Functions of Family: Biological, Social, Economic, and Educational Roles

The family's role in human society is immense, and its functions are multidimensional. Family plays a significant role in giving birth to children, raising them, and nourishing and developing them correctly. This role is seen worldwide in all family structures. The role of the family is also changing due to social transformation. However, there are some basic family functions that all societies around the world perform. Some standard tasks of a family are discussed below:

1. Meeting Biological Needs: People form families to fulfill the biological demands in a socially acceptable manner. A family fulfills the biological needs of males and females through marriage. The primary objective of framing up children is related to the production of children. This function remains the family's responsibility until the child becomes self-sufficient. In this case, the proper upbringing of children depends on the family's income.

2. Maintenance of Children: In addition to child rearing, the socialization of a child is the key responsibility of parents and other members of the family. A child learns to see himself through others' eyes from an early age. They also understand family values, can express their likes and dislikes, can be introduced to outsiders, and develop the skills of adapting to others. From childhood, a child learns about social norms from their family, including manners, customs, behavior, rules and regulations, and practices. A child's desired behavior is shaped by the family's congenial environment. Apart from meeting his physical needs, a family fulfills a child's mental needs for security, safety, and love and affection. Lack of mental security, frustration, an inferiority complex, and tension can be created in a child's mind. We shall be more informed about this in the next section.

3. Economic Activities: Once, the family was the main center of all economic activities. At that time, all the necessary things for the family at home were produced locally. Once, all these financial activities were performed by joint families in rural areas. Still, over time, these economic activities of a family are being conducted by institutions such as factories, shops, markets, and banks. Now, many family members work outside the home to earn a living. For this reason, the family is treated as a unit of earning. Furthermore, the rural, agro-based families of our country are the primary driving force behind Bangladesh's agro-economy. Not only this, but the cottage industry, an essential sector in our country's economy, has also been established within families.

4. Education: Family is one of the most notable centers of tutoring for a child. After birth, a child receives their primary education at home. Mother is the best teacher of a child. Although many teaching responsibilities have been taken over by educational institutions nowadays, a child still learns lessons from the family about manners, behavior, punctuality, morality, religious values, and conduct.

5. Health and Hygiene: Family plays a vast role in matters related to health and hygiene. Once, providing health-related services and their regulation were confined within the family. In modern times, such services are provided by hospitals and clinics.

6. Recreation: In the past, leisure and recreational amusements for the family members were done within the family. Although various technologies and tools have been applied in recreational activities, a family is still considered the highest center for mental peace. Family chatting is a natural recreational activity that plays an important role in maintaining unity among family members.

7. Preservation of Family Inheritance: Inheritance of family property exists in almost all types of social systems. Starting with property, land, whether movable or immovable, is transferred through inheritance from one generation to another. And since family is at the root of producing a new generation, the role of the family is immense in preserving property and deciding inheritance. Therefore, a child acquires the qualities and responsibilities of a future parent, along with the capability to distinguish right from wrong, through their family. Our nice social system is developed for our families.