The concept of society and its peoples

To define society to only one definition would be too great a challenge, because there are many aspects to the meaning society. It can however, be considered when trying to explain the term society, that society is a cluster of people often believing in similar things, having similar attitudes and often behaving in similar patterns. This definition is only a basic view and it is here where this essay shall begin. Society is much more intricate then the basic definition because as humans we are a complex people and an individuals behaviour can change as a result of things that occur around them. Which intern changes group dynamics and inevitably influences society? Individuals or groups alone however, do not only influence society, sometimes it is influenced by society itself. Societies are compared against each other, for example families compare families, and governing bodies, corporate companies and political agencies, on issues such as crime, education, and wealth, compare suburbs against each other. And all this is even before one can begin to consider the global society which has only become a society as a direct result of globalisation, which brings people together that are separated by land and sea. All these aspects of society are sometimes positive and other times negative it all depends on the outcome that sometimes is not known until decades later.

As sighted in the public sociology textbook "Many of us believe that as individuals we are free agents making independent choices about our lives. However,

a sociologist will ask, how free are those choices?" (Germov, 7:2007) It is true that there are many influencing factors that contribute in the individual choices that people make everyday. For example, why do some Men and Women wear business attire every day to work? They wear them because it is a requirement of the position they hold. Which awakens the question, why is this a requirement? It is a requirement because this is the stigma of what a successful person should look like and what all people should aspire to. This is where we begin to look at society rather then the individual, because when a large group of people, believing in the same attitude of what a successful person should be wearing it becomes a social construct. This social construct is what continues to influence the individual, one can see them everywhere often created and manipulated by the ruling classes. These ruling classes

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Society and its people?
We want to hear your view. Write now!