The Changing Functions of the Family | Sociology Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction to The Changing Functions of the Family

Many sociologists believe that the family has lost several of its functions in modern industrial society. This is because institutions such as businesses, political parties, schools, and welfare organizations now specialize in functions that were previously performed by the family. According to Talcott Parsons, the family has become almost entirely without a function on a macroscopic level. This means that the family is no longer significantly involved in economic production, political power systems, or as a major direct agent for integrating society. Instead, individual family members participate in these functions, but they do so as individuals, not as part of their roles within the family.

• The family unit may have lost some of its traditional functions in modern society, but that does not mean it is less important. Parsons argued that the family still plays a vital role in shaping the personalities of young people and providing emotional stability for adults. In this sense, the family's remaining functions have become even more crucial.
• N. Dennis (1975) supported this view, arguing that as bureaucratic agencies have taken over many family functions, the close-knit and supportive relationships within families have become less common. In the impersonal environment of modern industrial society, the family remains the only place where individuals can truly be themselves and form deep, supportive connections with others.
• As people take on various roles outside the family, such as employee, customer, teacher, and student, they are often unable to fully express themselves or develop meaningful relationships. Dennis believes that marriage is now the only institution where individuals can expect love and esteem. Adults rely on their spouse for this support, as there is no other comparable relationship in their lives.
• As the family loses many of its functions, the support provided by family relationships becomes increasingly important. The family can offer a sense of wholeness and permanence that contrasts with the limited and temporary roles that are imposed by specialized institutions in modern society. As the drawbacks of impersonal societies become more apparent, the family's ability to counteract them becomes more valued.

The maintenance and improvement of functions

Some sociologists argue that the family has lost many of its functions in modern industrial society. However, British sociologist Ronald Fletcher disagrees with this notion. In his book, The Family and Marriage in Britain (1966), Fletcher claims that the family's functions have not only been retained but have also increased in terms of detail and importance. He argues that specialized institutions, such as schools and hospitals, have enhanced and expanded the family's functions rather than replacing them.

• Fletcher argues that the family's role in socializing young people remains as crucial as ever. State education has not diminished this responsibility but rather added to it, as parents are now expected to guide, encourage, and support their children in their educational and occupational choices and careers.
• Similarly, he believes that state intervention has not removed the family's responsibility for the physical welfare of its members. The family continues to be central in maintaining the health of its members, but is now supported by broader provisions that have been added since pre-industrial times. State-provided health services have expanded and improved this function, making parents more concerned about their children's health than ever before. State health and welfare provisions have also increased awareness of the importance of health and hygiene at home.
• Furthermore, Fletcher asserts that even though the family may no longer be a unit of production, it still serves an essential economic function as a unit of consumption. In the modern home-centered family, money is spent collectively rather than individually, leading to the demand for items such as fitted carpets, three-piece suits, washing machines, television sets, and family cars.

In summary, Ronald Fletcher argues that the family's functions have not diminished in modern society but have instead increased and become more important. The family's responsibilities in terms of socializing, physical welfare, and economic functions have been enhanced and expanded by state provisions and specialized institutions, rather than being replaced by them.

Feminism and Economic functions

• Feminist authors often challenge the notion held by numerous family sociologists that the family has transitioned from being a unit of production to solely a unit of consumption. They argue that a significant amount of productive work is carried out within families, but it is often overlooked because it is unpaid and predominantly performed by women. As a result, women's economic contributions are frequently undervalued.
• Christine Delphy and Diana Leonard, radical feminists, acknowledge that industrialization led to the creation of new production units, such as factories, but reject the idea that it completely eliminated the family's productive functions. While some of these functions have indeed been lost, others have improved, with the authors citing examples like well-maintained rooms with thoughtful décor and more intricate meals prepared using various cooking techniques.
• In addition, families have adopted new productive tasks, such as providing pre-school reading lessons to children, and certain functions like laundry and food preservation have returned to households with the introduction of new consumer products. Delphy and Leonard also highlight that a considerable number of families still function as economic units that produce goods for the market, with French farming families being a prime example.

Summary and conclusions

• In summary, most sociologists with a functionalist perspective argue that the family has lost some of its functions in modern industrial society, but its importance has not diminished. Instead, the family has adapted and continues to adapt to the evolving industrial society, remaining a crucial and fundamental institution.
• Some argue that the lost functions have been replaced with new ones, reinforcing the family's significance as a key institution. However, these scholars tend to generalize "the family" without considering the different types of families that exist. As a result, they may not fully understand the variety of effects and functions family life can have. Postmodernists and difference feminists, on the other hand, reject the idea that there is a single type of family that consistently performs specific functions.
• These scholars also tend to assume that families contribute to the reproduction of existing social structures, whether functional, capitalist, or patriarchal. However, this is not always the case, as the increasing diversity of family types can lead to some families or family types acting as radical forces in society. For example, gay and lesbian families may challenge the unequal relationships found in heterosexual families.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of The Changing Functions of the Family

What are the traditional functions of the family that have been lost or diminished in modern industrial society?

Some of the traditional functions that have been lost or diminished include the family's involvement in economic production, political power systems, and as a major direct agent for integrating society. These functions have been taken over by specialized institutions like businesses, political parties, schools, and welfare organizations.

What functions does the family still serve in modern industrial society, according to Talcott Parsons and N. Dennis?

Parsons argues that the family still plays a vital role in shaping the personalities of young people and providing emotional stability for adults. Dennis supports this view, stating that the family remains the only place where individuals can truly be themselves and form deep, supportive connections with others.

How does Ronald Fletcher challenge the notion that the family has lost many of its functions?

Fletcher claims that the family's functions have not only been retained but have also increased in terms of detail and importance. He argues that specialized institutions, such as schools and hospitals, have enhanced and expanded the family's functions rather than replacing them. He emphasizes the family's role in socializing young people, maintaining the physical welfare of its members, and serving as a unit of consumption.

How do feminist authors critique the idea that the family has transitioned from a unit of production to a unit of consumption?

Feminist authors argue that a significant amount of productive work is still carried out within families, but it is often overlooked because it is unpaid and predominantly performed by women. They argue that women's economic contributions are frequently undervalued, and that the family still serves important productive functions.

How do postmodernists and difference feminists challenge the functionalist perspective on the family's functions in modern industrial society?

Postmodernists and difference feminists reject the idea that there is a single type of family that consistently performs specific functions. They emphasize the diversity of family types and argue that some families may act as radical forces in society, challenging existing social structures and unequal relationships.