An institution is an accepted and persistent constellation of statuses, roles, values, and norms that respond to importa
Social Institutions An institution is an accepted and persistent constellation of statuses, roles, values, and norms that respond to important values and needs Society is the totality of people and social relations in a given geographic space, and which is self-sufficient
Societal Needs
Supply of new members—reproduce or add
Socialization of members—norms, values, etc
Maintain health of members
Assign jobs and responsibilities
Create knowledge (educate)
Control members (laws and social control)
Defend the population against threats
Create an economy—exchange of goods and services Promote unity and purpose
Institutions—Family
Family −
Statuses—parents, grandparents, children, uncles and aunts, cousins
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Ideal-type family of late modernity = father, mother, and their biological children—neotraditional and accounts for only about 12% of families today
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Historical families included extended, working farm families, single-earner (male), more orphans
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Current families include single-parent, blended, dual-earners and adopted
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Roles, Values, Norms
Changes in # of Children
