State

State as a Social Institution

     What is a state or government you may ask? The state is often referred to as the government. Government is defined as the governing body of a nation, state, or community. It is an organization that decides and enforces rules that a society must follow and regulates communication/relations with other societies and governments(SparkNotes). The government has procedures it follows on making and enforcing rules. Hired or elected officials have specific jobs. For example senators and representatives are elected along with the president and his cabinet and they are in charge of making the rules for a nation. Within each state there are elected governors, senators, and representatives that work in the state capital making laws for that specific state. Within each community there are elected mayors, and city council members that have meetings and are in charge of making rules for that community. Hired policemen, state patrol and military personnel help enforce and protect us in our community, state, and nation. The military works alongside the president in handling foreign affairs with other countries. A person or group that considers itself a governing body of a society must have the members of the societies consent. The government can not do much good if the society it is leading does not recognize the authority or power of the government or leading body.

      In the previous blog we looked at and defined what a social institution is. Social institutions are what keep society going and just like family, state or government is extremely important. Every society needs a form of government to keep order, safety, and purpose, similar to family, but on a larger scale.

     There are four main types of government seen throughout the world; monarchy, democracy, authoritarian, and totalitarian. Each has its own unique way of governing a nation ("Definition"). First, monarchy is defined as a political system in which one member of the family controls the government and power. It is passed down from generation to generation. Several European countries have monarchies. Second, democracy is defined as a political system in which the people periodically elect officials to run the government. The United States is and example of a democracy. Third, authoritarian government is defined as a political system in which the people are not allowed to participate in the government. China and Zimbabwe are example of a authoritarian government. Fourth totalitarian is a political system in which the government maintains tight control over almost every aspect of its citizen's lives. An example of totalitarian is in Cambodia (Spark Notes).

     Looking at the government as a social institution with the conflict theory lens looks different than the government we have now. Karl Marx the founder of the conflict theory stated there was an uneven playing field in society. The rules of the game were rigged because the benefits went to the wealthy and powerful people. He stated that society was unjust and unequal. This makes me think of Germany during WWII. Hitler was in charge made the rules and wanted certain people off the face of the planet, he was almost successful too. Hitler was more of a totalitarian government but the benefits went to those in power, the ones Hitler wanted to keep. The game was rigged on the way you looked, and your religious background. Some could also argue that the game is rigged today. That the wealthy people are getting away with not paying as many taxes and the poor are being taxed too much. The government helps provide the people with services but these services must be paid for through tax dollars. I do believe if someone making $100,000 a year should pay more than someone making $30,000 a year, it just doesn't seem fair for them to both pay the same amount. I do have to say I am thankful for the government we have and the order it has maintained over 200 years but I would not want the job of working for the government and deciding the laws for a society.

Works Cited

"Social Institutions: Definition, Example, & Quiz." Study.com. Study.com, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.

"Social Institutions." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.

Family

Family as a Social Institution

      What is a social institution anyway? Defined by the Encyclopedia of Quality of Life Research a social institution is a system of behavioral and relationship patterns that are densely interwoven and enduring, and function across an entire society. They order and structure the behavior of individuals by means of their normative character (Verwiebe). Social institutions are the standard or usual way a society meets its basic needs. They shape people's behavior and values. The book Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach says by weaving the fabric of society, social institutions set the context for your behavior and orientations to life. If your social institutions were different, your orientations to life would be different (Henslin 100). Every society has social institutions because they are a vital part of society.
     There are many different types of social institutions. Religion, education, and politics are just a few. However, family is a social institution that every person in society is a part of, whether that be in a sport, church, friends, work, or within their own family. Family like any other social institution has five main functional requisites.
      First, any group or social institution needs members. These members need to be replaced in order for a social institution to continue its existence. With reproduction fundamental to a society's existence, and the need to protect infants and children universal, all groups have developed some version of family. The family gives the newcomer to society a sense of belonging by providing a lineage. A lineage is an account of how he or she is related to others. The basic needs of regulated reproduction, and socialize and protect children are met (Henslin 101).
      Second, the members within the group or institution need socialization. With family the newcomer, the baby or infant, has to be taught what it means to be a member in that specific group. Each group has expectations that need to be met by the new members. The family is essential to this process. If certain needs or expectations are not met each group/family has consequences that are given. These expectations are not only necessary in the home but also out in society. It gives the member a certain confidence when accepted by other groups when their expectations Aline (Henslin 101).
      Third, a group needs to produce and distribute goods and services. This could be food, clothing, shelter, or education. This make a the group vital to society in an economic way.  Economics deals with supply and demand. The demands of a social group should equal with the supply of the social group. This helps regulate the economy so one social group is not taking more than they deserve. The family provides food, clothing, and shelter to its members. Adults work and provide these necessary items to their children. Parents also provide education to their children through words and actions (Henslin 102).
       Fourth, a social group needs to preserve order. Social groups face two threats of disorder. One is internal, the potential of chaos within the group. The second, is external, the possibility of attack. To protect themselves from an internal threat they develop ways of control. There is an order and classification to the group. To defend themselves against external conquest, they develop a defense system. A family has internal order kept by the head of the house, then the spouse, oldest child to youngest child. Each person has worked and continues to work for their place of order. The defense system for the family is the defense team (police force) within the family's community (Henslin 102).
       Fifth, every social institution has to provide a sense of purpose. They need to get people to yield self-interest in favor of the needs of the group. To convince people to sacrifice personal gains, societies install a sense of purpose. The sense of purpose helps create the feeling of belonging to its members (Henslin 102). Within a family there are many things that contribute to this sense of purpose. Different members of the group help provide this purpose by showing affection, care, and companionship. Family members provide each other with love and intimate relationships that also help them feel protected, secure, and satisfied (Verwiebe).
       Family as a social institution meets all of these requisites. Family structures are where children grow up and receive their primary socialization. My social habits were first implemented by the members of my family. Every human being has been shaped into the person they are today because of the way they were raised, what they were taught was acceptable, and what was not. Depending on what family you were brought into determines your values, beliefs, and morals because the basic essentials of life were first taught to you by your family. Once those ideas are placed into a person's life they become the typical or normal way of going about and doing life.

Works Cited

Henslin, James M. "Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interactions."Sociology:A Down-to-Earth              Approach: Pearson New International Edition Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2014. 93-123.             Print
"Social Institutions." SpringerReference (2011): n. pag. Dr. Roland Verwiebe. Web.