Sociology Write short notes.

Education is broad process of learning that broadens an individual’s cognitive horizons and develops in them the skills to choose, evaluate and add to existing knowledge.
The functions of education can be as follows:
1. Inculcate common values and moral beliefs : Children coming from diverse family and community backgrounds gain an understanding of the common values and moral beliefs in society through school education.

2. Fosters self-discipline : Through education children learn self-discipline. They internalise the social rules that contribute to the smooth function of society.

3. Teaches specialised skills: The education system teaches specialised skills needed for a complex modern economy. For example, technical schools are specially designed to provide technical / vocational training.

4. Instils the value of achievement in children : Schools like wider society, largely operate on a meritocratic basis. Those with ability and talent achieve their just rewards.

Human society has evolved through various stages, depending upon the way it evolved mechanisms to adapt to changing material needs.

With respect to the changing nature of work and economy three broad stage of economy are as follows: Agriculture Revolution : From hunting-gathering and then pastoral phases, human society entered into a new stage with discovery of agriculture. With development of agriculture, food production increased. Complex division of labour, advanced trade and permanent settlement are the result of economy expansion through agricultural technology.

Industrial Revolution : Industrial revolution which happened around the middle of the 18th century, first in England transformed social and economic life like never before. It brought four notable economic changes.

1. New forms of energy : With the pioneering invention of the steam engine in 1765 by James Watt, the use of animal and human muscle energy was significantly reduced.
2. Centralisation of work in factories : Use of machinery gave rise to a new workplace called factory.
3. Mass production : Industrial economy developed the manufacturing sector very fast and produced goods on a large scale.
4. Division of labour : The factory system reduced the importance of human skills and resulted to specialised division of labour.
5. Industrialization transformed the whole society and also created huge economic gaps in the society.

The Information Revolution : By the middle of the 20th century the nature of production started to change. The use of automated machinery drastically reduced the role of human labour in manufacturing. Three key changes were seen due to the development of computer and information technology.

1. Tangible products to idea : The tertiary or service sector providing services and dealing with production of ideas and symbols is expanding very fast.
2. Mechanical skills to literacy skills : The information revolution demands a new set of skills such as literacy skills – the ability to communicate, to write, to present and use computer technology.
3. Work from anywhere : Computer technology is allowing for decentralisation of work.

On the basis of authority within family, two broad forms of family can be identified. Matriarchal Family : In matriarchal family authority rests at the hands of the mother and she is considered the head of the family. In matriarchal family descent is traced through mother’s line, known as matrilineal system. Residence of the marriage is matrilocal i.e., the bridegroom lives with the wife’s family and the name follows the mother’s line. It is matronymic. The Garo and Khasi tribes of North East India and the Nair’s of South India follow the matriarchal system.

Patriarchal Family : In patriarchal family all authority rests at the hands of the male head and the eldest male is regarded as the head of the patriarchal family. It is patrilineal i.e., descent is traced through father’s line. Residence after marriage is patrilocal. The married couples live with the husband’s family, and the name of the father’s side continues to the next generation. It is patronymic. Patriarchal family is the most widespread form of family in India and most parts of the world.

The forms of marriage exist on the basis of the number of partners and rules governing who can marry whom. On the basis of the number of partners, two major forms of marriage are observed.

Monogamy : Monogamy denotes marriage to one spouse at a time. Monogamy is the most familiar pattern of marriage for most of us. It is more popular and accepted form of marriage. Many societies have laws to uphold this practice.Polygamy : Polygamy denotes marriage to more than one partner at a given time. Polygamy exists in two different forms:
1. Polyandry : It is a form of marriage wherein one woman marries more than one man at a given time. Extreme poverty may be one of the reasons for the practice of polyandry where a single man cannot support a wife and children adequately.
2. Polygyny : It is a form of marriage wherein one man has two or more wives at a time. Polygyny can be seen as a strategy which allows powerful males to control reproductive resources and to tactically manipulate kin ties.On the basis of rules governing who can marry whom, two major forms of marriage are observed:

1. Endogamy denotes marriage within a culturally defined group, (e.g. caste, sect, tribe).
2. Exogamy, on the other hand, denotes marriage outside individual’s own group e.g. Gotra.

On the basis of status, two major forms of marriage are observed. Marriages usually take place between partners having similar social status.

Hypergamy : In hypergamy, a man marries a woman of a lower social group or a woman marries ‘up’ which elevates her position in society.

Hypogamy : In hypogamy a man marries ‘up’ or marries a woman of a higher social status group. This type of marriage offers a man from lower rank an entry into the higher rank.
In 1989, Denmark became the first country to formally recognise homosexual marriages.

Scholars like Bowles and Gintis argue that workplace inequalities are mirrored in the organisation of schools and that the education system reproduces these inequalities.

Schools are usually organised in such a way that students perceived to be destined for lower levels of work are expected to follow rules and are given simple, repetitive tasks, while for those students destined for higher level tasks, there is an emphasis on independent thinking and working. Schools routinely design curriculum according to the social background of students. We go to different kinds of schools depending upon our socio-economic background and we acquire different kinds of privileges and opportunities.

Many studies have pointed out that education as a system also perpetuates gender differences. For instance, preference for a boy’s schooling over a girl’s, or high school drop out rate among girls, or soft subject choices for girls, displays gender difference through education.

Family is broadly classified into two forms based on its structure.
Joint family : Joint family consists of two or more generations living under the same roof and sharing a common kitchen. Joint family is considered as a very strong feature and backbone of rural society in India. Joint family is sometimes called extended family.
Nuclear family : Nuclear family consists of two generations, parents and their children. Nuclear families are commonly seen in urban areas.