are usually characterized as full of banter and casual conversation that would be inappropriate with
a person of higher status.