Social Institutions: Class 11 Sociology
I. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
(Each question carries 1 mark)
Which of the following is a universal social institution?
a) Family
b) Trade union
c) Political party
d) Sports club
Answer: a) Family
A key characteristic of the Family as a social institution is:
a) Temporary association
b) Primarily focused on economic production
c) Basis for procreation and socialization of children
d) Open to all members of society
Answer: c) Basis for procreation and socialization of children
A family consisting of a married couple and their dependent children is called a:
a) Joint family
b) Extended family
c) Nuclear family
d) Matriarchal family
Answer: c) Nuclear family
Which of these is a primary function of the family?
a) Running a large industry
b) Political decision-making for the nation
c) Socialization of children
d) International trade
Answer: c) Socialization of children
'Kinship' primarily refers to relationships based on:
a) Economic ties only
b) Blood, marriage, and adoption
c) Political affiliations
d) Shared hobbies
Answer: b) Blood, marriage, and adoption
Relationships traced through the father's side are known as:
a) Matrilineal kinship
b) Bilateral kinship
c) Patrilineal kinship
d) Affinal kinship
Answer: c) Patrilineal kinship
When kinship ties are recognized through both the mother's and father's sides, it is called:
a) Unilineal kinship
b) Patrilineal kinship
c) Matrilineal kinship
d) Bilateral kinship
Answer: d) Bilateral kinship
The systematic transmission of knowledge, skills, values, and norms within a society is the function of:
a) Family
b) Education
c) Kinship
d) Economy
Answer: b) Education
Which of the following is a key importance of Education in modern society?
a) Maintaining traditional superstitions
b) Promoting critical thinking and innovation
c) Restricting social mobility
d) Encouraging illiteracy
Answer: b) Promoting critical thinking and innovation
'Property' in a sociological context refers to:
a) Only land owned by individuals
b) Rights and obligations associated with the control and use of valuable resources
c) Only money in bank accounts
d) Government-owned assets
Answer: b) Rights and obligations associated with the control and use of valuable resources
Which of these is a characteristic of 'Property'?
a) It is always individually owned.
b) It always creates equality.
c) It defines relations of power and control.
d) It is limited to tangible assets.
Answer: c) It defines relations of power and control.
'Division of Labour' refers to:
a) Equal distribution of wealth
b) Specialization of tasks in the production process
c) Conflict between workers and employers
d) Reduction in overall productivity
Answer: b) Specialization of tasks in the production process
According to Emile Durkheim, 'organic solidarity' is characteristic of societies with:
a) Simple division of labour
b) Complex division of labour
c) No division of labour
d) Primarily agricultural economies
Answer: b) Complex division of labour
The concept of 'caste' in India has traditionally influenced:
a) Only family structure
b) Kinship patterns and division of labour
c) Only modern education systems
d) Only economic property ownership
Answer: b) Kinship patterns and division of labour
The shift from a largely agricultural society to an industrial one often involves a change from:
a) Simple to complex division of labour
b) Complex to simple division of labour
c) No division of labour to simple division of labour
d) Formal education to informal education
Answer: a) Simple to complex division of labour
II. Short Questions
(Each question carries 2 marks)
Define 'Family' as a social institution.
Answer: The family is a primary social institution, typically based on kinship (blood, marriage, or adoption), which serves to reproduce and socialize children, provide economic and emotional support, and regulate sexual relations.
List two characteristics of the Family.
Answer: Two characteristics are: 1) Universal: Found in some form in all societies. 2) Socialization: Plays a crucial role in transmitting culture and norms to children.
Differentiate between a 'Nuclear Family' and a 'Joint Family'.
Answer: A Nuclear Family consists of a married couple and their dependent children only. A Joint Family consists of multiple generations living together under one roof, sharing common property and a kitchen.
Mention two functions of the Family.
Answer: Two functions are: 1) Procreation and Regulation of Sexual Behaviour: Provides a legitimate framework for reproduction. 2) Economic Support: Provides for the material needs and economic security of its members.
What is 'Kinship'?
Answer: Kinship refers to the network of social relationships based on descent (blood ties), marriage (affinal ties), and sometimes adoption, which links individuals and groups within a society.
List two characteristics of Kinship.
Answer: Two characteristics are: 1) Universal: Present in all known societies, though its structure varies. 2) Regulates Social Relations: Influences marriage patterns, inheritance, and social obligations.
Explain 'Patrilineal Kinship' and 'Matrilineal Kinship'.
