Changing Family structure

India for Socioquest March 17, 2009

The family as a social institution has been undergoing change. The modern family radically differs from, that of the traditional one. The family has never been at rest. Both in its structure and functions changes have taken place. Some of these changes may be examined here; some of the functions of family have radically changed today while some others have received more attention of the public. A glance at these changes would clarify this point.

1. The sexual regulation function of the family has not changed much. The family through its agent, marriage, still regulates the sexual impulse of the people. Illicit sexual behavior is fairly uncommon. But it is true that in the western societies pre-marital and extra marital sex relations are on the increase.

2. The reproductive function of the family has suffered particularly in the western societies. In the western societies, it is said, parents no longer desire more children. Absence of children has become the most glaring feature of the western families. However, it is impossible to take away this reproductive function of the family. The very survival of the human race is based on regulation.

3. In the past years the parental and the educational functions of the family have been shifted to certain external agencies like hospitals, outpatient clinics for mother, maternity homes, the baby clinics, nurseries and kindergartens etc."The modern home is not equipped to train children for their adult careers, because the specialized division of labor requires specialized training which only the specialized agency of the school can supply"-

4. The productive functions of the family have declined particularly in the west. Families are no more the places of protection for the physically handicapped, mentally retarded, aged, diseased, in firm and insane people. Other agencies have taken over this function. But, for the young children it continues to provide physical and emotional protection.

5. The economic function of the family has been disturbed a great deal. The family is no longer the economic unit, neither it is self-sufficient. It is no longer united by shared work, for its members work separately. It is more a consuming unit than a producing center. However, the family is not completely losing its functions but it is transforming this function to some external agencies.

6. It seems that the socialization function of the family is gaining increased attention particularly in the western society. An earlier generation knew little about the personality development. We know something today of the role of emotional development, school progress career success, physical well being and practically all other aspects of the good life.

7. Ascription function has been weakened since in modern society much emphasis is laid on achieved status. Still, the ethnic, religions class, residential, neutrality and other kinds of statuses are ascribed by the family to the individual at least in the initial stages in some way or the other.

8. The recreational function of the family loosing importance. External agencies have taken away its function. Modern recreation is highly commercialized. Movies, dance halls, night clubs, gambling centers have come into having people leave home to seek these commercialized recreations but they tend to leave home as single adults or married couples, as adolescents or children, rather than as a family unit. This has affected the cohesion of family.