The Role of the Family in Modern Society

The family has long been seen as the cornerstone of social life, shaping identity, behaviour, and values. Yet, in modern society, the meaning and structure of “family” have undergone dramatic changes. A-Level Sociology students study these shifts to understand how social institutions adapt to cultural, economic, and technological change.

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The Functionalist View

Functionalist sociologists such as Parsons and Murdock see the family as performing vital functions for both individuals and society. These include:

• Socialisation: Teaching children norms, values, and culture.

• Stabilisation: Providing emotional and economic support for members.

• Reproduction: Ensuring the continuation of society.

Even as society evolves, Functionalists argue that the family remains central to maintaining social stability.

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The Marxist and Feminist Perspectives

Marxists see the family as part of the capitalist system — a means of reproducing inequality. The family provides labour power, transmits property, and socialises children into accepting hierarchy and obedience.

Feminists, meanwhile, view the family as a site where gender inequality is reinforced. Traditional domestic roles and unpaid labour continue to disadvantage women, even as family forms diversify.

Both perspectives challenge the idea of the family as purely beneficial, arguing that it also reflects wider power structures.

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The Postmodern and Contemporary View

In modern society, families take many forms: single-parent, reconstituted, same-sex, and cohabiting households. Sociologists such as Giddens and Beck describe this as part of a “risk society,” where individuals have more choice but also more uncertainty.

Modern families are less about fixed roles and more about negotiated relationships, built on shared values rather than traditional expectations. The rise of technology, dual incomes, and shifting gender norms has changed how families function — but not their emotional significance.

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Skills Highlight

• Comparing sociological perspectives on the family

• Evaluating evidence for changing family roles

• Understanding how social and economic change influences family life

• Applying theory to contemporary examples

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Why It Works in Teaching

Studying the family helps students connect sociological theory with their own experiences. It encourages critical thinking about the structures and values that shape society and helps individuals understand how personal relationships reflect broader social forces.