UNIT 5 FAMILY

Structure
5.0 Objectives
5.1 Introduction
1 5.2 Definition of Family
I 5.2.1 Family as an Institution
5.2.2 Variations in Family Forms
5.2.3 Universal Nature of Family
5.2.4 Biological Basis of the Family
5.2.5 Common Residence and Nomenclature
5.3 Social Functions of the Family
5.4 Role of Family in Industrial Society
5.4.1 Importance of Family
5.5 LetUsSumUp
5.6 Key words
5.7 Further Readings
5.8 Model Answers to Check Your Progress

A study of this unit would enable you to:

define the term family;
explain the concept of family as one of the social institutions of society;
describe the various forms of family;
explain the nature and characteristics of family;
distinguish the social functions of family; and
describe the role of family in contemporary modern society.

5.1 INTRODUCTION
In the previous units, in Block 1 , we have taught you some basic concepts. We also
gave a good idea about simple and complex societies. In this unit we introduce you to
the definition of the family, family as a social institution and variations in the family
form. We also explain the biological basis of the family. Important features such as
social functions of the family, roles and the importance of the family in industrial
society are also brought out in this unit.
The basic unit of the social structure in every society is the family. This is as true
among simple societies as within the complex, modem societies. However, it varies in
internal organisation, in its degree of autonomy and in the sanctions and taboos by
which it is protected and perpetuated. Its universality, its persistence through time and
under widely variant cultures, and its necessity for biological and social reasons should
be an effective reply to the 'prophets of doom' who fear that the family is of less
significance today than in earlier times. The specific pattern of family life in any given
social structure is the product of the mores and varies with time and place and peoples.
Therefore, the family has been seen as a universal social institution, as an inevitable
part of human society. It is built around the needs of human beings to regularise
sexual behaviour and protect and nurture the young ones.
Croups and lnstittttions It is the unit in which resources are pooled and distributed for consumption, around
which residence is organised and domestic tasks are performed. The social organisation
is associated with such emotive issues as love, marriage, home and child bearing. It is
the family that gives us our principal identity our social status and even our very name,
which is the lable ofthis identity in the larger society ofwhich we are a part. This unit
will give you an idea about the family as a social institution, the discussion will be kept
at a sociological level.

5.2 DEFINITION OF FAMILY

The early.and classical definitions emphasised that the family was a group based on
marriage, common residence, emotional bonds, and stipulation of domestic services.
The family has also been defined as group based on marital relations, rights and duties
of parenthood, common habitation and reciprocal relations between parents and children.
Some sociologists feel that the family is a social group characterised by common
residence, economic co-operation and reproduction.
In recent times the concept of family is viewed in terms of certain criteria applicable to1
all societies. For instance, it is felt that the family is a primary kinship unit, which^
carries out aspects of the sexual, reproductive, economic and educational functions
Keeping in view these definitions, we generally picture a family as a durable association^
of husband and wifk with or without children, or a durable association of a man or
woman along with children. Thus, members in the family live together, pool their
resources and work together and produce offspring. A family is also viewed as an
adult male and female living together with their offspring in a more or less permanent
relationship such as marriage which is approved by their society. These definitions
point out the basics or the minimum essentials ofthe family as a special kind of social
grouping: (i) it involves a sexual relationship between adults of opposite sexes; (ii) it
involves their cohabitation or living together, (iii) it involves at least the expectation of
relative permanence ofthe relationship between them; and (iv) most i~nportantof all,
the relationship is culturally defined and societallysanctioned-it is a marriage. Marriage
and the family are not just something people become involved in on their own. Some
of the ways in which they must relate to each other are decided for them by their
society. It is a well known and recognised fact that marriage is the basis for the family.
Since reproduction and control over it has been the concern of all societies, marriage
as a legal institution becomes a crucial factor. Marriage is recognised as a special kind
of relationship since it is the one in which families arecreated and perpetuated, and the
family is the ultimate basis of human society.

3.2.1 Family as an Institution

In the previous block of this course, ESO-11 you learnt about social institution and
how family is one ofthe pivotal and most significant institution of all societies.
There are various forms of family found all over the world; but most sociologists anld
anthropologists agree that universally the most common features of a family is that lit
is composed of individuals related to each other by blood, marriage, or adoption.
Family, like any other institution of society forms around complex, socially significar~t
problems, solving the problems of social existence is critical to collective living in all
societies. George Murdock (1949; 4- 11) lists four important functions served by the
nuclear family, these functions serve to resolve four major problems of society.
According to him the nuclear family along with other social institutions, serves to:
i) regulate sexual relations;
ii) account for economic survival ;
iii) controls reproduction; and
iv) socialises children
Out of all these functions, some thinkers believe that socialisation of children is one of. Family
the most central tasks of the family. Thus, one can see that family, as an institution,
helps solve the problem of regulating sexual behaviour, surviving economically,
reproducing new members of society and socialising them to become effective members
of that society and culture.

