What are the functions of family?

Family is the most universal and fundamental social institution which performs a variety of functions in human society. Different sociologists have viewed or classified the functions of family into different types. These different functions of family are as described below:

(i) Essential functions of family: Maclver has divided functions of family into essential and non-essential types. Under essential functions he includes mainly three functions such as, stable satisfaction of sex needs, production and rearing of children and a provision of home. But besides these Maclverian functions of family, family may also perform some other essential functions. But it must he remembered that essential functions are those functions which are basic or fundamental in nature and no other institutions can perform these functions so successfully as family can. However family performs the following essential functions:

(a) Stable satisfaction of Sexual needs: This is the most important essential function of family. Family has been Performing this functions since the inceptions of human civilization. It is a well known fact that sex urge is the most important and “powerful instinct and natural urge of human being. It is the primary duty of family to satisfy the sexual urge of its members in a stable and desirable way.

(b) Procreation and Rearing of Children: It is another important sectional function of family. Necessary arrangement of stable satisfaction of sexual urge resulted in procreation. Family provides the legitimate basis for production of children. It institutionalizes the process of procreation.

(c) Provision of Home: Family perform another important function of providing a home for common living to all its members. It is only in a home that children are born and brought up. Even if children are born in hospitals in modern tirne still they are taken care of and properly nourished in a home only. Because family and a home have no substitute. In a home all the members of family live together and a child is brought up under the strict vigilance of all it’s members.

(d) Socialization: It is another important essential function of family. It is said man is not born human but made human. New born human baby became human being after they are socialized. Family plays an important role in the socialization process.

(ii) Non-essential or secondary functions of family: Famous sociologist Maclver has divided functions into essential and nonessential functions. Under non-essential or secondary functions he includes economic, religious, educational, health and recreational functions. Along with the essential functions family also performs these non-essential functions. These functions are non-essential or secondary in the sense that these are also performed simultaneously by other social institutions in family. These functions are as follows:

(a) Economic functions: Since ancient times family has been performing several economic functions. It is an important economic unit in ancient time family was both a production and consumption unit. It used to fulfill almost all the economic needs of it's members such as food, clothing, housing etc. In the then days family was self-sufficient. But now a days almost all the economic functions of family is performed by other agencies and family only remain as a consumption unit. It do not produce anything. All the members of family now working outside the home.

But in spite of all family still performing some economic functions of purchasing, protecting and maintaining property. It also equally distributes property among its members.

(b) Educational functions:  Family performs many educational functions for its members. As a primary educational institution family used to teach letters, knowledge, skill and trade secret to all its members. It looks after the primary education of its members and moulds their career and character. Mother act as the first and best teacher of a child. Besides he learns all sorts of informal education such as discipline, obedience, manners etc. from family of course at present many of the educational functions of family are taken over by school, college and universities sill family continues to play an important role in providing the first lessons and primary education to its members.

(c) Religious functions: Family is the centre of all religious activities. All the family members offer their prayers together and observe different religious rites, rituals and practices jointly. All the members believe in a particular religion and observe religious ceremonies at home; Children learn different religious values from their parents. Living in spiritual atmosphere spirituality develops among the children. Family transmits religious beliefs and practices from one generation to another. But at present family became more secular in their outlook Common family worship became very rare and absolute. Still family continues to play an important role 1n shaping religious attitude of its members.

(d) Health related functions: Family as a primary social group performs several health related functions for its members. It looks after the health and vigor of its members. It takes care of the sick old and aged persons of the family. By providing necessary nutritive food to its members family takes care of the health of all.

(e) Recreational function: Family-performs several recreational functions for its members by entertaining them in various ways. In ancient period family was the only centre of recreation.

All the members together organize family feasts, visit the family relations, organize family picnics etc.

(f) Cultural functions: Family also performs several cultural functions as well. It preserves different cultural traits. Man learns and acquires Culture from family and transmits it to succeeding generations. That is why family is considered as centre of culture.

(g) Social functions: Family performs a number of social functions. It teaches about social customs, mores, traditions, norms, etiquette to the coming generations. Family exercises social control over its members and bring them into conformity with accepted standards. Senior members of family directly control the behavior of children and thereby they became a good citizen.