Impact of Societal

Institutions On Caribbean
Culture and Society
 Objectives
Gain a thorough understanding of the different
social institutions: family, education, political
systems

Understand the main ideas of the Marxist and

Functionalist perspectives

Understand the Marxist and Functionalist

perspective on social institutions
 Social Institutions
Social Institutions are a fundamental part of
the operations of society. They are the major
organising framework in social life. Social
institutions have evolved overtime and
therefore embody what the society holds
valuable in relation to family, education,
religion, the justice system, the economy and
health.
 Each social institution has functions that ensure the
smooth working of the social system as they often
illustrate the need for order, uniformity and consensus.

Social institutions determine and guide behaviour: they

signify what is accepted and what is not

Social institutions are intangible. They are represented

through our cherished beliefs and ideas (values)
 Sociological Perspectives
A sociological perspective may best be
described as a way of seeing or understanding
social reality.

Two of the dominant sociological perspectives

that can be used to analyse social institutions
are: The Functionalist Perspective and The
Conflict Perspective (Marxism)
 Functionalism
Is the oldest and most dominant sociological
perspective.

Holds a conservative understanding of society and the

way social institutions impact on the lives of members.
The maintaining of the status quo is of utmost
importance

The functionalists are of the view that society can be

harmonious for all
 Functionalism Contd
They believe that if there is consensus, then
there is the likelihood of order, stability,
uniformity and rationality in social life

Everyone has a role to play in society, and if

performed effectively this results in maximum
productivity and minimum behavioural
problems, imbalances and dysfunctions.
 The Conflict Perspective (Marxism)
This perspective holds an opposing view to the
Functionalists

They argue that Functionalist explanations of

society disregard the views of the underclass

They identify 2 main classes in society:

bourgeoisie and proletariat- upper class and lower
class
 Conflict Perspective Contd
They emphasize on conflict and tension between the
social groups/ classes in society and not consensus

The conflict stems from the contradictions in social

life and how social institutions seem to value some
groups over others

Any social order that occurs is as a result of elitist

social control (one group oppressing the other)
 The Social Institution of The Family

The family forms the bedrock of society.

Socialization begins in the family, and
therefore this institution has the responsibility
of transmitting values and norms to the
individual and therefore governs individual
behaviour
 The family transmits values on:
1. The role and responsibilities of its members

2. Religion

3. Education and accepted behaviour upon reaching adulthood

E.g. When I leave school, I want to get a good job, marry and settle down, and have two
children.

The family transmits the expectations of society and socializes

its members to internalize societys goals as their own.

Some common values associated with the family are: love, belongingness/
togetherness, sharing (cooperation), support, encouragement, caring for the young or
old, provision of shelter, child rearing
The Functionalist Perspective on the Family
The functionalists argue that the family should carry out several functions for order, stability and harmony
to exist in society. These are:

1. Reproduction

2. Socialization

3. Economic Cooperation

4. Provision of love and togetherness

If the above 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 any breakdown of social order.

The Functionalist view o the family has ethnocentric overtones. It assumes that families are nuclear and
that marriage is the basis for the formation of a family. Such a perspective cannot accommodate the
many diverse forms that exist in the region. However the idea of the nuclear family is still held as
ideal.
 The Conflict Perspective on the Family
The family is associated with exploitation, oppression and domination

Nuclear families are seen as products of capitalism where labour has to move to where
employment is located, leaving the extended family behind

The employer can exploit workers effectively without this support network in place

The oppressed worker in turn oppresses his wife and children

The nuclear family therefore fits the agenda of the capitalist- sexual division of labour

The assigning of roles through the institutional values associated with the family, has
contributed to family oppression, abuse and violence which results in an unequal
distribution of power that jeopardizes gender relations and even produces
generational conflict.
The Social Institution of Education
Education as a social institutions contains our
deep beliefs and values about what the young
should know and how learning should take
place
Schooling is seen as the main route to
becoming educated
The Functionalist Perspective on Education
Education is seen as an agent of secondary socialization in society.

Schools are the main mechanism through which secondary socialization takes place. They
provide the link between what is taught in the family (primary socialization) and the wider
society

Culture is transmitted through education: the value of obedience, regularity, integration and
cohesion, punctuality ,work ethic

Selection devices such as exams sort students into different types of schools e.g. Formal
academic institutions versus technical/ vocational institutions

Education supports the institution of religion. In the Caribbean there are strong values which
give status to denominational education, for e.g. St. Johns Catholic Primary School

Historically one of the main function of the church was education

 The conflict Perspective on Education
Education was instituted in order to provide for the needs of the capitalist
economy: Capitalism needed a supply of educated workers and so the
education system developed to provide this

The education system mirrors the inequalities present in society: the

education system is seen to discriminate against the poor. Schooling has
several mechanisms which ensure that the poor cannot compete
effectively

The education system contributes to a cycle of social reproduction

(maintaining of the status quo)

The above is often done through the presence of the hidden curriculum
 The social Institution of Religion
Religion refers to that realm in society where
our beliefs about a supernatural power and
how these impact on our lives are expressed

Specific religions, churches, mosques, temples

halls of worship are tangible outcomes or
forms of social organizations that reflect the
beliefs and values of religion
 The Functionalist Perspective on Religion
Social order is crucial to the functionalists and therefore a
fundamental function of religion is the maintenance of social
stability through consensual values

Commitment to certain beliefs, rituals and forms of worship

are seen as mechanisms that increase the levels of social
solidarity among people.

Religions are often conservative in nature and therefore play

a major role in social cohesion, as values such as obedience,
sobriety, truth, discipline among others are taught
 The Marxist Perspective on Religion
Religion is regarded as serving the needs of the capitalist class

The values taught in religion mirrors those of the capitalist

Religion serves to maintain the status quo and therefore serves to

teach the proletariat to accept their status in society (the meek shall
inherit the earth). Reality is distorted by promoting the notion that
the social order and suffering are manifestations of the will of
GOD

The capitalist structure of society is so exploitative that the Marxists

argue that religion is an avenue that eases suffering and deadens pain