1. In the UNITED STATES SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

2.  An organizational system which functions to satisfy basic needs by providing a way to link the individual to the larger culture (includes ideas, relationships, and functions)  Ex: the economy  Ideas: green fabric = dollar  Relationships: boss-employee  Social function: produce goods for human needs WHAT IS A SOCIAL INSTITUTION? Social Institutions GovernmentReligionEducationFamilyMediaEconomy

3.  Spend a few minutes imagining a society without FAMILIES…  What would that society be like?  What kind of relationship would parents have? – Are there parents at all? (Genetic manipulations, cloning, etc)  How would housing be structured?  How would the basic needs of people be met?  How would children become socialized?  How would the education system be structured?  How would values be instilled?  Who would fulfill children’s needs for love and affection?  What types of adults would be produced by this type of society?  What types of careers would be created? What types of careers would no longer exist?  What would the economy look like?  What type of healthcare system would exist?  Would you want to live in this society? WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS…

4.  A group of people related by marriage, blood, or adoption  GREATEST impact on an individual’s behavior  Nuclear family – children and one/both parents  Extended family – two or more adult generations of the same family  Grandparents, children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins.  As societies become industrialized, nuclear families become smaller.  Why do you think this is? FAMILY

5. The family serves many roles in a society – socialization, love/affection, manages reproduction, regulates sexual activity, transmits social status, serves as economic center Functionalist How do family members compete and cooperate? Men and women – gender roles, gender expectations, inherent gender inequality? Conflict How do family members interact and how do they assign meanings to these interactions? Children develop their self-concept (including gender, self- esteem) based on interactions with family members. Symbolic Interactionist FAMILY

6.  The family is the primary social unit in American society… when the family structure breaks down, other institutions must fill-in (government or education) and the individual and society as a whole suffers.  Abuse, drug use, alcoholism, absentee parents, etc  There are few ways to regulate negative socialization processes that occurs in the family structure (ex: racism, abuse, etc.). THE PROBLEM WITH FAMILY

7.  Passes on essential knowledge deemed significant by a culture/society  Helps socialize (grooms) children into good citizens (patriotism)  Teaches skills necessary to be productive (writing, reading, etc)  Instills desired values (responsibility, appropriate time management, etc)  Introduces bureaucracy (administration structure, rules, hierarchies, authority) EDUCATION

8. Manifest functions – transmit culture, create common identity for diverse people (“American”), prepare for future career/life, promote personal growth and development Latent functions – childcare, possible mating partners, tracking can perpetuate class inequalities Functionalist Schools are meritocracies – based on competition between students, however, is America really a meritocracy? Schools can reflect social inequalities which can create conflict. Conflict What types of interactions transmit culture and how do people assign meanings to these interactions? Interactions teach conformity, discipline, cooperation Symbolic Interactionist

9. THE PROBLEM WITH EDUCATION  Problems with balancing the cost of educating an individual student with the economic resources of the community.  Achievement gaps correlate with the wealth of the community.  In addition, the role of teachers, parents, the government in education have changed  Who is responsible for student growth?  Do schools teach 21 st century skills? Do schools kill creativity? Are schools factories? Are schools factories? Ed. Spending and Performance – US vs. World

10.  The basic political organization of a society.  Purpose  To keep order  To make national decisions  The US government…  Provides law enforcement at various levels  Defends us with the armed services  Provides social services like Social Security and Medicare  Protects the rights of citizens GOVERNMENT

11. The role of the government is to serve the public. The public shapes the goals and values used to make policy decisions Functionalist Governmental power is concentrated in the hands of society’s elite, while non-elites have little influence on society. Public policy decisions are made in the interest of the elite power-holding group. Conflict GOVERNMENT

12.  There is debate over the actual role of government in society  how much/little intervention in the economy, social issues, individual rights, etc.  Necessary…  Law and order  National security  Emergency relief  Unnecessary…  Federal gov’t infringes on state and individual rights  After Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency, the President’s position and the role of the government significantly changed  “steward of the people” – the President should take whatever action necessary for the public good unless expressly forbidden by the Constitution or law.  Do you believe today’s Congress and President acts as a “steward of the people?” GOVERNMENT

