Horton and Hunt’s Sociology state that family is the basic social institution from which other institutions have grown as increasing cultural
complexity made the necessary. Therefore, family is very important in forming society in which it is the basic institution, which develops the society. Further,
they say that family is very important in children rearing and to fulfil human needs. “Family is a kinship grouping which provides for the rearing of children
and for certain other human needs.” Family must carry a lot of functions such as conceiving and raising the children, caring for the ill and aged, etc. Besides, the
members of a family have certain responsibilities toward one another Horton and Hunt 216.
Grabianowski’s Mafia: An Overview states that family means each individual gang within the Mafia is known as a family. Not everyone within a
family is actually related to one and other, although it is common for relatives of mobsters to be inducted into the same family as their brothers or fathers.
b. Kind of Family
According to Hurlock’s Personality Development, there are many kinds of family compositions. There are nuclear family and extended family. Nuclear
family is composed of two parents and their children, whereas extended family consists of a nuclear family plus relatives who live under the same roof. The
family members may all be singletons, or some may be singletons while others are multiple births twins either identical or nonidentical, triplets, etc Hurlock 365.
In The Family in America, Hawes states that extended family plays a major role in visions of ideal society. In nostalgic views of American life, the
nuclear family may play the starring role, but the extended family is omnipresent and provides by far the best character actors. The extended family may also
include people who are not related by blood but who make an important contribution to family life Hawes 324.
c. Italian Society and Culture
Davies’ Italian Customs states that in Italy the family is the centre of the social structure and provides a stabilizing influence for its members. In the north,
generally only the nuclear family lives together; while in the south, the extended family often resides together in one house. The family provides both emotional
and financial support to its members. They respect and defer to those who are older, those who have achieved a level of business success, and those who come
from well-connected families. Heated debates and arguments often erupt in meetings. This is simply a function of the free-flow of ideas.
Davies’ Italian Community states that while the notion of characteristics based on ethnicity is a problematical one, particularly if it is negative, Italians are
a sociable, company-loving people. With respect to immigrant communities, there is another reason for seeking the company of compatriots. To be a stranger in a
foreign land was a daunting experience - there was the necessity to earn a living, which was difficult enough, but there was also the barrier of language. Thus, the
ties of kinship and also of community and region, became very important in immigrant communities across the country. This was also true in Italy were the
unification of Italy was still so recent at the end of the 19th century that, for many, even today, the ties of region are more important than national ties.
She also states that in an effort to cushion the shocks of life in the new country, Italian immigrants planted fig trees in their greenhouses and grapevines
in their backyards, played favourite folk songs at social gatherings, cooked traditional foods and visited friends and family on weekends. Customs and
traditions are rooted in the family, whether nuclear or extended, as well as in institutions and organizations in the community. The motivation for the gatherings
were secular, sacred or both. The celebration of marriages, births, name days, anniversaries and birthdays provided a reason to get together. Food was the
vehicle for social interaction. Many of the customs and traditions of the Italian community revolve around seasonal religious festivals all of which had their
prescribed foods and rituals Italian Community.
d. Social Class Variation in The United States of America
