Kinship

Kinship refers to a rather large network of people who are related to each other by common ancestry, by marriage, or by adoption. Through the system of kinship we are able to organize and identify relationships that exist within families. Because American society has demonstrated a rather strong commitment to the nuclear family type, the larger kinship group to which a person belongs has lost a good deal of its importance. We tend to see our "distant" relatives only on special occasions such as holidays and celebrations. If asked what our second cousin's occupation is or where this cousin lives, we may be hard- pressed to answer.

Functions of the Family

As pointed out in Chapter 8, all social institutions have as an objective the satisfaction of specific social needs within society. As a social institution, the family performs many functions, the nature of which and their level of performance vary from society to society. The specific functions of the family in the United States, first mentioned in Chapter 8, will be examined here in greater detail.

Care and Protection of the Children, the Infirm, and the Elderly

In Western societies, the family has traditionally been responsible for the psychological, physical, and economic care of its children since children are incapable of assuming these functions on their own. Thus, the family makes sure that its members have food, shelter, and protection from outside forces. The family also provides individuals with a sense of belonging, affection, and emotional support. In addition, the family has traditionally been responsible for taking care of and comforting the infirm and providing economic security for the elderly.

Socialization of Children

Throughout human history, the family has been the primary agency for the initial socialization of the young. For a significant period of time after birth, the family is the only group with which the child has extensive contact. Thus, the family plays a major role in shaping the attitudes, values, and beliefs of the child and in influencing the kind of relationships that he/she will develop with other social agencies and institutions. It is the family that prepares the child for taking on the social role of a member of the society in which he/she lives.

Fixing Social Placement and Establishing Status

Every known society uses a system of rules of descent to determine the proper social placement and status of a child, and to identify the relatives and the family to which a person belongs. Inheritance and power relationships in families are also determined by rules of descent. The family traditionally confers an ascribed status on each of its members. Although individuals can move from one social class to another, each person initially lives within the social class of his/her family. This initial family social class influences the subsequent social class of the individual in two ways. Since the socialization process is such a basic and important cultural function of the family, the process itself naturally prepares family members for a continued life within the same social class. In addition, in every class-oriented society, one's social class of origin limits the opportunities that are available and consequently, one's ability to move from class to class.

Regulation of Sexual Activities

The family has traditionally been responsible for the regulation of sexuality as well as for the replacement of members through reproduction. It regulates sexuality by providing morals and values regarding what the society considers appropriate sexual behavior and appropriate sexual partners. Societal practices range from strictly prohibiting and penalizing sexual relationships except among married couples, to those that encourage premarital or extramarital sexual relationships.

The incest taboo, which is found in almost every society, regulates sexuality by requiring individuals to choose sexual partners outside of the family rather than from among family members. This taboo exists for both biological and social reasons. First, it prevents biological inbreeding which may cause genetic deformities in the offspring. Second, it preserves social identities, roles, and authority within families. Third, it allows individuals to bond emotionally and socially to many people, not to just a few members of the same primary group. When individuals marry, assuming that they don't marry within their family, the union will bring together unrelated families.