Re: So much for bashing....
Let me elaborate a bit.
First of all, there are 2 types of joint family system. Type 1 where you live with only parents and Type 2 where you're living with your husbands other family members too like brothers and their wives (devranis, jethanis). Type 2 is something I can never deal with. Type 1 can still be considered if my husband happens to be the only son and is solely responsible and the parents are in need of supervision.
I think everyone should take care of their parents, NOT just the son and daughter inlaw.
If my parents are ever in such a situation, I would do everything I can and not expect my brothers and their wives only to take care of them. Sometimes it's more convinient for the daughter to keep her parents than it is for the son.
My grandmother is suffering from Alzheimers disease and has severe dementia so obviously she cannot live on her own. All my aunts and uncles take turn taking care of her, not just her sons. Sometimes she stays at her daughters house and sometimes with my uncles. Thats how it should be. It's not fair to put all the responsibility on the son and daughter in law.
If my parents in law have no such medical condition and can live quite independently, then I really don't see any reason why I should be living in their house. This is why I wouldn't marry someone in the first place who expects me to be living in this kind of a household.
I am not judging anyone who wants to live in such a sytem, I just don't think it's right for me and I prefer living independently from parents and niether do I want my future kids to live with me once they are old enough to settle down.