Impact of Social Change upon Family as Social Institution with Special Focus on Pakistan: A Sociological Analysis

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.