Sociological Perspectives on Family

Family is a very important grouping, occupying a central position in humans’ development and in turn society’s. It is defined to be a social institution that comprises relationships, both those of consanguinity and affinity. Members share bonds of blood, marriage, coexistence and legality.

Several studies have been conducted to deeply understand this essential and a very complicated institution and many varying outcomes have brought into light how these institutions function, the existence of their alternatives and the prevalence of power structure etc.

Some studies conducted to understand Family via the sociological perspective:

Functionalist Theories

George Peter Murdock

Study: Social Structure
Murdock studied a sample of 250 societies, ranging from small hunting families to large industrially occupied ones. Upon deep research, he came to understood that some form of family existed in each of those societies. He concluded that family is a universal social institution.
Based on his studies, he defined ‘Family’ to be a social group characterized by common residence, Economic co-operation, Reproduction.
The social group constitutes adults of both the sexes, and among them, at least two of them maintain a socially approved sexual relationship. It also has one or more offsprings which could be their own or adopted.
He concluded that family performs four essential functions in all societies:

Sexual function – the family offers to the adults, a safe and legitimate setting for the two of them to engage in sexual union, provide sexual gratification and strengthen emotional bonds.
Reproductive function – the family is responsible to give birth to their children, actively participate in the process of socialization and keep the society running.
Economic function – the family creates access to a pool of resources for its members, so that all their daily needs are met without any obstruction.
Educational function – the family has been entrusted with the huge responsibility of educating/socializing their younger ones. Values, norms and behaviors are first manifested here.

He also believed that the functions performed by the family for the society are inseparable from what it does for the individual members.
Murdock was also inclined towards the nuclear structure of families as he felt these were nothing but a universal social grouping of humans. The nuclear family was either present as the only prevailing form or as the most fundamental unit, on top of which other more complex forms originated.

Talcott Parsons

Parsons’ study on family was based on the most basic and irreducible functions delivered by the family.
He studied the American families and proposed that the functions so observed there were also commonly found in families of other societies.

According to Parsons, Family performs two main functions-

Primary socialization of children
Stabilization of adult personalities of the populations of the society

Primary Socialization

The process of socialization for any given young individual commences in their families mainly. During this early period, the child is taught values, norms and behaviors required.
In this phase, the family, immediate care-givers have the most influence.

Step 1- Internalization of society’s culture.

This is considered to be a crucial step as the absence of these might have disastrous consequences for the society, also bringing to perish.

Step 2- Structuring the personality.

Based on the core values of culture internalized by the individual, efforts are put into molding the personality.
This step can have varying degrees of changes as it is the society’s culture that shapes up an individual from the very young age.
For example: A personality being shaped in the American context would greatly focus on attributes like independence, achievement motivation, individualism, while in India, the focus would mainly lie on emphasizing collectivism, respect for gender roles and hierarchy.

Adult Personality Stabilization

This aspect lays emphasis on marriage relationship and exchange of emotional security between the couple.
This is also done by being and actively performing the parenting role.
This allows the adult couple to act out the ‘childish’ elements of their own personalities which they may have retained from childhood but could not be indulged in adult society.

William J. Goode

Goode believed that industrialization has a tendency to undermine the extended family and longer kinship groupings.
The commencement of industrialization led to increased geographical mobility which happened to reduce the frequency and intimacy of contact among members of the kinship network which reduces the strength of the bond.
Since there is now a specialized functional set-up to deliver for each and every requirement, many family roles are substituted by them which greatly reduces the dependence on family members and kins.
The system of achieved status and specialized Division of Labor in industrial society doesn’t permit the family and kinship to offer much to their members.
While Industrialization has had an immense impact on how the family functions in the present times, Goode also felt that industrialization is not the sole reason for break down among extended families. Other factors to be held responsible: Influence of the western societies on the non-western societies, Freedom granted by the nuclear structure.

Symbolic Interactionist

Edmund Leach

Study: A Runaway world
Leach drew a distinction between families of pre-industrial and modern-industrial families.
Pre-industrial: A notable feature of this time was the existence of a vast network of social relationships closely knit, shared by a large number of kins. Such a network provided immense psychological support for the individuals and helped them tackle day-to-day hassles with ease.
Modern-industrial: As times evolved, instances of families breaking apart into smaller unites rose. The concept of ‘nuclear family’ had a strong hold, it was largely isolated from the kinship network.
The modern set-up, an isolated setting induced stress in relationships. The members only interacted with a few others giving rise to increased expectations from each other. This was a starting point for development of conflict which later found greater expression in the society.
These small family units bred suspicion and fear of the outside world.
Leach felt that privacy is the source of fear and violence. The violence in the world exists because humans are always creating barriers between men and women who are like us and those who are not like us.
He argued that nuclear family is far from being the basis of good society. Family with its narrowed view of privacy and gaudy secrecy is what gives rise to all forms of discontent.

