Social Structure and Society Chapter 5 Social Structure and Society

Chapter Outline Using the Sociological Imagination Social Structure and Status Social Structure and Roles Doing Research

Bell Work What is your status in society?

Social Structure The underlying pattern of social relationships. Relationships among individuals are patterned. Status, role, role performance, and social interaction explain social structure.

Status A position that a person occupies within a social structure. Individuals in interrelated statuses usually behave in orderly and predictable ways. Statuses may be assigned or earned. A person’s master status affects most other aspects of a person’s life.

Ascribed Status A position that is neither earned nor chosen but assigned Gender Age India – social class

Achieved Status A position that is earned or chosen Spouse Occupations

Status Set All of the statuses that a person occupies at any particular time Social worker Mother Wife Choir director Neighbor

Master Status A position that strongly affects most other aspects of a person’s life Occupation Race Gender Criminal

The Interrelationships of Social Statuses

Bell Work List the different roles that you have in your life. List the expectations that go along with each role Explain how some of the roles are connected

Roles, Rights and Obligations Roles are culturally defined rights and obligations attached to social statuses. Rights inform one person of the behavior that can be expected from another person. Obligations inform individuals of the behavior others expect from them. Give an example of each. How do they differ?

Role Performance Occurs when roles are put into action through social interaction. Social Interaction s the process of influencing each other as people relate. Role conflict occurs when role performance in one status clashes with role performance in another status. Role strain occurs when the roles of a single position are inconsistent.

“It is never too late to be what you might have been” George Eliot

The Links Between Culture and Social Structure

The Stage Analogy Stage Social Life Parts Statuses Script (lines) Roles Cues Social Interaction Actual performances Role performances

Students Expelled for Bringing Guns to School, 1998–1999

Theoretical Perspectives: Social Structure Concepts Functionalism Role Conflict theory Ascribed master status Symbolic Interactionism Social interaction

Q and A Give an example of how role strain can be hypocritical What difficulties would arise if you best friend was also your manager at work? P 151 answer questions 1-5 Answer ”Doing Sociology” at the bottom of page 152

Types of Society How societies solve the problem of subsistence influences culture and social structures. Societies become more complex as the means for solving subsistence problems improve. Major types of societies are hunting and gathering, horticultural, pastoral, agricultural, industrial, and postindustrial.

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Hunting and Gathering Origin Subsistence Technology Culture and Social Structure

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Hunting and Gathering Origin First type of society to emerge Subsistence Hunting and Gathering Technology Simple handmade tools Culture and Social Structure Nomadic bands based on kinship; Common property ownership; Scant division of labor based on sex and age

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Horticultural Origin 9,000 years ago Subsistence Domesticating plants Technology Handmade tools (digging sticks,hoes, spades) Culture and Social Structure Less nomadic bands; more conflict among bands; less division of labor based on sex and age

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Pastoral Origin About 9,000 years ago Subsistence Domesticating animals Technology Meat cutting tools; knowledge of grazing, land, breeding, weather, water supply Culture and Social Structure Live in villages; some trade; women at home while men attend herds; greater economic surplus

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Agricultural Origin About 5,000–6,000 years ago Subsistence Permanent land cultivation Technology Plow and animal energy Culture and Social Structure Increased productivity; complex division of labor; separate political, economic, and religious institutions; social classes; emergence of trade and money

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Industrial Origin About 250 years ago Subsistence Application of science and technology to production Technology Power-driven machines Culture and Social Structure Economy shifts to open market; women are less subordinate; institutions become more specialized; impersonal social relationships

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Post- Industrial Origin Around 1970 Subsistence Development of service industries Technology Intellectual Culture and Social Structure Greater social instability;less social and cultural consensus; reduced gender inequality; individualism increases; urban population moves out of large cities

Views of Preindustrial and Industrial Societies Emile Durkheim Ferdinand Tonnies Gemeinshaft Gesellschaft Social Solidarity Mechanical Solidarity Organic Solidarity

Gemeinshaft “community” Society based on tradition, kinship and intimate social relationships Mainly found in preindustrial societies

GesellShaft “Society” Society based on weak family ties, competition, and less personal relationships Represented in an industrial society

Social Solidarity is how society is unified Mechanical Solidarity – most people are doing the same type of work Beliefs Values Norms Conformity Organic Solidarity – members depend on a variety of people to fulfill their needs Specialized jobs Complex status interdependent

Major Features of Postindustrial Society Majority of labor force is employed in services rather than agriculture or manufacturing. White-collar employment replaces blue-collar work. Theoretical knowledge is the key organizing feature.

Major Features of Postindustrial Society Through new means of technological forecasting, society can plan and control technological change. Intellectual technology dominates human affairs.