13.  Creates divisions and tension in society.  Federalist No. 10 – Madison warns against factions because they break apart a republic, however they allow for liberty  “Catch 22” situation  Partisanship – an inclination to favor one group or view or opinion over alternatives  Government can be corrupt itself.  Nixon and Watergate  Current examples  The needs of the society and economical limits of the government come into conflict.  Disputes on how to distribute services to the people (if any services)  Debt issues (complicated by partisanship) PROBLEM WITH GOVERNMENT

14. ECONOMY  The way that a society produces and distributes resources and goods.  allows people to make a living  determines how to acquire and distribute goods and services  In the US, the economy:  provides a great number of goods and services demanded by society  produces and distributes food supplies  manufactures and sells industrial and consumer goods  conducts trade with industries around the globe

15. ECONOMY  It is crucial for an economy to keep people employed in order to support a nation’s success  high unemployment = bad economy.  A nation’s power is tied to its economic stability and power!!  A good economy creates a higher standard of living and other social institutions are more successful as well (ex: Families can support their children if they have jobs, etc.)

16. ECONOMY Work and the economy serve several functions – providing goods and services people need, gives people an income, provides people with self-fulfillment and part of their identify. Functionalist Control of the economy enables the economic elite to maintain their position at the top of society and to keep those at the bottom in their place. Work can be a site for sexual harassment and discrimination (reflecting larger social inequalities). Conflict Focuses on social interaction in the workplace – how employees respond to problems in their workplace, and how they perceive the work they do. Ex: how male gynecologists try to be “matter-of-fact,” and how female police officers feel the need prove themselves Symbolic Interactionist

17. THE PROBLEM WITH THE ECONOMY  The economy’s success or failure is directly connected to the government…which leads to political tensions.  Capitalism by nature oppresses a part of the population – Have and Have Nots! This leads to inevitable conflict.

18.  Unified system of beliefs and practices concerned with sacred things  Sociologists avoid evaluating religions based on beliefs and focus more on social aspects of religion that can be observed and measured.  Commonalities among religions…  Explain how the universe and humans came about  Determine group values to provide stability  Deal with issues of life and death  In the US…  There is no established religion due to separation of Church and State (not actually a law, more of a doctrine)  Religious pluralism (religious freedom, as long as laws are not broken)  Religious practices are on the decline, especially among young adults. RELIGION

19. Religion legitimates (justifies) the status quo (answers: “Why?”) Encourages unity, promotes a sense of belonging, provides a sense of understanding, Functionalist Elites use religion to manipulate the masses. Religion is used to validate inequalities  “This is how God made it.” Conflict People use socially created meanings from their religious beliefs, rituals, and ideas, to guide everyday behavior. Symbolic Interactionist RELIGION

20.  If religiosity is on the decline, then is it necessary in a society?  Why declining?  Increased scientific knowledge  Other social institutions can teach values  Why do some still believe?  Sense of belonging and security  Science can’t provide answers for all questions  Provides charity services IS RELIGION NECESSARY? Gallup Poll: US and Religion Bottom LineBottom Line

21. MEDIA  A means of public communication reaching a large audience  To move information to the masses  To create cultural cohesion  To enforce or re-affirm cultural norms  In the US, media:  supports the economy – mostly privately owned  outlines social inequalities and stereotypes in society  creates a global village trend and decreases the size of the world (more social interaction)  provides entertainment from a variety of outlets

22. Media serves to inform the public of important issues, to reinforce values and norms, and to act as a socializing agent. Functionalist Media can perpetuate existing conflicts and inequalities. Social media can act as a mechanism of social change. Conflict The media (especially social media) helps to redefine interaction between people and the meanings they assign to these interactions. The media presents people, events, and information in certain ways to influence their perception. Symbolic Interactionist MEDIA

23.  Not everyone has equal access to the media… especially as it is becoming increasingly technologically based.  Negative social trends can be perpetuated by the media.  Violence Violence  Stereotypes THE PROBLEM WITH THE MEDIA