Answer: Patrilineal Kinship traces descent and inheritance exclusively through the father's line. Matrilineal Kinship traces descent and inheritance exclusively through the mother's line.
Define 'Education' as a social institution.
Answer: Education, as a social institution, refers to the systematic process of transmitting knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and norms from one generation to the next, typically through formal schooling but also informally.
State two importances of Education in modern society.
Answer: Two importances are: 1) Socialization and Cultural Transmission: Transmits societal values, norms, and knowledge. 2) Skill Development and Economic Productivity: Equips individuals with skills necessary for employment and contributes to economic growth.
What is 'Property' from a sociological perspective?
Answer: Sociologically, property refers not just to physical objects but to the socially defined rights, obligations, and power relations associated with the ownership, control, and use of valuable resources, tangible or intangible.
How does 'Property' create social inequality?
Answer: Unequal distribution of property (e.g., land, wealth, capital) leads to stratification, creating classes of owners and non-owners, which in turn leads to disparities in power, status, and life chances, thus perpetuating social inequality.
Define 'Division of Labour'.
Answer: Division of Labour refers to the specialization of tasks in the production process, where different individuals or groups perform specific, distinct roles, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.
Explain the difference between 'simple' and 'complex' division of labour.
Answer: Simple division of labour (e.g., in tribal societies) involves basic differentiation based on age, gender, or simple tasks. Complex division of labour (e.g., in industrial societies) involves highly specialized, interdependent tasks and roles across various sectors.
How did the 'Jajmani system' reflect a traditional form of division of labour in India?
Answer: The Jajmani system was a traditional system of reciprocal relations between landowning families (Jajmans) and service-providing families (Kamins/Prajas) from different castes, where services were exchanged for grain or other payments, representing a caste-based, hereditary division of labour.
Briefly explain how education can be a tool for social mobility.
Answer: Education can be a tool for social mobility by providing individuals with knowledge, skills, and qualifications that enable them to access better jobs, higher incomes, and improved social status, irrespective of their birth or family background.
III. Long Questions
(Each question carries 5 marks)
Define 'Family' as a social institution and elaborate on its various characteristics and essential functions. Discuss how the family in India has been undergoing changes in its structure and functions in recent times.
Answer:
Family is a fundamental and universal social institution, typically consisting of a group of people united by ties of marriage, blood, or adoption, who live together, form an economic unit, and share the responsibility for the upbringing of children.
Characteristics of the Family:
Universality: The family exists in some form in all human societies, though its structure and practices vary.
Emotional Basis: Characterized by strong emotional bonds, love, affection, and mutual support among members.
Socialization: It is the primary agent of socialization, transmitting culture, values, norms, and skills to the younger generation.
Limited Size: Generally a small group compared to other social institutions.
Nuclear or Extended Structure: Can be nuclear (parents and dependent children) or extended/joint (multiple generations living together).
Basis for Kinship: Forms the foundation of kinship systems through marriage and descent.
Regulation of Sexual Behavior: Provides a socially sanctioned framework for sexual relations and procreation.
Essential Functions of the Family:
Procreation and Reproduction: Ensures the biological continuity of society by providing a legitimate context for bearing and raising children.
Socialization: Teaches children the language, values, norms, skills, and roles necessary to function effectively in society. It shapes personality and instills cultural patterns.
Economic Support: Provides for the material needs of its members, including food, shelter, clothing, and financial security. Traditionally, it was a unit of production; now, often one of consumption.
Emotional and Psychological Support: Offers a sense of belonging, security, love, affection, and emotional stability, acting as a buffer against external stresses.
Social Placement: Bestows initial social status (e.g., caste, class, ethnicity) upon its members at birth.
Regulation of Sexual Behavior: Defines the acceptable parameters for sexual activity within a society, preventing chaos and promoting order.
Changes in the Indian Family in Recent Times:
The Indian family, while resilient, has been undergoing significant transformations due to various socio-economic forces:
Shift from Joint to Nuclear Families: Driven by urbanization, industrialization, migration for employment, increased individualism, and the desire for privacy, the nuclear family is becoming more prevalent, especially in urban areas.
Changing Status of Women: Increased female education, participation in the workforce, and awareness of rights have led to greater autonomy for women within the family, challenging traditional patriarchal norms and decision-making structures.
Delayed Marriages and Smaller Family Size: Due to higher education, career aspirations, and increased costs of living, individuals are marrying later, and couples are opting for fewer children, leading to smaller family sizes.
Rise of Single-Parent Households: Though still less common than in Western societies, divorce, separation, and individual choices are leading to an increase in single-parent families.
