The Concept of Contemporary Social Structures - Essay Example

Contemporary Social Structures Define and Explain What You Understand by the Concept 'Contemporary Social Structures' withthe use of examples. Discuss how these play an important role in regulating social life and practice Titus Rock Manickam Order No. 259318 10 December 2008 Define and Explain What You Understand by the Concept 'Contemporary Social Structures' with the use of examples. Discuss how these play an important role in regulating social life and practice Introduction Apparently what is happening in British society today and their interpretations and opinions by others, that is, the authorities and also the common man today can be accepted and applied even universally. Social structures are norms and natural standards accepted by society and observed by its members. They are uninhibitedly carried out in the normal course of a person or persons as required by him or her and taken as accepted by society at large. Since they do not encroach on anybody's rights or privileges, society allows such actions to occur without any reproof or rebuke. Social structures are also standards and behavior that each one expects of others and also follows them formally and informally. The formal social structures are those that each one follows in the course of his work or in affairs requiring official and authoritative sanctions. These may pertain to the person's requirement of such things as accommodation, health care issues, travel, etc. The informal social structures are those that are plainly behavioral in the way a person is expected to do things and carry out in society such as reacting with others or even in the way he exists in society. For instance, I may just walk down the road but I cannot glare at every other person I see on the road. Contemporary Social Structures Contemporary Social Structures are happenings in society and people's reactions to them. They are a way of life in society that people are expected to follow without question. It is not easy to define contemporary social structures. This is because there are some social structures that are relative and cannot be enforced morally or legally. There are some social issues that are universally acceptable and nobody has any problem with them. For example, I may wake up every morning, brush my teeth and take my bath. Nobody has any problem whether I brush my teeth and have my bath. Nobody will question me if I do not do these either. So long as I am presentable and keep myself in good condition, it does not matter to anyone how I look and behave. It is only when I ignore myself to the extent that I start smelling bad that someone may take notice and draw my attention to my personality. The population of vegetarians is growing and nobody is complaining. No one in society feels the need to counter the trend. There are many reasons such as health and religion in changing over to the vegetable diet. However, no one feels that it is necessary to question the person changing over to become vegetarian. Rather, society may look upon such person with a sense of awe. People may want to follow the footsteps of such a person who has become vegetarian (Chapter 1, Case Studies). Behavioral tendencies Society is made up of people who have different behavioral tendencies. Some are meek, some are bold, and most of the people are just plain average. However everybody has his own form of behavior and he expects society to accept it. Of course, he is expected to be reasonable and rational in his behavior. Society will not accept any questionable behavior. If it does, there is something wrong. There may be the exceptional case where it does accept such behavior. But it may not last long. Sooner or later, such behavior may have to be modified to suit society. In other words, what a person does must benefit society. If it does not benefit society, it must also not harm or create negative feelings. A person may be shy, but he is expected to answer reasonable questions (Chapter 4). Crimes There is also the extreme case of criminal behavior. Crimes happen but they have no place in a decent society. That is why there is law against crimes. It is a fact that the rich and the famous flout rules and seem to escape the provisions of law after committing a crime. Sometimes society seems to look on helplessly when the rich and the famous get away after committing a crime. At such times, society does look on with disapproval. However, it is not helpless. Ultimately, the guilty has to pay some way or the other. Justice catches up with the criminal. It is only a matter of time (Chapter 7). Society and a monolith Society is not only composed of individuals but also corporations. A giant corporation is also answerable to society. It cannot do what it likes. On the contrary, it has to find ways of earning the goodwill of society in order to survive. By all means, a large corporation does enjoy certain benefits and privileges in society an individual may not. It is more visible. It has more access to information. It enjoys better material amenities. Nonetheless, it pays back to society through social welfare schemes. It has to be seen to be scrupulously following rules and regulations. It cannot willfully flout the law and get away. A corporation does positive things for society by employing people and offering good products and services (Chapter 10). Adoptions Contemporary social structures not only provide the basics for social concern but also invariably question certain controversial, logic defying behavior. Take for instance, the question of adoption by a gay couple. In May 2002, the British parliament's House of Commons successfully passed an amendment encouraging this practice. It was, however, overturned by the House of Lords (Chapter 12). Social structures are not only based on moral grounds but also connected to issues such as health and proprietary. At least in the majority of the cases, such issues must have acceptance by more than half of the population. When I am dealing with something like adoption, I must follow what society sees as normal and acceptable. This is because of the general familial pattern in a normal household where the father is male and the mother is female. An unmarried or single parent may also find favor with adoption rules. However, society has not reached the level where a gay couple could adopt a child and look after its upbringing without anyone in society batting an eyelid. At least, such practice cannot meet with social and medical approval. Illegal trade Of all the rules and regulations in society, there is one that is causing damage on a global scale. Cutting down of trees. Deforestation is a big menace to society. One does not feel the effects. But it is there. Global warming is increasing at an unacceptable rate and the world is seized of the issue. However, trees are continuing to be cut and exported illegally to countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. This is a social crime and countries winking at these happenings must be made to pay. Otherwise, it is not far when the problem is too acute to be dealt with in time bound manner. In these times, society has to act specifically and decisively. The powers and rights of society are irrevocably entwined with that of a law-abiding individual. Hence, it is only fair that its accountabilities and responsibilities are acknowledged more than ever now (Chapter 16). Conclusion Contemporary social structures are nothing but the pillars on which society stands. They are the structures that stand on the foundation of truth and justice. It is not possible to live without them. In the days gone by, people did not think much about society because there were despotic and authoritative rulers who ran the affairs of their countries according to their whims and fancy. However, the situation is different today. Today's situations are issue based. It is not possible to think along the lines of a ruler. Globalization and economy will not allow despots to rule the way they like. Local affairs have to be seen in the light of global trends. The world has shrunk as a global village. Social boundaries and cultural trends call for better cooperation and communication. In this situation, it is only the right increasingly becoming the might. Source: Case Studies, Fulcher and Scott: Sociology 3e, Oxford University Press, http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780199285006/01student/case_studies/ Read More