Understanding Culture, Society & Politics (First Semester) PDF

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, & POLITICS F I R S T S E M E S T E R  Lesson 10: Social Institutions  Learning Objectives At the end of the session, you will be able to: 1. Value the influence institutions have on the individual and the society 2. Explain the nature of...

UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, & POLITICS F I R S T S E M E S T E R  Lesson 10: Social Institutions  Learning Objectives At the end of the session, you will be able to: 1. Value the influence institutions have on the individual and the society 2. Explain the nature of social institutions 3. Enumerate the steps in the institutionalization of a social practice  pattern of social Social Institutions relationship → Refer to complex social structures within which social norms, rituals, conventions, rules, and epistemologies are interwoven into a tight knit  Social Institutions → Basic institutions include government, economy, education, family, and religion. → Refer to mechanisms or patterns of social order focused on meeting SOCIAL NEEDS.  Nature of Social Institutions 1. Social institutions are an important ‘layer’ of our nested realities; they form a critical part of the fabric of our societies and have considerable influence on our lives.  Nature of Social Institutions Abortion or divorce, acceptable or not? Church Government Alcoholism and drug use, acceptable or not?  Nature of Social Institutions Social institutions play a Church role on how societies are Government organized and operate.  Nature of Social Institutions 2. Social institutions have the power to uphold certain (political and ever-changing) social norms, while delegitimizing others. Heterosexual marriage Political Dynasty Upholding? De-legitimizing?  Nature of Social Institutions 3. Social institutions are typically long lasting, though their shape and structure often change incrementally over time. Definition of a family How have they changed? Classroom teaching Worship and religious services  Process of Institutionalization (the process of becoming a permanent or respected part of society) a) social institutions stem from a need in society; b) based on that need, a fixed set of social relationships is established to fulfill it;  Process of Institutionalization c) those relationships are then organized into more formal structure/s or mechanism/s; and d) those organized relationships gain significance in society, ensuring they are maintained and endure over time.  Example of Process of Institutionalization Education System Need: Education for national progress. Relationships: Families initially taught informally. Formal Structure: DepEd and CHED oversee education, with the K-12 program and teacher licensure exams. Significance: Education is crucial, with compulsory schooling and ongoing government support.  Example of Process of Institutionalization Economic System (Banking) Need: Financial security and growth. Relationships: Informal lending (paluwagan) was common. Formal Structure: BSP and banks provide secure savings and economic stability. Significance: Banking supports remittances, savings, and investments. -- End of Discussion --  Lesson 10: Social Institutions  Why is the chicken crossing the road? Indeed, there are many ideas we create (try to prove) to explain some things. ‘theories’  Theoretical Frameworks in Sociology (approaches on how to understand the nature of social institutions) SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS  LEARNING OBJECTIVES: At the end of the session, you will be able to: 1. Explain the three theoretical frameworks in Sociology; 2. Determine the criticism / limitations of these theoretical frameworks; 3. Utilize these theoretical frameworks in explaining the nature of some political, educational, and religious institutions.  Theoretical Frameworks in Sociology Structural-Functionalism Social Conflict Symbolic Interactionism Structural-Functionalism Summary: sees society as a complex system where all the parts work together to promote solidarity and stability Society is composed of ❑ social structure: a relatively stable pattern of social behavior ❑ social functions: consequences of a social pattern for the operation of society as a whole Pioneers: Auguste Comte, Emile Durkheim, Herbert Spencer Structural-Functionalism Robert K. Merton (1910-2003) pointed out that a social structure may have many functions: 1) manifest functions (consequences that can be recognized and are intended) 2) latent functions (consequences that can’t be recognized and are not intentionally) 3) social dysfunction (any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society) Social Conflict Pioneer: Karl Marx Summary: sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change thus social order and stability is a product of coercion and power. It focuses on how any social pattern related to class, race, ethnicity, gender and age benefits some people (privileged/ dominant class) while hurting others (subordinate/ disadvantaged class) in terms of money, power, education and social prestige Social Conflict Pioneer: Karl Marx Connected to Karl Marx idea of “historical materialism” which states that “The ideas of the ruling class are, in every age, the ruling ideas.” Led to two important theories: 1) Gender-Conflict Theory (from which Feminism was born) 2) Race-Conflict Theory (from which Orientalism and Post-colonial Subaltern were born)  Symbolic Interactionism Summary: ❖ Sees society as a product of the everyday interactions of individuals thus the reality people experience is variable Pioneers: George Herbert Mead and Herbert Blumer and changing.  Symbolic Interactionism Summary: ❖ Society is seen as ❖ understands a particular an ongoing process social setting form the in where people point of view of the interact in people in it; that is, countless settings based on their using symbolic understanding of the communications social setting and their such as language. understanding of the symbols used  LEARNING CHECK: Identify the Theoretical Framework being ‘criticized’ in the following items: 1. It paints society in broad strokes (such as ‘social class’, ‘race’ etc.) 2. It is very subjective, suggesting the “it depends” argument. 3. It ignores how shared values unify members of a society. 4. It ignores the influence of culture as well as other factors. 5. It normalizes social inequality and not critical about it. 6. It is very conservative since it focuses on stability.  Why is the chicken crossing the road? Structural- Functionalism? Social Conflict? Symbolic Interactionism?