Caribbean Studies Mrs.

Murphy
Impact of Societal Institutions on Caribbean People 14th November 2016

Social Institutions as a sociological concept.

Social institutions are a fundamental part of the operations of society. According to sociologist, each social
institution has functions that ensure the smooth working of the social system. In this topic, we are going to analyze
how social institutions are constructed and how they impact on our lives.
We all live in society and are quite aware of how things work – what is accepted and what is not. It may be that we
have grown up taking much of this ordering of our lives for granted. We are going to look more closely and
critically at those societal arrangements that help us to observe this order. Sociologists explain our willingness to
obey and conform largely through the power that social institutions wield in our lives.
• These embody all the ideas and beliefs of members of the society about how they think their lives should be
organized.
• Dominant ideas and beliefs are those usually of the ruling class or the rich and powerful and tend to be the ones
people find legitimate
• Minority and weaker beliefs are also apart of the social institution but are not felt to be legitimate by the majority
of the society and so may be suppressed and alienated.
• These ideas are normally in competition with one another for supremacy. So how can ideas be the building block of
an entire society.
• Each institution becomes tangible through social organizations. So religious beliefs of the Christian are made
tangible through the church.
• The ideas and beliefs forming the institution become concrete in the society through social organisations which
reflect how these ideas are held
• Socialization is the process through which the cherished ideas and beliefs of on generation become the cherished
ideas of the next.
• Members are born into a society where they are socialized into accepting the social institutions that organize that
society however if they are born into peripheral groups then they will feel the institution as oppressive.
• In each institution, there are values (ideas on how something should be ranked in society), norms (yardsticks and
standards that have evolved on how we should act), statuses (assigned positions or locations), and roles
(expectations of behaviour)
• They are then the fundamental building blocks of society and vary over time and are based on the ideals which the
people of the society have on accomplishing the tasks of living together collectively.

Social Organizations
Social organizations develop in a society to carry through or realize the values and beliefs held in the institutional
framework of society. If our Justice system, for example, is predicted on values such as equality and fairness, then
social organizations such as the protective services, the judiciary and our legal establishment, evolve in order to
protect the accused and the innocent and ensure that their rights are recognized.
Social organizations are thus, tangible outcomes of the cherished ideas in the institutional framework. These social
organizations help to structure society in accordance with deeply held beliefs and values.

Sociological perspectives on Social Institutions

A sociological perspective can best be described as a ‘way of seeing’ or ‘how one understands what is real and
valued’. Through perspectives, sociologists are able to show us that we have different views or lenses through
which we understand society (reality). There are dominant views and there are minority or alternative ways of
seeing and interpreting the world.

The Functionalist Perspective of Social Institutions

This is the oldest and most dominant sociological perspective. It gives us a certain kind of understanding of society
and how social institutions work. Functionalism is of the view that society can be harmonious for all – if we ‘agree’
to organize our lives in ways. These ways involve holding the dominant values and beliefs of the society as
represented by the various social institutions. If there is consensus, then there is the likelihood of order, stability,
uniformity, and rationality in social life.
Functionalists see life in society as an ordered existence, Everyone has a role to play and if these roles are carried
through efficiently then there would be maximum productivity and the minimum of behavioral problems,
imbalances and dysfunctions. You will recognize this as a popular argument by persons trying to explain social ills.
For example, the problem of student indiscipline is more often than not attributed to lack of parental involvement
and guidance. In other words, parents are not carrying out their role efficiently. The social role is an important
concept in functionalism.
Functionalism has been responsible for the ideas, beliefs and values that are at the heart of our social institutions.
They remain dominant even in times of rapid change. Functionalism then holds a conservative understanding of
society and the way social institutions impact on the lives of members. It sees value and importance in maintain the
status quo. Change is regarded as necessary in improving society but it must be ordered, gradual and incremental.
What is seen as crucial is the necessity to build and maintain social cohesion.

The conflict (or Marxist) Perspective.

This way of understanding social life and social institutions set itself up in opposition to functionalism in many
ways. Conflict theorists feel that functionalist explanations about society mask the views and experiences of the
underclass or those who are not privileged in the society and those whose voices are not usually heard. They
emphasize conflict and tension between social groups attempting to reap the rewards of the society in terms of
wealth, status and prestige. This conflict and tension stem mainly from the contradictions that arise in social
life because of how social institutions seem to value some social groups over other. In fact, they see elite groups
actually obstructing the progress of others. Any social order that exists, they say, occurs because of social control.
This perspective takes the view that the values, ideals and beliefs that make up our social institutions are mainly of
use to the dominant groups in the society. Yet because of the way these values are universally held in the society,
even those who are disadvantaged by such values hold them dear. Conflict theorists refer to this as having a false
consciousness.
In the view of the conflict theorist, the situation works out happily for the dominant groups who are reaping the
rewards of the system without any opposition or disruption of the status quo. However, this sets up contradictions
about what is expected and what actually happens, leading to conflict and tensions in social institutions. For
example, if most people look to education to earn them social mobility, then the majority of school graduates and
their parents are not realizing their expectations. Inequities and oppression result, with low-income groups on the
whole leaving school with minimal qualification and, therefore, instead of social mobility, what occurs for them is
social reproduction. The conflict perspective then opposes a view of society as one organized through consensus
for the good of all. They see conflict as giving a truer picture of the reality than consensus in all social institutions.

The Family
• Nancie Solien defines the family as "group of people bound by that complex set of relationships known as
kinship ties”
• It is the basic unit within society which ensures continued existence of society - procreation of new
generations; it is within the family that sexual activity; child bearing; maintenance, support and
socialization of the young are performed.

The Historical Context of the Family

Analysing the dominant and subordinate ideas about the family in the Caribbean
• Amerindian traditions of raising the family have disappeared for example initiation rights of young
Kalinago boys as warriors
• African extended networks during slavery ensured familial support through matrifocal relationships and
extended kin
• The European dominant idea of the nuclear family was brought to the Caribbean entrenched in the society
yet most of the population has matrifocal families
• Indians brought the extended family through the joint household with a strong patriarchal family structure
with emphasis on early marriage

The Myth of the Nuclear Family

• The ethnocentric notion of the co-residential nuclear family has been indoctrinated into the Caribbean
psyche
• European scholars interpreted the diversity of Caribbean family systems as inferior and unstable later
labelling our females as promiscuous and our males as irresponsible
• Missionaries and authorities seemed to believe marriage as the salvation for the region
• Despite our many single parent, unwed couples, visiting arrangements, several partners and matrifocal
households the bias towards the nuclear family is at the heart of these other systems as negative
• This ethnocentric stereotype that males are to be the authority figures and women are to be the
homemakers has also added a portrayal that any other arrangement is unstable and irregular
Caribbean Family forms
• The diversity of Caribbean family forms has been theorized in to originate in three different ways
1. African Retentions: Matrifocal families are typical of West Africa where polygamy is practiced and
wives are accommodated in separate households. This view acknowledges slavery as a factor which
altered the family structure somewhat
2. Slavery: Others believe that cultural retentions such as family life couldn’t have survived through
slavery. The unions that the enslaved were forced to undergo influenced the family forms we see
today. Marriage was rare, cohabitation was irregular & children remained with their mothers.
3. Economic Thesis: Which states that since slavery ended more than 150 years ago other factors such
as poor women wanting to enter sexual relations for money. Since men were not usually very
wealthy women had to seek successive relationships to make money. Children were not seen as
liabilities but means for the household to survive.
• Despite the diversity of our Caribbean Family forms they are normal for the people using them and fulfil
the same function any family anywhere should provide to its members.
• The main focus of Caribbean family forms isn’t the composition of the household like in the nuclear family,
but the extended network of kin which arises.
• Practices such as godparenthood and fictive kinship (ex. ‘Aunty Karen’ when she’s actually your mothers
friend), are chosen to provide support to the child and become as close as kin in some cases.
• The practice of child shifting i.e. leaving a child with a relative while a parent migrates, etc. reflects the idea
that the extended family is meant to shoulder responsibilities.
• An analogy is for example family ownership of land. No one member can claim land ownership so
cooperation and shared responsibility for it is essential. This concept is alien in most European societies.

