Industrialisation and family structure

Question 1

The process of transition

Answer 1

AGRICULTURAL society: Large, extended family, multi-functional unit (Unit of production), little movement (extended family maintained), ascribed status clear within family, segregated roles.

INDUSTRIAL society: Small, nuclear family, few ‘specialised’ functions (unit of consumption)other functions take over, geographically mobile (fits needs of industrial society), achieved status by individual outside family, more ‘joint’ roles.

Question 2

Why do functionalists see the nuclear family as ‘fitting’ modern industrial society?

Answer 2

Small and geographically mobile
Socially mobile-achieved status by the individual has replaced ascribed status of birth and family-an individual may move away from traditional family jobs and social class.

Question 3

Young and Willmott (1962) Decline in extended family?

Answer 3

Study of Bethnal Green in East London
Found extended families still very important, centred on the mother-daughter tie
Mutual aid shown amongst both female and make kin.
Families did not live in the same house but lived very close and were in constant contact.

Question 4

Tamara Haraven (1994) Decline in extended family?

Answer 4

Argues that extended families suit industrial society.
A network of kin provides greater workplace stability and continuity of labour through social ties and kin recruitment.
members are less dependent on one wage and so less likely to strike.

Question 5

Fiona Devine (1992) Extended family disappeared?

Answer 5

Study of luton car workers.
Lived as isolated nuclear families, but had strong connections with kin, especially children, parents, grandparents.
Kept in touch via cars, telephones.

Question 6

Did industrialisation lead to the ‘symmetrical family’?

Answer 6

Willmott and Young in 1975 put forward a theory to describe the development of the family from pre-industrial to contemporary times. They discuss FOUR stages of development:
STAGE 1: the pre-industrial family
STAGE 2: the early industrial family
STAGE 3: the 'symmetrical' family
STAGE 4: the asymmetrical family

Question 7

Criticisms of the symmetrical family?

Answer 7

Fails to show how extended kin may still be important.
Men may be more home centred.
Feminists dislike the assumption that couples have joint conjugal roles-evidence suggests that they are not really joint.
Little evidence for the change to a stage four family- more rather than fewer women are working full time outside the home.
As part of the ‘March of progress’, Willmott and Young have been accused of neglecting the negative aspects of the modern family.

Question 8

The postmodern family

Answer 8

• Postmodernists argue that society has entered a new historical period.
• Knowledge has become relative and people are faced with many choices and possibilities.
• There is no particular family type more common.
• Individuals have become freer to choose lifestyles that have meaning for them at a particular time.
• Today we have family diversity.