5.2.2 Variations in Family Forms

The bewildering variety of family forms, noticed in societies throughout the world in
the col~rseof human history, is a cultural pl~enomenonof considerable interest. For
instance, wit11 regard to residence some societies are matrilocal in their marriage and
family ctlstoms, while others are patrilocal. I n the former case, the young married
coi~pletakes up residence at the home ofthe bride's parents, whereas, i n the latter type
t l ~ couple
e takes up residence at the home of the bridegroom's parents. Residence in
most parts of India is patrilocal in that it gives to the husband and not the wife the right
to choose the place of residence after marriage.
The'issue of descent as to who will be related to whom and how, is not as simple as it
might first appear. Those who are socially defined by a given society as "related", are
called kin. Therefore from the point of view of lineage, there are three different systems
for tracing descent. In a matrilineal society descent is traced through the female line,
and i n a patrilineal society through the male line. 1t is also common to trace descent
bilaterally in some societies.
From the point of view of authority, the pattern ofdominance and subordination and
decision-making in the family, two different patterns are visible in different societies.
These are patriarchy-male dominant; matriarchy-female dominant. Most of the
societies have the patriarchal pattern. However, in modern societies of today, social
and cultural change is tending to establish more equalitarian pattern ofdecision-making
in which authority is shared between the conjugal pair.

i) Nuclear Family ii) Extended Family 7

Groups and Institutions Yet another distinction is made between the conjugal family or family by marriage on
tlie one hand and consanguine family or family by blood on the other, based on the
membership type ofthe family. While the conjugal family consists of parents and their
children, the consanguine family is made up of either parent and the units' blood relatives,
such as, mother, her children, her parents or father, his children, his parents etc.
Finally, we can also classify families into nuclear and extended types based on the way
they are organised. The nuclear family consists of a married couple and their children.
Tlie extended family is commonly defined as the nuclear family plus all kin belonging
to either side, living together. It may be pointed out here that a consanguineous family
implies 'ties ofblood'. Ties of blood means the relationship between parents and their
children, between siblings; even cousins on both paternal and maternal sides. It implies
no'particular form.

5.2.3 Universal Nature of Family

As stated earlier,the family is tlie most permanent and pervasive of all social institutions.
There is no human society without any family system. All societies both large and
small, primitive and civilised, ancient and modern, have institutionalised the process
of procreation of the species and the rearing of the young. It is a permanent and
universal institution and one of the constants of human life.
However we need to point out here that the same type of family is not found everywhere.
There are several types of family. For example in tlie West the nuclear family is found.
This comprises tlie husband and wife together with their children. In Indian villages
and in small towns the extended orjoint family is found. In India, too, largely nuclear
families are found but often, amongst the better off families in villages, especially
where agricultural land is there or amongst the communities involved in brusiness and
trade, one often finds tlie large joint or extended family. This form of family has
people living in it oftwo, three or sometimes four generations under the same roof.

5.2.4 Biological Basis of the Family

The institution oftlie family is to be explained in terms of biological factor-the existence
of two sexes and the sexual character of reproduction in the human species. It appears
as a natural answer to the liuman sexual drive, a phenomenon solidly based in the
biology of the human organism. Family provides legitimacy to all these biological
activities with the support of marriage.
Tlie family is characterised by its limited size. Because of this characteristic feature,
family is identified as a primary group. It may include parents and their unmarried
children or parents and their married as well as unmarried children. The bonds that tie
together these limited number of members with limited common interests are the outcome
of emotional factors such as love, mutual affectio5afi$-ealicitude. This emotional
basis of the family makes it an ideally suitable primary social group in every society.

Activity 1
Examine the type of family in which you live, in terms of residence, emotional
attachment, household, size etc. and write a short essay on "My Family and its
Social Structure". Compare your answer with those of other learners at your
study centre.

5.2.5 Common Residence and Nomenclature

The family is one of the most durable of all social institutions. Each family has a
residence, an address and a name. We recognise any family with the help of the family
name, location and address. A family can mean two quite different things depending
uponthe vantage from which we view it. For instance, the family in whicli one is a
child is the family of orientation and the family in which one is a parent is the family Family
of procreation. Each family thus has common habitation for its living. Without a
dwelling place, the task ofchild bearing and rearing cannot be adequately met. However,
family as a co~icepthas a wider meaning than mere household since a family can be
spread out geographically sometimes but yet emotionally, socially and legally be known
as a family. For example, a married couple may be living in two different cities or their
children may be working somewliere else, even living in a different countrylcity; but
they think ofthemselves as one family.

Check Your Progress 1

Note: i) Use space below for your answers.
ii) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1) Ciive a definition of the family. Use around three lines.

2) What is the biological basis ofthe family? Discuss in about three lines.

5.3 SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY

The reasons for the endurance and ilniversality of the family are largely grounded in
the fi~nctions[hat it performs for individuals and for society. The major functions the
family acco~nplishesare discussed below:

i) Member replacement and physical maintenance

In order to survive, every society must replace members who die and keep the survivors
alive. The regulations of reproduction is centred in the family as are cooking and
eating and care of the sick. Once children are born, they will be nurtured and protected
within the family. It is the family that feeds, clotlies and shelters them.

ii) Regulation of sexual behaviour

The faini ly regulates sexual behaviour. Each and every member's sexual behaviour is
influenced to some extent by what is learned in tlfe family setting. The sexual attitudes
and patterns of behaviour we learn in the family reflect societal norms and regulate our
sexual behaviour. The sociological notion of sexual regulation should not be confused
with repression. The norms, on the other hand, specify underwhat conditions and with
what partners sexual needs may be satisfied.

iii) Socialisation of children

The family carries out the serious responsibility of socialising each child. Children are
taught largely by their families to conform to socially approved patterns of behaviour.
If the family serves society as an instrument for the transmission of culture, it serves
the individual as an instrument of socialisation. A family prepares its children for
participation in the larger world and acquaints them with the larger culture.
C ~ O U ~and
S Institutions iv) Status transmission
Individual's social ibentity is initially fixed by family membership by being born to
parents of a given status and characteristics. Children take on the socio-economic
class standing of their parents and the culture of the class into which they are born,
including its values, behaviour patterns and definitions of reality. In addition to
internalising family attitudes and beliefs, children are treated and defined by others as
extensions of the social identity of their parents. In short, family acts as a vehicle of
culture transmission from generation to generation.

v) Economic activity
Until recent times, the family was an important unit of both production and consumption.
The family produced most ofthe goods it consumed and consumed most of the goods
it produced. But today, modern families mainly earn incomes. Thus, their principal
function is that of the consumption of goods and services which they purchase. Because
of the production of income the provision of economic support for family members is
a major function ofthe modern family.

vi) Social emotional support

The family as a primary group is an important source of affection, love and social
interaction. Caring for family members does not end with infancy and childhood. It is
seemingly the nature of human beings to establish social interdependencies, not only to
meet physical needs, but also to gratify emotional and psychological needs for response
and affection as well as.

vii) Inter-institutional linkage

Each baby is a potential participant in the group life ofthe society. Family membership
in a religious, political, economic, recreational and other kinds of organisations typically
gives individuals an opportunity to participate in activities that might otherwise be
closed to
them. The family, then, not only prepares the individual to fill social roles and occupy
a status in the community, but also provides the opportunities for such activity. Some
institutions depend also on the way the family functions in this regard to insure their
own continuity and survival.

Check Your Progress 2

Note: i) Use space below for your answers.
ii) Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1) Briefly discuss, in three lines, one important function of the family.

5.4 ROLE OF FAMILY IN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY

Many sociologists feel that the family has lost a number of its fiinctions in modern
industrial society. Institutions such as business, political parties, schools, welfare and
recreational organisations, creche and play schools, now specialise in functions earlier
performed only by the family. This reduces the dependency ofthe individual on his or
her family and kin. The high rate of geographical mobility in industrial society decreases,
the frequency and intimacy of contact among members ofthe kin-family network. The:
relatively high level of social mobility and the importance of 'achieved' status in modem Family
society have weakened the importance of family and its extended form since it has less
to offer to its members.