Inter-Generational Conflicts: Differences in values, lifestyles, and expectations between older and younger generations in the context of modernization often lead to tension.
Changing Care for the Elderly: With the decline of joint families, the responsibility for elderly care is shifting. While some resort to old-age homes, many families are finding new ways (e.g., children visiting, financial support) to care for their elderly parents, even if living separately.
Increased Individualism: Greater emphasis on individual aspirations, career goals, and personal space sometimes leads to a loosening of traditional family obligations.
Influence of Globalization and Media: Exposure to diverse family models through global media and migration influences choices and expectations within Indian families.
Despite these changes, the family remains a central institution in India, adapting to new realities while many core values like respect for elders and strong family ties persist.
Define 'Kinship' and describe its various characteristics. Explain the different types of kinship in terms of descent and marriage, providing suitable examples. How does kinship influence social organization in India?
Answer:
Kinship refers to the network of social relationships that are derived from common ancestry (blood ties or descent), marriage (affinal ties), and sometimes adoption. It is a fundamental organizing principle in many societies, defining rights, obligations, and social roles.
Characteristics of Kinship:
Universality: All human societies have some form of kinship system, though its structure and importance vary.
Basis for Social Organization: Kinship provides a framework for organizing social life, influencing marriage patterns, residence, inheritance, and social solidarity.
Regulates Social Relations: It defines who one can marry, inherit from, cooperate with, and respect.
Ascribed Status: Kinship status is largely ascribed at birth (e.g., being a son, daughter, cousin).
Provides Identity and Belonging: Offers individuals a sense of belonging to a lineage or larger kin group.
Dynamic and Adaptable: While traditional, kinship systems can adapt and change over time in response to social, economic, and political shifts.
Types of Kinship:
Kinship can be broadly categorized based on how relationships are traced:
A. Based on Descent (Consanguineal Kinship - Blood Ties):
These relationships are based on common ancestry.
Patrilineal Kinship:
Meaning: Descent and inheritance are traced exclusively through the father's (male) line. Children belong to the father's lineage.
Example: In many parts of North India, property and family name pass from father to son.
Matrilineal Kinship:
Meaning: Descent and inheritance are traced exclusively through the mother's (female) line. Children belong to the mother's lineage.
Example: The Khasi and Garo tribes of Meghalaya, and the Nayars of Kerala (historically), where property passes from mother to daughter.
Bilateral Kinship:
Meaning: Descent and kinship ties are recognized and traced through both the mother's and father's sides.
Example: Most modern Western societies, and some groups in India, recognize kin on both sides, though perhaps with a patrilineal bias.
B. Based on Marriage (Affinal Kinship):
These relationships are formed through marriage.
Direct Affinal Kin: Relationships created by one's own marriage (e.g., husband, wife, in-laws).
Indirect Affinal Kin: Relationships created by the marriage of someone else in one's family (e.g., spouse's siblings' spouses).
How Kinship Influences Social Organization in India:
Kinship plays an exceptionally significant role in shaping social organization in India, often intersecting with other institutions like caste and family:
Marriage Patterns: Kinship rules heavily influence marriage.
Endogamy: Marriage within one's own kin group (e.g., caste, sub-caste) is common.
Exogamy: Marriage outside certain kin groups (e.g., within the same gotra or lineage) is mandated to prevent incest.
Village Exogamy: In many parts of North India, marriage outside one's village is preferred to avoid marrying close kin.
Cross-Cousin Marriage: Practiced in some South Indian kinship systems.
Family Structure and Residence: Kinship systems dictate the dominant family type (joint or nuclear) and residence patterns (patrilocal, matrilocal, neolocal). For example, patrilineal kinship often corresponds with patrilocal residence (bride moves to groom's family).
Inheritance and Property Rights: Kinship rules determine who inherits property, family name, and social status. This is crucial in agrarian societies where land is the primary asset.
Social Status and Hierarchy: Caste is often intricately linked to kinship. One's position in the caste hierarchy is determined by birth into a kin group, influencing social interaction and opportunities.
Social Obligations and Support Systems: Kinship networks provide strong support systems, offering help during crises, financial assistance, and emotional solidarity. These ties are often stronger than state welfare provisions.
Political Mobilization: Kinship networks can be powerful tools for political mobilization, particularly during elections, as loyalty often extends along kin lines (e.g., 'biradari' in North India).
Ritual and Religious Practices: Many religious and ritual practices are performed along kin lines, reinforcing family and lineage identity.
Despite modernization, kinship remains a vital organizing principle in India, adapting to new contexts while maintaining its profound influence on individual lives and social structures.
