CULTURE : SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Social Structure

•         Roles of individuals within the society, the stratification of the society, and individuals’mobility within the society

Individuals, families, and Groups

•         All human societies involve individuals living in family units and working with each other in groups.

•         In U.S view of family ties and responsibilities focuses on the nuclear family (father,mother and offspring).

•         Arab family, consider uncles, brothers, cousins, and in-laws as part of their family

•         Japan children are taught that their role is to serve the group ("Bringing the World into Focus"). 

Social Stratification

•         All societies categorize people to some extent on the basis of their birth, occupation, educational achievements, or other attributes.

•         In medieval Europe; the roles and obligations of peasants, craftsmen, tradesmen and nobles were carefully  delineated by custom and law.

•         British class structure and India caste system are the example of stratification.

•         In other societies, social stratification is less important.

•         U.S bank president may haughlity bark orders at janitorial staff when on the job yet willingly take orders from those same individuals when cleaning up after a chruch fund-raiser.

•         In less strafied societies, firms are freer to seek out the most qualified employee, went to the right school, goes to the proper church, or belongs to all the best clubs. In highly stratified societies, advertisers must tailor their messages more carefully to ensure that they reach only the targeted audience and do not spill over to another audience that may be offended by receiving a message intended for the first group.

•         Social mobility is the ability of individuals to move from one stratum of society to another. Social mobility tends to be higher in less stratified societies.

•        Social mobility (or the lack thereof) often affects individuals’ attitudes and behaviors toward such factors as labor relations, human capital formation, risk taking, and entrepreneurship.