Social Institutions
Embedded, traditional, habitual, legitimate social structures with particular functions that guide thoughts and actions of the members of a society.
Social
Institutions are designed to generate and
maintain cohesion, order, stability and conformity. (Structural/Function model)
Social Institutions are highly valued -- particularly by the dominant culture.
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Marriage and Family Social institutions that function to unite people in cooperative dyads and
primary groups.
Responsibilities include regulating sexual activities, child bearing, childcare and socialization.
Segway: Family and Economics |
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Economics
Institutions and structures that function and regulate the confiscation,
production, distribution, exchange and consumption of goods and
services for meeting the needs, wants and desires of the members of a
society. |
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Politics
Functions and structures that have anything and everything to do with governance of a social system. Governance in regard to power, authority, position and decision-making, etc. within and between human groups on many and meta levels. |
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Political Economies
Many social scientists argue that economic and political institutions are so intertwined, systemically connected, that
to view them as separate entities is unrealistic.
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Mass Media
Focus on transmitting data to large groups of people. Media organizations include, yet is not limited to: newspapers, radio, film,
music, books, magazines, the Internet and television.
Scientific study Media and Perceptions
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Education
Institutions that primarily function to train members, both formally and informally,
as to how to behave, what to think and in general how to participate in
the community, workforce and society. |
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Religion
Social institutions designed to provide a collective means for sharing
and understanding what is considered sacred, mysterious and otherwise unexplainable. |
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Formal Organizations, Secondary Organizations
Bureaucracies
For-Profit, Non-Profit and Government Organizations
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Sports
What are the structures and dynamics by which Steven Sweet claims sports is a social institution?
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Dominant Culture (Conflict/Contradiction view)
A
system of beliefs, values, norms, laws and practices that reinforce the interests of those with the majority of Privilege. The dominant culture functions in the best interests of a few referred to as the social majority, whereas the term social minority is the term used to describe those who share lesser degrees of privilege.
A dominant culture often generates and maintains certain ideologies that include stereotypes and prejudices which often provoke discrimination-against the "other."
Stereotypes - language, signs, symbols
Prejudice - thought processes conserved
Discrimination against - actual behaviors
Social structures often function to maintain stereotypes that perpetuate prejudices (representations), and discrimination against.
Institutional inequalities are nested in the assumption that a particular category or group of people is superior while others are or inferior.
Marriage and Family Related terms
Kinship groups
Extended family
Nuclear family
Monogamy
Endogomy
Exogamy
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Economics
Types of Economics Systems
Capitalism Socialism Communism Bartering
Elements of Capitialism - private ownership, free trade, growth and profit
Essense of Communism - like water, food and shelters, peace is a need
Socialism - the logical steps a society must take for communism to emerge
Economic Work Sectors: Primary Seconday Tertiary
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Politics
US Senators for Maryland(For you cell phone)
Barbara Mikulski(202) 224-465 // 224-8858
Ben Cardin (202) 224-4524 // 224-1651
Catigories for thinking about political issues:
Neo Conservative, Conservative, Liberal, Progessive and the Left
One take
Types of Political Systems for Distributing power in a society
Autocracy/Theocracy/Plutocracy/Corportacracy/Democracy
What's an Oligarchy
Political Economies
In modern societies capitalism and democracy go hand-and-hand.
Related Terms
There are two types of capital democracies in the world today. One is called captial democracy, the other, social democracy. Confusing huh? I'll tell you why in class.
Then there isearth democracy
Media
The Forth Estate in a democracy.
Ownership and regulation of the media reflects different types of political and economic social systems.
| Private for Profit |
Public non Profit |
Independent |
MEDIA WATCH
Newspapers Online
Who owns the media?
An Analysis of the; Media 2007
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Education
Public/Private
Higher Education
Tracking/Credentials
Against Schools?
Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Social context and Education
No Child Left Behind is a failed educational policy founded in top-down mandates, zero tolerance, narrow forms of assessment and privatization. -- Professor Gary Anderson 2010 _____
Religion
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Related Terms |
| Faith/Belief |
| Secularization |
| Social Change |
| Sacred Objects |
| World Religions |
| Sacred/Profane |
Fundamentalism
Interpret "sacred" textbooks literally
2. Oppose secularism and science in favor of religious beliefs
3. Reject religious pluralism and as such the concept of relativism
4. Endorse conservative political views/goals as opposes to liberal ones
-- Reference: John Macionis |
The most powerful religion in the world according to Tony Benn
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Medicine and Health institutions that focus on wellness, wellbeing and disease.
Health - includes states of social, physical, mental, spiritual well-being....
What is a Single Payer System?
U.S. Healthcare
Universal Healthcare
Healthcare and Insurance
Military Industrial Complex
Addiction to War
Nuclear Weapontry
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