Assess sociology view of the family relationships between the industrialisation (24 marks) Talcott Parsons argued the reason the family structure was changing from an extended family to a nuclear family was because the nuclear family was more useful to industrial society, he says this because it is more efficient and fits the needs of society as it’s geographically and socially mobile therefore promotions are easier to get through their own efforts. Parsons saw how the rolls of men and women had developed in the families and he said it was best for society. Parsons argued there are 2 types of basic society that will fit the needs: modern industrial society and traditional pre-industrial society. When Britain changed from a rural society to one where people move to the cities and work in factories and mills, the structure of the families had to change. Parson had said pre-industrial society was made up of extended families but the modern industrial society brought the idea of a nuclear family.

Laslett studied family life in the pre-industrial society in 1972. His theory was that in 1564-1821 only 10% of households had kin beyond the nuclear family, therefore structure the family in pre-industrial society was nuclear this criticises parsons theory. Nuclear families are more popular because people married later in their lives after a couple of years of marriage the parents of each partner would die; therefore they wouldn’t live with them. Anderson studied families in Preston. He said industrialisation increased the extended family because people moved in new towns and moved in with family to find comfort and security. His research showed 23% of households in Preston included kin beyond the nuclear family. He suggests that industrialisation may have strengthened the needs for reliance on the extended family e.g. providing a home for parentless children. Willmot