Functions of the Family (Years 8–11) — Sociology

What families do for society and their members — socialisation, care, support and identity — and how different sociologists view these functions.

Sociologists ask not only what families are, but what they do. The tasks a family carries out for society and its members are called its functions.

Why this matters Families shape the people we become. Learning about the functions of the family helps explain how children grow up, learn right from wrong, and gain a sense of who they are.

Key functions of the family

Primary socialisation: the family teaches young children the language, manners, values and norms of their society. This is one of the family's most important jobs.
Care and support: families feed, protect and look after their members, especially children, the elderly and those who are unwell.
Emotional support: family members offer comfort, love and a safe place to return to.
Identity: families pass on a sense of belonging, culture and often faith, giving members a sense of who they are.

Sociologists list several functions the family performs for its members and for society as a whole.

The functionalist view

Functionalist sociologists focus on how the family helps society work smoothly. They argue that the family performs vital functions — especially socialising children and giving emotional stability — that benefit society as a whole. To functionalists, the family is like an organ that keeps the wider 'body' of society healthy.

Common exam mistake: treating the functionalist and feminist views as simply contradicting each other. Feminists usually agree the family performs these functions — their distinct point is about who does the work to provide them, not whether the functions exist.

Other perspectives

Sociology includes more than one view.

Feminist sociologists agree the family performs functions, but ask who does the work. They point out that in many families women have carried most of the caring and housework, and they discuss whether this is fair.
Other sociologists note that most families provide great support, while a minority of families may not meet members' needs well. Studying both helps give a balanced picture.

A balanced view

Different faiths and cultures place high value on the family's role in raising children and passing on values, and many see these duties as deeply important. Sociology respects this while also examining functions critically, so learners can weigh up different perspectives for themselves.

Exam technique: for a question on family functions, name the specific function, then add both the functionalist view and a critical perspective (feminist or otherwise) — pairing description with evaluation is what separates a strong answer from a list.