Functionalist Perspective of the Family

• Functionalists say that the family should carry out several functions for order, stability and harmony in
society, including:
• Reproduction
• Socialization
• Economic function
• Provision of love and a sense of belongingness
 • These functionalist ideas and values provide a basis for the common interpretation of the institution of the
family across the region. The family is seen as the basic unit of society. If these functions are carried out in
an optimal manner and if everyone plays a role, then families would be happy and society would not be
threatened by a breakdown of social order

Marxist/Conflict Perspective of the Family

• For the conflict theorist, families are associated with exploitation, oppression and domination. Nuclear
families in particular are seen as products of capitalism where labor has to move where employment is
located leaving behind the extended family. Conflict theorists also argue that the values attributed to
nuclear family units are a result of the values imposed by the rich and powerful in the society.
• The nuclear family form also fits into the capitalist plans in that there is a sexual division of labor where the
man works outside, and the woman stays at home and carries out the roles of wife, mother and
homemaker.
• Conflict theorists believe that the “assigning of roles” in a family has contributed to family oppression,
abuse and violence. This is because what results is an unequal distribution of power that jeopardizes
gender relations and even produces generational conflict.
• Even children are affected by this assignment of roles as they are expected to be obedient and subservient
and many of them are powerless because their voices are silenced.
Impact of the Family

• This can be assessed through the effect on the individual, the group and through other institutions and is
based on the norms and values the family type has
Individual
• Individuals in each family will have different perceptions of the norms and values instilled on them by
it. For example, the patriarchal structure of the Indian extended family instils that males must be
obeyed so a girl in the family has a much different experience than the eldest son
Groups
• The idea of kin impacts different groups as follows:
• African families: Kin in these families include anyone related by blood and by fictive kinship ties.
Kin can be perceived as beneficial as they usually help members of the family for example through
remittances but can be seen as burdensome if you are expected to help an endless succession of
family members
• Muslim families: Kinship here also includes the idea of polygamy. In the Caribbean, this practice
isn’t intense but when it occurs such families are scrutinized and often restricts social interaction
with outsiders.
• Women: Caribbean women often see themselves as locked into certain predetermined roles such
as the caregiver/nurturer. Some come home and basically have a second shift of doing domestic
chores. These roles are often disadvantage in comparison to men & is an example of gender
socialization
Institutions
• Ideas about the social institution of the family can affect other institutions and even the family itself as
dominant and alternative values and norms often compete for legitimacy.
• The family: The nuclear family has been at odds for a long time with the ideas of Caribbean family
forms. Functionalist perspective, where the family is seen as an agent which ensures stability has
been misinterpreted as scholars often see the diversity of Caribbean families while not accepting
the fact that they have the same functions as other types. However as of recent new more expanded
views of the family have been accepted as legitimate.
Education
• The family impacts education in many ways. For example, parental support is proven in most cases to
improve academic performance. Also, research evidence has proven that lower socio-economic families
are more reluctant to interact with the school environment.

Note from the Teacher:

Good morning class!
I apologize for absence but you know I have been having some health issues since this Zika virus. HOWEVER,
the work does not stop! Hopefully my absence will only be for this week since I had to leave the island for
medical attention. Classes will continue as planned and as normal. The notes you will be receiving in class
you will not be able to access on Moodle until my return, therefore please ensure you are in class to receive
your notes and fulfill the necessary requirements. The Teacher in charge during my absence is Mrs. Fabian,
and all assignments or queries are to be brought to her if necessary.
Since todays reading load is kind of heavy I will not assign any assignments today, however please read and
understand the basics of the two main perspectives, so therefore you could easily apply your knowledge of
them to other theories being introduced. KNOW AND LEARN THE BASICS! Help each other and have fun
with it. Of course, if you have any questions, you all have my number feel free to message me at anytime and I
will respond as soon as I can. Please remember that upon my return you will be having a test. School work
and learning does not stop because the teacher isn’t there.
Remember we have 3 weeks left of classes (including this week). Make use of it!

Have a great day class!

Mrs. Murphy 