Content area
Full Text
Abstract
Family is considered as the oldest social institution in the world. As an institution it performs many important functions and valuable tasks. It provides bedrock for its members. Family as a social institution has directly or indirectly got affected due to the rapid social changes. Technology which is considered as the basic factor of social change has made important changes in the family structure and organization. Nuclear family has replaced joint family system. Schools and other agencies like baby homes have stolen the basic functions of family. Industrialization and urbanization have weakened the basic fabric of relationships. People rush to work in industries than the agriculture. Pakistan is one of the countries of the world where family as a social institution has got a new shape with new assignments. As a result, general masses are migrating from rural areas to the urban. Feudalistic approach of life where females used to be dealt as secondary in social status has vanished to certain extent. This paper will try to analyze the factors of social change and its overall sociological impact upon family. The main focus will remain on Pakistan, however, theories and literature included in this paper is of general nature.
Introduction
Social change has a direct impact on the basic structure and functions of the social institutions. Technology is considered as a powerful tool of social change. Technology has totally changed the style of living. Meanwhile, the effect of technology is apparent on all the social institutions. In sociology, there are five social institutions. They are family, economy, religion, state, and education. Family is the oldest and important institution. Technology has also altered the family economic system. Now many economic functions of family are being performed by industry. Therefore, the status and functions of the family are vehemently changed altogether with other important fonctions. In sociologically language it has been named as 'social impact of technology' (Ralph, 2007). Likewise, socialization and training to new siblings has also been shifted to schools. Marriage which used to be considered as a sacred one has been coined with a social contract. It is tangible and may be terminated at any time.
Sociologists are agreed with the notion that status of women is elevated with introduction of...