Industrial societies have indeed transformed social structures, leading to an increased dependence on kinship networks for various reasons. Here’s a deeper analysis of the relevant points:
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Shrinking Family Sizes: As families in industrial societies often have fewer children compared to agrarian societies, the size of families shrinks, resulting in a decreased number of family members to rely on for support. This shift often leads people to turn to broader kinship networks or friends for social and emotional support.
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Mobility for Employment: Industrialism typically brings about increased geographic mobility as individuals seek better job opportunities. This migration can separate people from their extended families. As a result, individuals may not have immediate family members nearby and often rely on friends and kinship networks formed in their new locales.
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Strength of Non-Familial Relationships: In industrial contexts, individuals often develop friendships and social networks that can be as strong, if not stronger, than familial ties. These networks provide emotional, social, and even economic support systems that can sometimes be more readily accessible than extended family.
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Effort in Maintaining Extended Relationships: Maintaining relationships with extended family can require significant effort, especially when family members are dispersed across different locations. In contrast, creating and nurturing friendships and kinship groups often feels more viable and necessary in an industrial society due to common experiences and shared lives.
In summary, the social changes wrought by industrialism have often necessitated a shift toward relying on kinship networks and friendships, particularly due to factors such as geographic mobility, smaller family units, and the ease of building new relationships in a rapidly changing social landscape.
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