Family is one of the most important social institutions. It is the most pervasive and universal social institution and is the simplest and most elementary group found in a society. It is the most enduring group, which has tremendous influence on the life of an individual, from birth until death. It also accounts for the most enduring social relationship found in society. No known society ancient or modern is free from family system. Members of family usually share common residence, at least for some part of their lives. There is the relational aspect among the members. Members have reciprocal rights and duties towards each other. Family plays a great role in our lives and make us better human beings. A person’s character and personality are shaped by his or her family. Families carry out a variety of functions critically important to society. They share resources, economically support their members, and care for the elderly, the sick, and the disabled in ways that no other institution can do or do as well. Furthermore, families are fundamental to a free economy and a democratic society, guarding against a concentration of power, resources, and loyalties. In this article, we shall see characteristics of family. The important Characteristics of Family are as follows:
Universality:
Family is found in each stage of society and everywhere. There is no society without it. It is found in some form or the other, in all types of societies whether primitive or modern. Malinowski writes that the typicalfamily is a group consisting of mother, father and their progeny and it is found in all communities, savage, barbarians and civilized. There is not a single man who does not belong to one or other kind of family. It is the most pervasive and universal social institution.
Mating Relationship:
A mating relationship is the precondition to establish the family, without it family cannot be formed. Sex relationship should be there between husband and wife. This relationship may be of short one or endures for a lifetime. According to Maclver if this relationship breaks then the family slowly breaks.
Form of Marriage:
The mating relationship is established through the institution of marriage. Marriage may be monogamous or polygamous or polyandrous and in any form. The society regulates sexual behaviour between opposite sexes through the institution of marriage. Without marriage, family is not possible. Partners may be selected by parents or by the elders, or choice may be left to the wishes of the individual concerned. It may be a love marriage or arranged marriage.
A System of Nomenclature:
Every family is known by a particular name. Thus its members are known by the nomenclature or by a distinctive name. It has own system of reckoning descent. In India, it is usually referred as ‘surname’ while in the US it is referred as ‘family name’. In patrilineal families, descent is recognized through the male line. Similarly, in matrilineal families descent is recognized through the mother’s line. Today, it is quite common that, after marriage, a girl retains her maiden surname or adds the surname of her husband to her maiden name.
Financial and Economic Provision:
Every family needs an economic provision to satisfy the economic needs of its members. Its members more or less share with each other. Usually, the head of the family carries on certain profession and earns to maintain the family. He/she tries to make all possible arrangement to provide economic comfort to the members.
Common Habitation:
Each family has a common and more or less fixed home in which all the members can live together. After the marriage the wife may reside in husband’s parental home or the husband may reside in wife’s parental home or she may stay in her parental home to which the husband pays occasional visits or both of them may establish a separate home of their own. A living or dwelling place is necessary to bear and care child. Childbearing and child-rearing cannot be adequately performed in the absence of home.
Emotional Basis:
The biological relationship and mutual affection create an emotional bond among the members. Every family is based on human impulses of mating, procreation, motherly devotion and parental love and care. The love between husband and wife, parents and children makes it an institution of self-sacrifice.
Limited Size:
The family is very small in size and the smallest primary group. It includes husband and wife and the persons who are born in it or are adopted. It is the nucleus of all social group. Due to small and limited size, the relations among the members are direct, intimate, close, personal and permanent.
Closed Group:
The membership to the family is only through birth, marriage, or adoption only. Hence it is a closed group.
Sense of Security and Responsibility:
The members of the family have a deep sense of responsibility and obligation for the rest of the members. Due to this sense of responsibility, all the member discharge their duties. This sense of responsibility, cooperation, and obligation provides security to members.
Educative Role:
Family is the earliest social environment which surrounds trains and educates the child. It is a mechanism of social control and provides early education. It shapes the personality and moulds the character of its members. It emotionally conditions the child. When one is small he does not know what’s wrong or right. It helps everyone to learn lessons of socialization.
Social Regulation:
Every family has its own customs, traditions rules and regulations. As an important agent of socialization, the family teaches the norms and culture to its members. The family is peculiarly guarded both by social taboos and by legal regulations. The society takes the precaution of safeguard this organization from any possible breakdown, by divorce, desertion or separation.
Persistence Coupled with Change:
As an institution it is permanent. When a couple after marriage settle in an independent residence, the family continues to exist with other members. Thus, the family is permanent as an institution. At the same time, it is temporary and transitional. Because the structure of the family changes over time in terms of size, composition, and status of persons. It undergoes constant changes due to births and deaths in the family.
Conclusion:
Families carry out a variety of functions critically important to society. They share resources, economically support their members, and care for the elderly, the sick, and the disabled in ways that no other institution can do or do as well. Family is a universal social institution. A family comes into existence when a man and woman establish mating relation between them. A mating relationship is established through the institution of marriage. Every family is known or recognized by a distinctive name and has its own mode of tracing the descent. Family requires a home or a household to live in.
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