The Functions of the Family

Ways in which the family functions

1. Social placement:

Parents confer their own social identity (ascribed) in terms of race, ethnicity, religion,
and social class on their children at their birth.

2. Caregiver:

Voluntary caring for the elderly and sick and refusing to place them in a home or
hospice.

3. Social unit providing social control:

Family members are taught the roles and values of their society. This process by
which we learn and are taught the acceptable patterns of behaviour and the culture of
a society is known as socialisation. The family is believed to be the first and most
influential setting for socialisation. As mentioned, the family is only one of the
agencies of socialisation; other agencies include the school, the community, the
church, the mass media and the workplace.

4. Education of its members:

It is the family that is responsible for providing the basis for much of the education a
child receives. This responsibility should continue throughout the period that the child
attends school.

5. Financial/economic assistance:
Every family needs the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, and shelter.
Some family members provide the income to obtain these basic necessities.
However, in many countries, the state, government or other non-governmental
organisations carry out this function as family members are shirking their
responsibility. This puts a strain on the Government and other organisations, and at
times leads to increase in taxes to raise revenue to meet the ever-increasing
demand.
6. Keeping body and mind together:
A family is seen as essential for material and emotional security. According to
Macionis, many view the family as a "haven in a heartless world." A family should,
therefore, provide love, care and attention for each member; it should be a haven
when all else fails. "a shelter in the time of storm." As human beings, we need to
know that there is someone to comfort us and cheer us on when we hurt or we are
sad, to share our joy and accomplishments. As social beings, we need to know that
there is someone who cares about us and loves us. This all starts in the family.
7. Passing on family tradition and values:
A family usually takes pleasure in telling the young about the family's past and instill
within them the need to keep the family proud, not to disgrace the family. The family
is also responsible to pass on the traditions, ways of life, customs and beliefs from
one generation to another.
8. Reproduction:
The social institution of the family is the basis on which sexual reproduction and
procreation will take place. In the Caribbean, the norms of the family define
conditions under which sexual relations may occur. The family, therefore, reproduces
the species thereby enabling the continuation of the human race.