Assignment # 2 Topic: How society is shaped? Discuss the Social Institutions and units that make up the whole society. You have to cover all components of society in your answer. Student Name: Sehreen Tanveer Registration ID: 201027 Section: BSAVM-2 Semester: 2nd Course Name: Introduction to Sociology Teacher’s Name: Miss Mehreen Iftikhar Society, through the ages, has always been influenced by a number of factors; one of the major ones being culture. Globally, cultures differ from one area to the other, molding the society of that particular area to fit the beliefs, and values of the people. These unique cultural practices are observed to be incorporated further within the components of society. A society is made up of the following social institutions: religion, economy, education, politics, and family, each playing its own significant part in shaping the society as a whole. Religion This makes up the belief system of the society. Religious values and practices determine a significant portion of “acceptable” and “unacceptable” societal practices. For example, in Pakistani society, it is unacceptable to wear revealing clothes. Anyone who does so is considered “vulgar” or “inappropriate” and is frowned upon by others. This is because Islam being the majority followed religion deems it inappropriate to dress provocatively. The same rule applies when it comes to matters such as consumption of alcohol, or indulging in pre-marital, or extramarital relations. Economy Economy makes for the financial aspect of the society, by determining how stable it is. It further acts as the dividing force, as it categorizes the society into lower, middle and upper classes, on the basis of wealth. For example, Pakistan has a weak economy, as a result of which 24% of its public lives below poverty line, and is unable to fulfil the basic necessities of life. However, in western societies, due to strong economies, only 10.8% of the public faces financial limitations. Weak economy based societies adapt to low price goods, while rich societies enjoy the luxuries of life. Education Education is the building block of every society. It shapes the mindsets, personalities, and functionality of the future generations, preparing them to lead the society successfully. For example, as Pakistan’s education system is underdeveloped and neglected, the society’s illiteracy rate is nearly 40%, relative to that of only 10% in the American society. Politics Politics is the backbone of any society. It represents the legal grounds on which the society operates, making sure it functions smoothly. Without a political system stabilizing the society as a whole, anarchy would prevail, causing uproar in crime rates, ultimately destroying the foundations of the society. As societies grow, new rules are made for the betterment of all. For example, as the global community progressed, rules where “women could vote” or “run for president” were introduced.