Psychiatrist

R.D Lang

Study: The Politics of the Family
Liang’s work was mostly based on the study of families wherein one of the members has been designated as ‘schizophrenic’. He was a pioneer in anti-psychiatric deliveries.
He felt that the behavior of the so-called Schizophrenic can only be understood in terms of his/her relationships within the family. And, a lot can be learned about families by studying those have been labelled as ‘abnormal’.
He referred to family as ‘nexus’ and stated that there is an active formation of alliances within these nexuses, members adopt several strategies and play one or more individual off against other members in a complicated strategical game.
What remains to be the highest concern of nexus is reciprocal concern. Each member of the nexus is concerned about what that other members think, how they feel and what they do.
There is a relentless demand for mutual concern and attention by the members.
Constant interaction within the nexus further leads to development of reciprocal interiorization.
It is a complex social process wherein family members become a part of each other and of the family as a whole. They carry the blueprint of the family with themselves forever. They interiorize the family.
This process of interiorization has been observed to be psychologically damaging since it actively restricts development of self, preventing practice of real autonomy and freedom.
Such problematic happenings in the family create a synchrony in the society, exhibited as problems in the society.
This nexus and interiorization create a rigid boundary between the family and the outside world, which eventually turns out to be one reason for maternal overprotection. It makes the younger ones of the family view the world, differentiated as ‘us and them’.
It also leads to perception of external threat imposed by the devastating society which tends to unite the members of the nexus, strengthens the nexus.
Liang also observed that the younger ones of the family are taught to be obedient, not just to the family but also to authorities of other forms. The absence of such obedience training would enable the people to question orders, follow their own set of judgements and make their own decisions. It serves as a primary link in a dangerous chain.

International awards: Individuals who make extraordinary contributions in research and amplification of the classical language receive two international awards. These awards are distributed annually to honor their efforts to preserve and promote the language.
Centre for Excellence: This was established by the government in order to encourage the endeavor of State-of-the-art research.
Scholarly positions: To facilitate focused teaching and further development of research capabilities, University Grants Commission (UGC) supports creation of academic chairs in central universities and research organizations.

FAQs

What is lateral entry into civil services in India?

Lateral entry refers to the appointment of private sector professionals, academic experts, and individuals from other fields into high-ranking administrative roles in the Indian government.
This is done to bring in fresh talent, specialized skills, and expertise into the civil services, especially for positions traditionally filled through promotions of career bureaucrats.

Why was the lateral entry scheme introduced in India?

The lateral entry scheme was introduced to address the need for domain expertise in key policy areas where the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers may not have specialized knowledge.
It aims to infuse new perspectives, improve decision-making, and bring professional skills from sectors like economics, education, public health, finance, and technology into the governance framework.

Which posts are typically filled through lateral entry?

Lateral entry candidates are generally appointed to posts equivalent to the rank of Joint Secretary, Director, or Deputy Secretary in various ministries and departments. These posts require individuals with specialized skills to manage complex policies and programs.

Who is eligible to apply for lateral entry into civil services?

Eligibility criteria vary depending on the position, but generally, candidates must:

Be professionals with at least 15 years of experience in the relevant field.
Hold a position of seniority in the private sector, academia, public sector, or international organizations.
Be within a specified age limit, often between 40-55 years.

How are candidates selected through lateral entry?

The selection process for lateral entry typically involves:

Submission of an application through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) or other recruitment agencies.
Shortlisting of eligible candidates based on qualifications and experience.
Interview and assessment of candidates by an expert panel to evaluate their suitability for the role.

Mains Practice Questions

Sl. No	Questions
1.	Discuss the rationale behind the introduction of lateral entry into civil services in India. How does it aim to address the challenges faced by the current bureaucratic system?
2.	Examine the benefits and potential pitfalls of lateral entry in Indian civil services. In what ways can this system contribute to better governance?
3.	Critically analyze the impact of lateral entry on the traditional career progression of regular civil servants. Do you think it will affect the morale of career bureaucrats? Justify your answer.
4.	"Lateral entry is a necessary reform for the Indian bureaucracy, but its implementation must be done with caution." Discuss this statement in light of recent developments in lateral recruitment.
5.	Evaluate the role of the private sector and academia in improving public administration through lateral entry. How can the government ensure that these entrants adapt to the unique challenges of public service?
6.	Compare and contrast the lateral entry system in India with that of other countries like the United States or the United Kingdom. What lessons can India learn from these countries to improve its system?

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