Transcript Systems of Social Structure and Gender structure

Systems of Social Structure and
Gender structure
Alexa Smithwrick
AP World History
What is social structure?
The people in a society considered as a
system organized by a characteristic
pattern of relationships. In other words,
social structure is social organization
based on established patterns of social
interaction between different
relationships. Social structure varies
between countries and can play a key role
in interaction between countries.
What Effect Does Social Structure
Have?
Social structure has influence on all of the
following:
 Socialization
 Status Expectations
 Legal Regulations
 Ideology
The History of Social Structures
Some believe that social structure is naturally developed. It may be
caused by larger system needs, such as the need for labor, management,
professional and military classes, or by conflicts between groups, such as
competition among political parties or among elites and masses. Others
believe that this structuring is not a result of natural processes, but is
socially constructed. It may be created by the power of elites who seek to
retain their power, or by economic systems that place emphasis upon
competition or cooperation. Alexis de Tocqueville was the first to use the
term social structure. Tocqueville studied the effects of the rising equality
of social conditions on the individual and the state in western societies.
And his research has been very influential to the field of sociology. Later,
Karl Marx, Herbert Spencer, Max Weber, Ferdinand Tönnies, and Emile
Durkheim all contributed to structural concepts in sociology.
Alexis de Tocqueville
Comparing Social Structures
Below the social structures of America and India are compared. As you can see America’s
social structure is based on economy, but India’s is based on profession and ancestry.
America
India
Upper Class -also referred to simply as the
rich, is often considered to consist of those
with great influence and wealth.
Brahmins- priests and other religious leaders
Upper Middle Class-consists of those who
have autonomy in their work, above-average
incomes, and advanced educations.
Kshatriyas-ruler, warrior, or a land owner
Middle Class-consisting of professionals or
Vaisyas- merchants
business owners who share a culture of
domesticity and sub-urbanity.
Lower Middle Class-consist of "semiprofessionals" and lower level white collar
employees
Sudras-artisans and agriculturalists
Lower Class or “Working Class”- lowest
class, associated with poverty
Harijan-”outside” the caste system, otherwise
know as untouchables
What Is Gender Structure?
It is the way that gender is embedded in the
individual, interactional, and institutional
dimensions of a For example in some
parts of the world the man is considered
the head of the house. This is a form of
gender structure.
What Effect Does Gender Structure
Have?
Gender Structure can effect all of the
following:
 Education
 Marriage
 Legal Rights
 Profession
Comparing Gender Structures
Below the gender structures of America and Afghanistan are compared. The two are
drastically different. This is due to that fact that the majority of the population of
Afghanistan practices a Muslim faith. The Muslim faith is very restrictive to women.
America
Afghanistan
Education- In America women receive an
education equal to that of men
Education- millions of girls have gained access to
primary school during the last few years, but only
4% of females reach 10th grade
Marriage- In America the legal age to be married
is 18. Arranged marriages existed in the 1700s and
1800s but are uncommon today
Marriage-arranged marriages are custom and
females have little or no say. The girls are married
young , sometimes at ages as young as 11.
Legal Rights- up until the 19th century women
were unable to vote. Now women participate in
the government and many hold influential
government positions
Legal Rights-recently new laws have been passed
in Afghanistan that says a wife has no right to deny
her “husband rights” the legislation also grants
guardianship of children exclusively to their
fathers and grandfathers, and requires women to
get permission from their husbands to work.
Profession-In the past most women were
homemakers. Today there are female doctors,
lawyers, judges, and professional athletes
Profession- New legislation in Afghanistan requires
a woman to get permission from their husbands
to work.
Changing Social Structures
As history shows, social structures can be changed. There was a time where
women couldn’t vote in America. It was once absurd for a man to be a
home maker. Times are changing and more people are becoming advocates
for equality. Here are a few examples of recent changes in social structure:

Women now hold seats in the Afghan parliament

In 2005 Egypt granted women expanded divorce rights

Morocco got its first senior female political figure in 1997, a secretary of
state in the cabinet.

In 2004 Algerian women comprised almost 20 per cent in the upper house
of that country’s legislature

Algeria has 800 women judges, about half the total in the country. There
are also 1,065 women lawyers out of a total of 6,400.

CasteWatchUK has lobbied to include caste-based discrimination as part
of a stream-lined single equality act that would go into effect in 2010.
Works Cited
1.
Kimani, Mary. "Women in North Africa Secure More Rights.“
Africa Renewal vol22,201/July/2008 8. Web.20 Aug
2009<http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol22no2/222-women-secure-morerighs.html>.
2.
"Social Structure." Wikipedia. 2009. Web.20 Aug 2009.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_structure#History>.
3.
Callaham, Terrence. "Indian Caste Systems." 20 Aug 2009
4.
"American Middle Class." Wikipedia. 2009. Web.20 Aug 2009.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_middle_class#Lower_middle_class>.
5.
"Afghanistan passes 'barbaric' law diminishing women's rights." guarian.co.uk 14/Aug/2009
Web.20 Aug 2009. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/14/afghanistan-womens-rightsrape>.