Module 2 - Social Structures - what, how and who.
Overview
Social structures shape our identities and our interactions with others. Social structures link and connect social institutions and networks of social relationships, which combine to build and make the structure of any society. Social structure helps us to know where we fit in and what is expected of us in different situations. It helps us to know how to interact with others in many different places and situations.
Social structures set our social roles and positions within social institutions and social groups, laying the foundations for inequalities that exist in our society. Inequalities arise from the presence of patterned relationships of power and domination. Because of this social structures influence our behaviours, perspectives and the choices we make as social members whether we realize it or not.
One of the challenges about exploring and investigating social structures is that they are not something concrete that can be "seen" but often something that we "know" or "observe" in our daily lives. The interesting thing to note is that even if we can visibly see social structures we know they exist and we learn that we are part of them. In fact we are social members of many different social structures at the same time and over the length of our lives.
Some examples of social structures are class, ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality and identity.
Our Learning Objectives:
Our Learning Activities:
For this module we will explore social structures using video clips and another forum based discussion. There are two tasks for you to complete:
Task 1 - Exploring the meaning of social structure.
Task 2 - What makes up social structures - looking at the main components.
Task 3 - How does gender influence our identity and behaviour at school, in the family and in social media comunities?
Social structures shape our identities and our interactions with others. Social structures link and connect social institutions and networks of social relationships, which combine to build and make the structure of any society. Social structure helps us to know where we fit in and what is expected of us in different situations. It helps us to know how to interact with others in many different places and situations.
Social structures set our social roles and positions within social institutions and social groups, laying the foundations for inequalities that exist in our society. Inequalities arise from the presence of patterned relationships of power and domination. Because of this social structures influence our behaviours, perspectives and the choices we make as social members whether we realize it or not.
One of the challenges about exploring and investigating social structures is that they are not something concrete that can be "seen" but often something that we "know" or "observe" in our daily lives. The interesting thing to note is that even if we can visibly see social structures we know they exist and we learn that we are part of them. In fact we are social members of many different social structures at the same time and over the length of our lives.
Some examples of social structures are class, ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality and identity.
Our Learning Objectives:
- Define term social structure.
- Describe the main ideas and parts a social structures.
- Explain how individuals and/or groups are influenced in a specific social structure.
- Explain how inequalities arise from within social structures.
Our Learning Activities:
For this module we will explore social structures using video clips and another forum based discussion. There are two tasks for you to complete:
Task 1 - Exploring the meaning of social structure.
Task 2 - What makes up social structures - looking at the main components.
Task 3 - How does gender influence our identity and behaviour at school, in the family and in social media comunities?
Task 1 - Defining the meaning of Social Structure
Below are three videos that discuss and describe social structure. Take some time to view these videos and then see if you can come up with a definition of social structure using your own words. There is a brief introduction to the content in each video! When you are done post your definition here.
Below are three videos that discuss and describe social structure. Take some time to view these videos and then see if you can come up with a definition of social structure using your own words. There is a brief introduction to the content in each video! When you are done post your definition here.
Video 1 - Defining social structuresIn this video the differences & similarities between social structures and social institutions are highlighted along with some examples of social structures.
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Video 2 - Status & roles with social structuresIn society aka social structures there are certain statuses (things we can or can not change) and roles (the behaviour that is expected of us depending on our status). This video will explain these concepts.
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Video 3 - Social StratificationAre you wondering why the Social Stratification is included in the videos? Social Stratification is an example of how social structures can occur. This video gives you another perspective on what social structures can be, how they come about and how people are affected or influenced.
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Task 2 - What makes up social structures - looking at the main components.
The components of social structure include culture, social class, status, roles, groups, and social institutions. Social structure guides people’s behaviors. A person’s location in the social structure (his or her social class, social status, the roles he or she plays, and the culture, groups, and social institutions to which he or she belongs) underlies his or her perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. People develop these perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors from their place in the social structure, and they act accordingly.
All of these different components of social structure work together to maintain social order by limiting, guiding, and organizing human behavior. In this task we will specifically explore the main components of social structure (status and role) in a bit more detail. Take a look at the slideshow below and then complete the three activities at the end. Post your completed activity work here.
The components of social structure include culture, social class, status, roles, groups, and social institutions. Social structure guides people’s behaviors. A person’s location in the social structure (his or her social class, social status, the roles he or she plays, and the culture, groups, and social institutions to which he or she belongs) underlies his or her perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. People develop these perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors from their place in the social structure, and they act accordingly.
All of these different components of social structure work together to maintain social order by limiting, guiding, and organizing human behavior. In this task we will specifically explore the main components of social structure (status and role) in a bit more detail. Take a look at the slideshow below and then complete the three activities at the end. Post your completed activity work here.
Task 3 - How does gender influence our identity and behaviour in school and social media communities?
Gender as a social structure plays a significant role in the development of a young person's identity and our behaviour towards others and themselves. Take a moment to think about how being either male or female influences how young people behave at school and how they shape their identity, and how school shapes their identity. How do you think males or females identities and behaviour is influenced in a school context?
Now take things a step further - within a social media community do you notice any differences in the way that males and females behave and interact with each other - either within their own gender or interactions between each gender? Are their identities influenced and shaped differently?
Click here to post you ideas and responses to these questions.
Gender as a social structure plays a significant role in the development of a young person's identity and our behaviour towards others and themselves. Take a moment to think about how being either male or female influences how young people behave at school and how they shape their identity, and how school shapes their identity. How do you think males or females identities and behaviour is influenced in a school context?
Now take things a step further - within a social media community do you notice any differences in the way that males and females behave and interact with each other - either within their own gender or interactions between each gender? Are their identities influenced and shaped differently?
Click here to post you ideas and responses to these questions.