Discuss the view that the nuclear family replaced the extended family after industrialisation.

This essay hasn't yet been marked by one of our teachers

You can view 1 essay on International relations 1945-1991 that have been Marked by Teachers

The first 200 words of this essay...

SOCIOLOGY HOMEWORK,

Discuss the view that the nuclear family replaced the extended family after industrialisation.

Talcott Parsons believed that the nuclear family developed mainly as a result of industrialisation. He thought that before the industry took over the functions of the family, the families were extended units of production. This means that the work and home lives were combined and so each family member taught another one skill for life such as education. Parsons says that the extended family stayed together so they could provide health care for one another and look after the old people whilst the old people looked after the young children whilst the parents were out working. They also pursued justice on behalf of one another; if one family member were hard done by, all the other family members would help sort it out.

Parsons believed that the industrial revolution brought about three fundamental changes. The first of these was the new social roles where the men went out to work and the women stayed at home to do housework and look after the children. The second was the extended family became geographically mobile. He believed that by becoming geographically mobile, the