Family Structure and Sociology



Family Structure and Sociology

Introduction

While anthropologists and sociologists have paid a lot of attention over family structures in different societies, the majority of works in the field of sociology of the family devoted to the analysis of the family in the West: its nature, place in society and the changes taking place in it over time. The topic, as well as other topics of sociology, is considered primarily on the basis of functionalism and conflict theory.

Discussion

Functionalism

Proponents of functionalism typically analyze society in terms of impact on the hospitality of its parts functioning of the whole. Family or one of the parts of society are considered in terms of its functions, or social needs that have been met. Proponents of functionalism emphasize change functions of the family in the last two centuries, most of them say that in this period the Western family has lost its inherent function (Ogborn, Nimkoff, 1955).

Economic functions

In any society, the family plays a major economic role. In peasant agriculture and crafts family is a joint cooperative labor union. Responsibilities are distributed in accordance with the age and sex of family members. Among the great changes brought about by the emergence of industrial production, was the destruction of the co-operative system of production. The workers began to work outside the home, and the economic role of the family has been reduced to only spend money earned by the household. While wife sometimes worked, it was basic connectivity in parenting.

Transfer Status

In the industrial society has different customs and laws, more or less automatically assigned the status occupied by families from different backgrounds.

Hereditary monarchy is a prime example of such a custom. Aristocrats who owned the land and titles, could transmit its status to children. Among the lower classes there was a system of guilds and apprenticeship, so the profession can be transmitted from one generation to the next.

Revolution taking place in the XIX and XX centuries., Working to destroy the privileges of some groups. Among these privileges was the right to transfer the title, status and wealth to the next generation. In some countries, including the United States, inheritance aristocratic titles outlawed. Progressive taxes, and taxes on insurance and death also restrict the ability of wealth preservation and transfer by succession. Yet rich senior families still have the advantage when it comes to the transfer of wealth and status of the children. But this is not so much on the basis of inheritance, and in the form of preparing children to receive an education and the kind of work, which provide a high status. The members of the upper class can pay for elite education and support "dating" to promote high status. But these benefits have largely lost their meaning, becoming less stable and reliable than before.

Socialization

The family is the primary agent of socialization in all societies. It is here that children learn the basic knowledge necessary to perform the roles of adults. But industrialization and related social change in some way deprived the family of ...