Page 158 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Sociology of Kinship

Notes Revise, divorce, separation, absence of any of the parents causes inappropriate development of
a child in the lack of affection and mental security.

(IX) Cultural Functions

A family conserves the culture of the society and transfers it to the new generation. Family
maintains the regularity and stability of culture by handing over it to the new generation.

(X) Transmission of Human Experiences

A family contributes a lot to the society by conserving and transmitting knowledge and expe-
riences gathered by its ancestors. If it does not do so every generation will have to search for
knowledge freshly.

(XI) Function of Recreation
A family also entertains its members. Lovely talks of small children and their quarrels, love
between husband and wife are the means of entertainment in a families. Festivals, functions,
religious functions, wedding ceremony, shraddh bhoj, bhajan-kirtan are recreational activities
of a family.

(XII) Placement in the society

A families places its members in the society. A person’s status in the society also depends on the
status of the family he was born in. An emperor‘s elder son takes over on his death in a autoc-
racy. In an autocratic society where a person’s birth is more important than his virtues, a family
plays an important role in acquiring status in the society.

(XIII) Social Control

Head of the family regulates its members and influences them to follow customs, traditions
and rules of their caste, class and society. In case of disobedience, he punishes them, scolds and
threatens to throw out of the family. Family’s atmosphere is such that everyone performs his/
her duties. There is less possibility of controlling by power in the family.

It is clear that a family is an important unit of the society, in the light of its func-
tions mentioned above. Many organisations and institutions are adopting its
functions today, but the existence of the family still remains in the society in one
or the other form.

21.3 Summary

• A family is classified on the basis of number of members, nature of members, nature of mar-
riage, man-woman’s rule, domicile, clan etc.
• There are three types of families on the basis of number of family members– nuclear family,
Joint family and extensive family.
• There are two types of families on the basis of power—patriarchy and matriarchy.

152 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY