The Family in State and Society

Abstract

So far we have looked at the internal organization of the family and other kin groupings, but we have not considered the place of the family in society nor how it interacted with other institutions. A family is, of course, moulded by its relationships with other families and with society at large, just as the behaviour and lifestyle of the individual are affected by his relationships with others. Even the lineage, large and ‘self-sufficient’ as it was, must be placed in a social context if we are to understand its importance.