To what extent has industrialisation decreased the importance of the
extended family?
Candidates should show awareness of a range of different arguments that
illustrate how the process of industrialisation has decreased the importance
of the extended family. They should also consider points that refute this
idea. There is likely to be a focus on how family types have changed over
time. The diverse definition of what we now mean by an extended family is
also likely to be discussed.
Possible answers:
For
• Best fit thesis – an extended family suited the needs of a preindustrial
society whereas a privatised nuclear one is best for the
modern industrial family.
• Functionalists, i.e. Parsons, believe that family functions have now
been taken over by the state and so an extended family is no
longer necessary – structural differentiation.
• Industrial society needs a geographically mobile workforce and this
would be difficult with an extended family.
• Urbanisation meant a move to the cities for a large number of
people and this would have proved difficult and expensive with an
extended family.
• Only functions now left for the family to perform are primary
socialisation and the stabilisation of adult personalities, therefore
the extended family is less important.
• Laslett – industrialisation brought about the formation of smaller
family structures.
• Modern industrial societies are thought to be meritocratic, therefore
the extended family has less to offer family members, i.e. through
job opportunities.
• Increased social mobility means that families often have different
status and class positions, as well as different values and attitudes
and thus may have little in common.
• Growth of the welfare state reduces the need for the extended
family in times of difficulty and stress, therefore further weakening
the extended family.
• Increasing opportunities for women, i.e. in the employment sector,
makes extended families more difficult to sustain.
• Increasing number of people choosing not to have children, e.g. the
increase in DINK families in China due to living in industrial
societies.
• Other reasonable response.
Against
• Modified, extended families may be more typical than isolated
nuclear families in a world where the internet and mass
communications makes keeping in touch so easy.
• In traditional working class communities, the extended family still
remains strong and is an important source of support for families
(Willmott and Young).
• In the Asian community the extended family is still thought to be
very important.
• The trend towards an ageing population has led to the development
of beanpole families, whereby several generations may live
alongside one another.
• Anderson found that industrialisation actually led to an increase in
extended families and that they remained a source of financial and
emotional support during the process of moving to a city.
• Increasing support from the state via welfare benefits, child
policies, education and key professionals are undeniable, but this
does not mean that the extended family cannot also contribute
towards these functions as well.
• ‘Sandwich generation’ and increasing life expectancy may mean
that elderly relatives are living with wider kin for support and care.
• Decline of the birth and fertility rate leads to smaller families, not
industrialisation;
• Other reasonable response.
Band 0
No creditworthy response.
Band 1 (1–4)
Answers in this band may be vague and largely based on common sense,
showing limited knowledge of the extent to which industrialisation has
decreased the importance of the extended family. Use of sociological terms
or concepts is very unlikely. Responses may be short, undeveloped and
one-sided, e.g. ‘You don’t need a big family to look after you anymore’.
Lower in the band (1–2 marks), expect one or two weak points. Higher in the
band (3–4 marks), candidates may offer more than two points or provide a
weak definition of key terms, e.g. ‘industrialisation is the change in a society
to one that is urban and based on more people working in industries rather
than agriculture’, in the question.
Band 2 (5–8)
In this band candidates will show some basic knowledge of the extent to
which industrialisation has decreased the importance of the extended family.
Alternatively, they may offer an answer which is list-like in nature, but there
will be no real attempt to assess the issues raised by the question. There
may be limited/some use of sociological terms or concepts. Responses may
be underdeveloped and lack range. Answers may be simplistic and twosided
responses are unlikely, e.g. ‘The welfare state has taken over many of
the functions that the family once performed and so the extended family is
no longer needed’. Lower in the band, the response will be rather narrow in
the points covered and there will be little development. Higher in the band,
more points will be covered and there will be limited development of some
points. Alternatively, a list-like answer with little development, covering both
sides of the argument, may score up to 8 marks.
A one-sided answer cannot score higher than 8 marks.
Band 3 (9–12)
Answers in this band will show good sociological knowledge and
understanding of the extent to which industrialisation has decreased the
importance of the extended family. Sociological terms and concepts will be
used with greater accuracy and/or frequency. For the most part, answers
will be well developed, focused on the question and there will be a range of
points presented. Candidates may say that e.g. ‘whether the extended
family has decreased in importance depends on the social group involved.
For the working class and Asian community for example, it often remains a
very important source of comfort and support’. There will be a two-sided
response but this may be unbalanced. At the bottom of the band, candidates
may provide a narrower range of well-developed points. At the top of the
band, expect a wider range of points and clear focus on the question.
Band 4 (13–15)
Answers in this band will show excellent knowledge and understanding of
the extent to which industrialisation has decreased the importance of the
extended family. There will be a strong grasp of the argument, as well as
accurate and frequent use of sociological terms and concepts. Answers will
be well-developed, clearly focused on the question and discuss a wide
range of points. Responses will be two-sided and balanced. At the bottom of
the band (13 marks), the answer may lack a specific conclusion. Higher in
the band, there will be a clear attempt to offer an assessment of the ‘To
what extent??’ part of the question through a focused conclusion.
Candidates should show consideration of points for and against the idea of
whether industrialisation has decreased the importance of the extended
family, citing some of the examples given.