Question

‘Family is a universal institution.’ In this context, discuss the reasons for its universal existence.

Answer 1

‘Family is a universal institution.’ It is the foundation of society. It is present in every society and in every age. It forms the basic unit of social organisation and is hard to imagine how society could function without the family.
The reasons for the universal existence of families are as follows :

• It is the only unit that fulfills the basic needs of the procreation and upbringing of children.
• It legitimises the sexual union between male and female.
• It fulfills the basic human needs of acceptance and belongingness.
• The family provides the individual with primary socialization, which helps the individual to become accepted into society.
• It helps in the transmission of culture from one generation to another.
• It is the basic production and consumption unit.