Assess the view that Industralisation led to the nuclear family replacing the Extended family. (sociology)

Assess the view that Industrialisation led to the nuclear family replacing the Extended family as the main form of family structure.

Some have argued that as industrialisation and modernisation continue to shape our society, the ‘classic’ (or is it?-Laslett) extended family is breaking and kin-ship based society becoming increasingly rare. In its place is the privatised nuclear family form.

Parsons claims ‘the isolated nuclear family’ has taken over. The nuclear family places no emphasis on a wider system of kinship relationships hence it is structurally isolated. This means it can be geographically mobile whereas in pre-industrial times kinship links within the family meant it was designated to a particular area.

Parsons also notes how the family has ceased to be an economic unit of production, more suited to needs of modern society, and in Marxist perspective, suited to needs of capitalism. The media portrays a ‘cereal packet’ family which many families feel incl...