The family

• the main role of the family is to raise children to be fully functioning human beings and adults that are able to take part in society
• parents are responsible for teaching children knowledge, skills, behaviour (primary socialisation). children who miss out on this find it difficult to fit into society as adults
• families contribute to our status. children born into wealthy families that have powerful positions in society will have far better opportunities than children born into less wealthy and powerful families e.g. PMs are more likely to come from wealthy and ppowerful families and to have recieved an expensive private education
• children born into professional middle class families have better opportunites than children born in poorer families