Pre-Industrial Family Structures and Change
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Questions and Answers

In the past, what role did kinship networks play in securing employment for family members?

  • They recommended family members to potential employers. (correct)
  • They offered financial assistance for family members to start their own businesses.
  • They provided training for family members to improve their skills.
  • They helped family members find apprenticeships in specific trades.

    • What function, once performed by families, is now primarily handled by a formal system?

  • Recreation
  • Education (correct)
  • Childcare
  • Long-term care of the elderly

    • Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a way families have adapted to changes in social structures?

  • Families may use government assistance to pay for childcare. (correct)
  • Families may provide long-term care for elderly relatives.
  • Families may share leisure and recreation together, even if it is done outside the home.
  • Middle-class families may be more involved in their children's education.

    • Why were children in the past used to add to family income?

    <p>Children were seen as a source of cheap labor. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary point of the text regarding the functions of families?

    <p>The role of the family has been redefined and adapted to meet changing social needs. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Finch (1989)'s view of pre-industrial family obligations compared to industrial and post-industrial families?

    <p>She found little evidence to support the idea of stronger family obligations in the pre-industrial era. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What evidence does the text provide against the idea that extended families were the norm in the pre-industrial period?

    <p>Historical studies revealed a wide range of household types. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did primogeniture, the inheritance system where the first-born son inherited all the family wealth, contribute to industrialization in the United Kingdom?

    <p>It concentrated wealth in fewer hands, enabling investment in growing industries. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Anderson (1995), what was a significant contributing factor to the development of a broadly extended family structure in the working class during industrialization?

    <p>The pressure on living space caused by urban population growth. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a factor mentioned in the text that influenced pre-industrial family structures?

    <p>The availability of social welfare programs. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did pre-industrial family structures potentially contribute to the onset of industrialization in Western Europe?

    <p>The nuclear family structure facilitated family mobility and flexibility, enabling individuals to take advantage of new economic opportunities. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What challenges did working-class families face in the industrial era, as discussed in the text?

    <p>The absence of government support for the sick and unemployed, leading to reliance on kinship networks. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main argument presented by the author about the relationship between family structures and industrialization?

    <p>The pre-industrial nuclear family structure provided a foundation for industrial development. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Kinship Networks

    Social connections that help families secure jobs through recommendations.

    Extended Family

    A broader family structure that includes relatives beyond parents and children.

    Child Labor

    Children working at a young age to contribute to family income.

    Modified Family Functions

    Changes in family roles where other institutions take over traditional tasks.

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    Family Involvement in Education

    Active participation of parents in their children's schooling.

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    Industrial Revolution family dynamics

    Family obligations were believed to have been stronger before the Industrial Revolution, but evidence shows this is largely unsupported.

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    Pre-industrial family structures

    Historical studies indicate a diverse range of household types, with nuclear families being common, not just extended ones.

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    Nuclear family vs. extended family

    The nuclear family, not the extended family, was more adaptive to changes brought by industrialization and urbanization.

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    Primogeniture

    An inheritance system where the first-born son inherits all family wealth, influencing family structure.

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    Impact of low life expectancy

    Low life expectancy (around 35-40 years) limited the number of extended families, as most adults did not become grandparents.

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    Anderson's view on family structures

    Anderson argued that no single dominant family structure existed during industrialization; reconstituted and lone-parent families were common.

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    Working-class kinship networks

    During industrialization, working-class families relied on strong kinship networks due to lack of government support.

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    Urbanization's effect on families

    As towns grew around factories, extended families became more common to meet practical needs and pressures on living space.

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    Study Notes

    Pre-industrial Family Structures and Industrialisation

    • Finch (1989) challenged the strong family obligation theory before industrialization, finding little evidence of a greater support system than in later eras.
    • Historical research highlighted diverse household types, not a consistent extended family norm.
    • This challenged the idea that the nuclear family "fits" with industrialization.
    • An alternative perspective suggests pre-industrial family structures, primarily nuclear, were flexible and mobile, enabling quicker adaptation to industrial opportunities in Western Europe.

    Extended Families in Pre-Industrial Society

    • Extended families weren't as common or dominant as some theories suggested.
    • Low life expectancy (around 35-40 years) limited the average person's time to become grandparents, and thus vertically extended families.
    • Primogeniture (first-born son inheriting) in the UK may have stimulated industrial growth by limiting wealth concentration and encouraging younger siblings to urban centers.

    Diverse Family Structures During Industrialization

    • Anderson (1995) argued that no single family structure dominated industrialization.
    • Reconstituted and single-parent families existed in pre-industrial society, especially among the poor due to high death rates.
    • The working class developed a broadly extended family structure as a response to urbanization-driven living space pressures.

    Functions of Extended Families During Industrialization

    • Working-class families relied on kinship networks for illness, unemployment, and job securing.
    • Kinship networks filled vital roles in childcare and supporting children with dead or absent parents (orphans).
    • Networks facilitated job placement through recommendations.
    • Young relatives contributed to family income by working at a young age.

    Shifting Family Functions

    • Modern institutions (schools, healthcare professionals) have taken over functions previously focused on families.
    • However, family roles have evolved rather than vanished.
    • Families actively engage in education and caregiving, including non-critical illnesses and long-term care.
    • Families still share leisure and recreation, although activities are more individualized or focused on the leisure industry.

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    Description

    This quiz explores the dynamics of family structures before industrialization and challenges traditional theories regarding the family obligation. It examines the prevalence of diverse household types and the adaptability of nuclear families during the transition to industrial society in Western Europe.

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