Turkish family structure and relations in Turkish family

Keywords: Family, types of family, turkish family and the historical period, turkish family structure, relations in turkish family. The smallest social unit of a community is the family.In other words, family is a part of the community that is made small out of it.Thus, the family is first a group, then an institution. Family is an institution that undertakes biological, social, economic, and cultural tasks.These tasks may be listed as ensuring the continuation of the offspring, socializing the children, satisfying the emotional requirements of the family members, protecting them against distress, providing them with biological and psychological satisfaction, and as inheriting the cultural heritage. Among all the institutions, it is the one in wich primary relations are seen the most frequently.The formation of a family is accomplished through marriage.Each married individual is considered to have established a new family.In this way, another institution to undergo the new tasks is created. The family is the core of the whole social existence in the Turkish community as well.The Turkish nation has been able to maintain their existence even tough they have moved from place throughout their history, thanks to their family structure is being well-built. Among Turks, patriarchal family structure is dominating.Father is the head of the family and is in the position of a guard that provides the whole family with its basic requirements.lt is the father who has the right to make the final decisions.Women are distinguishedly valued in the Turkish family.Because the women are at the domestic relations, as in the families of ancient Turks. Not only the old but also the youngsters are greatly respected and loved in the Turkish community.The respect and value shown to them is a sign of the respect and value considered not only for the history of the family but also for the future of it. Under circumstances, the family may experience changes in its structure with time.Social changes may of course result in changes in the family just as in all other institutions.The turkish family has also experienced changes in its structure dependiny on the circumstances and differend periods of time. Since Islam is suitable for the structure of our community, our people didn't suffer any hardship while adopting this religion. Likewise, this religion didn't contribute so much neither to the process of our community nor to the relationships within it. We have begun to see differences in the domestic relations, especially after the 19th century, together with industrialization.However, in the Turkish community, the family hasn't lost anything pertaining to its general functionality.Yet, it has functioned as a buffer for the community against external effects.lt has absorbed the changes and developments in such a way to fit its own structure and has avoided any change in the general structure of our community. VI