5.4.1 Importance of Family

However, this does not mean that the family is declining in importance. It has in fact
become more specialised and its role is still vital. By structuring the personalities of
the young and stabilising the personalities of adults, the family provides its members
wit11 the psychological training and support necessary to meet the requirements ofthe
social syste~ii.111fact, the loss ofcertain functions ofthe famiIy has made its remaining
functions more important. The family's responsibility for socialisingthe young remains
i~nportantas ever. Even though tlie family has largely lost its functions as a unit of
production, it sti I1 maintains a vital econornic fhnction as a unit of consumption. Parents
of today are expected to do their best to guide, encourage, and support their children in
their educatio~ialand occupational choices and careers. Compared to the past, parents
are Inore preoccupied with their children's health and emotional well being. State
health and welfare provisions have provided additional support for the family and
made its members more aware oftlie importance of health and hygiene in the home. In
a nutshell, tlie family has adapted and is adapting to a developing industrial society. It
remains as a vital and basic institution in society.
Across tlie span of history, tlie form and organisation ofthe family have varied, but in
every social structure it has been a primary group and the basic unit of social
organisation. Through the family the individual is a person with status, and children
are reared and guided, and the cultural heritage is transmitted to succeeding generations.
Families may be organised in an amazing variety of ways. Although the family is
rooted in the biological nature of human beings, in human experience it is always a
social i~lstitutionwliicli is governed by cultural norms.
With the growth of industry and the rise ofcities, family life and family patterns have
cliai~ged.Tlie ecoiiomic functions are largely transferred to outside agencies. Increasing
e~npliasisis, however, placed on psychological values such as affection, companionship
and emotional security.
Tlie present is a period of transition. The family withstood the sweeping changes in the
cultural pattern and found ways to adjust to each new situation. It will continue to
survive, whatever further changes the future may bring.

Activity2
Take 3 generations of your family, either you, your parents and tlieir parents or
you, your children and your parents (wliichever is relevant to you). Ide~itifytwo
important changes in the emotional bond between different generations in your
family and make a note of it. Compare your answer with other students at your
study centre. Discuss this topic with your Academic Counsellor, as well.

Check Your Progress 3

Note: i) Use space below for your answers.
ii) Cornpare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
1) What is the role of tlie family in industrial society? Use around five lines for
your answer.
Groups and Institutions Why is the family still important in industrial society? Use around five lines fc~r
your answer.

5.5 LET US SUM UP -

In this unit we have studied various aspects ofthe institutien of family. We began with
definitions of the family and then studied variations in family forms. This included
describing the biological basis of the family. The universal nature of the family artd
common residence and nomenclature therein were also described.
We then turned to a description ofthe social functions ofthe family. Following this the
role of family in industrial society is explained. This part also emphasised the importance
of the family and aspects of the industrial family.

5.6 KEY WORDS -

Conjugal family : Family in which the members consist of spouses
(married couple) and their children.
Consanguine family : Family in which the m.embers are related by descent
rather than by marriage.
Extended family : Family consisting of one or more married pairs, their
children and other near relatives.
Family of orientation : The family into which one is born.
Family of procreation : The family of which the person concerned is a parent.
Kin : Those who are related through descent or marriage.
Matriarchy : Family dominated by the mother as head of the
household.
Matrilocal : The practice whereby a married couple settles in t:he
home ofthe wife's family.
Mores : Ideas of right and wrong which require certain action
and forbid others.
Nuclear family : Family consisting of parents and their children only.
Patriarchy : Family dominated by the father as head ofthe household.
Patrilocal The practice whereby a married couple, settles in ithe
home ofthe husband's family.
-
5.7 FURTHER READINGS
1) Kapadia, K.M. 1966. Marriage and Family in India, Oxford University Press,
Bombay.
2) Sutherland, R.L., Woodward, J.L., and Maxwell, M.A., (editors), 1961. Intro-
ductory Sociology, Oxford and IBH Publishing Company, Delhi.
3) Murdock, G.P., 1949. Social Structure, Macmillan, New York.
 Family
5.8 MODEL ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR
PROGRESS
Check Your Progress 1
1) The family can be defined as group based on
a) Marital relations
b) Parenthood
c) Common residence
2) The biological basis of family is explained due to the existence of two sexes and
reproduction. Further, it is the natural answer to human sexual urges.

Check Your Progress 2

1) One important function of the family is to transmit the parents' status to the
children. The children's social standing is related to the family.

Check Your Progress 3

1) The role ofthe family in industrial society has weakened quite a bit. Institutions
like schools, business houses, political parties, recreational organisations, etc.,
reduce the role of the family. So, also does the high level of mobility.
2) The importance of the family in industrial society cannot be under-estimated, It
still provides socialising functions, psychological training and so on. The family
still performs economic functions (support), which allows children to get on in
life.