Define 'Education' and discuss its paramount importance in a developing society like India. Explain how the concepts of 'Property' and 'Division of Labour' are fundamental economic institutions that shape social relations and stratification.
Answer:
Education as a social institution refers to the systematic process through which a society transmits knowledge, skills, values, norms, and cultural heritage from one generation to the next. While it primarily occurs through formal schooling (schools, colleges, universities), it also encompasses informal learning experiences.
Paramount Importance of Education in a Developing Society like India:
Human Capital Development: Education is crucial for building a skilled workforce, enabling individuals to contribute effectively to the economy and boosting national productivity.
Social Mobility: It acts as a primary channel for upward social mobility, allowing individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve their socio-economic status, challenging traditional ascribed hierarchies like caste.
Promoting Critical Thinking and Innovation: A well-educated populace is essential for fostering critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and innovation, which are vital for technological and economic advancement.
Democratic Participation: Education empowers citizens by enhancing their awareness of rights and responsibilities, enabling informed participation in democratic processes and strengthening civil society.
Social Integration and National Unity: By transmitting shared values, history, and a common national identity, education helps to integrate diverse groups within a pluralistic society like India, fostering unity in diversity.
Health and Well-being: Educated individuals are generally more aware of health and hygiene practices, leading to improved public health outcomes and reduced infant mortality rates.
Gender Equality: Education of girls and women is a powerful tool for gender empowerment, leading to increased participation in public life, delayed marriages, smaller families, and better child health.
Reduced Poverty: Education is strongly correlated with poverty reduction. It provides pathways out of poverty by increasing earning potential and access to better opportunities.
Preservation and Transmission of Culture: Education plays a vital role in preserving and transmitting cultural heritage, languages, and traditional knowledge while also exposing individuals to global cultures.
'Property' and 'Division of Labour' as Economic Institutions Shaping Social Relations and Stratification:
1. Property:
Meaning: Sociologically, property refers to the system of socially sanctioned rights and obligations concerning the ownership, control, and use of valuable resources (tangible like land, factories, or intangible like intellectual property). It's not just about what is owned but who owns it and what social powers and responsibilities come with that ownership.
Shape Social Relations and Stratification:
Basis of Class Structure: The unequal distribution of property is a fundamental source of class stratification. Those who own productive property (landowners, capitalists) have power over those who do not (labourers). This creates relations of dominance and dependence.
Power and Control: Ownership of property confers significant power – economic, social, and often political. Property owners can control production, employment, and resource allocation, influencing the lives of non-owners.
Inheritance of Inequality: Property rights, particularly through inheritance, perpetuate existing inequalities across generations. Wealth and advantage are passed down, limiting upward mobility for those without inherited assets.
Conflict and Cooperation: Disputes over property (e.g., land disputes, industrial conflicts) are common sources of social conflict. Conversely, shared property (e.g., in joint families or cooperatives) can foster cooperation.
2. Division of Labour:
Meaning: Division of Labour refers to the specialization of tasks within a production process or society. Instead of each individual performing all tasks, work is divided into specific, distinct roles, leading to increased efficiency.
Shape Social Relations and Stratification:
Interdependence and Solidarity (Durkheim):
Mechanical Solidarity: In societies with simple division of labour (e.g., traditional agrarian societies), people perform similar tasks, leading to collective consciousness and solidarity based on likeness.
Organic Solidarity: In societies with complex division of labour (e.g., industrial societies), people perform highly specialized, interdependent tasks. Solidarity arises from their mutual reliance on each other's specialized contributions, though it can lead to more impersonal relations.
Social Hierarchy and Stratification: Division of labour inevitably creates a hierarchy of occupations based on skill, prestige, and remuneration. Some tasks are valued more than others, leading to differential rewards and social stratification (e.g., managers vs. factory workers).
Power Relations: Those who control the more complex, strategic, or managerial tasks often hold more power than those performing routine or manual labour. This can lead to class distinctions based on occupational roles.
Alienation (Marx): In highly specialized industrial settings, the worker may become alienated from the product of their labour, the process of production, and other workers, as they only perform a small, repetitive part of the whole.
Social Integration and Conflict: While complex division of labour fosters interdependence, it can also lead to conflict if there are imbalances in power, rewards, or working conditions between different specialized groups.
In essence, property dictates who owns and controls resources, shaping fundamental power relations and class structures, while the division of labour organizes how work is performed, leading to specialization, interdependence, and occupational hierarchies that also contribute significantly to social stratification in any society.
