Impact of Societal

Institutions on
Caribbean People
What are social institutions

• Social institutions each has functions that

ensure the smooth working of the social
system.
• Social institution help guide our behavior
• “In my family everybody has clear duties and
responsibilities”
• “The family that prays together, stays together”
• “She is well educated”
• When I leave school, I want to get a good job,
marry and settle down, and have two children”
 Definition of key terms

• Social institutions- embody all the ideas and

beliefs of members of the society about how
they think their lives should be organized.

• Social organizations- are the concrete

structured patterns in social life based on the
ideas and beliefs of members of the society.
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.
Key terms

• Socialization is the process through which the

cherished ideas and beliefs of one generation
becomes apart of the next generation.
• Norms –acceptable standards of the society

• Status- a label identifying one’s social position.

• Role- a set of behaviours expected of one’s

status.
Conflict Perspective vs
Functionalist Perspective

• Functionalism interprets each part of society in

terms of how it contributes to the stability of the
whole society

• The conflict perspective assumes that social life is

shaped by groups and individuals who compete
with one another over various resources and
rewards, resulting in particular distributions of
power, wealth, and prestige in society.
(Originated with Karl Marx )
 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
The Functionalist Perspective on
the Family

The Functionalist view of 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
(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
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 Conflict Perspective on the
Family

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 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 values on:

The family transmits the expectations of society and

socializes
its members to internalize society’s 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
Sociological Perspective

• A sociological perspective gives a view of

how a phenomena is seen.
• Statement 1 “If you go to school and study
hard, then you will get a well paying job.
This will enable you to enjoy a better
standard of living than your parents.”
• Statement 2 “Only the children of the rich
and those who are academically able leave
school with credential. Only those who are
well- qualified or who have contacts and
able to get good jobs”
The family
• The origins and evolution of Caribbean families.
• Caribs or Tainos – Patriarchal household, nurture of
young ones, the rite of initiation of young Amerindians
boys.
• These form have
disappeared from
Caribbean society.
The origins and evolution of
Caribbean families

• Africans –
• Extended network of support not necessarily
based on marriage.
• Matrifocal families
The origins and evolution of
Caribbean families

• European -
• Nuclear family – two parents who are legally
married with children of that union living
together as a household.
• Accepted as the most dominant form of the
family.
The origins and evolution of
Caribbean families

• Indians
• Extended family in the form of joint
households.
• Patriarchal
Caribbean family forms

• Review myth of nuclear families (page 117

Mohammed 2007).
• Types Caribbean families include, single
parents, common law unions, visiting
relationships, one man with two or more
families, children with different fathers residing
with mother in the household, households
headed by grandmothers.
 Impact of the family on Caribbean society
and culture
• Individuals- the ideas and beliefs about family differs for
individuals. For example, in Indian families where the
structure is patriarchal, the man is the authoritarian
figure while women and girls are subordinate no matter
the level of education attained.
• Groups- the idea of kinship differs in respective groups
below:
• African- kinship is extended along bloodline of the family.
Impact of the family Cont’d

• Muslim families- the issues of kinship and the

extended family include the practice of
polygamy which is unlawful in the Caribbean.
As a result of such beliefs some are
marginalized and scrutinized.
• Women- are viewed as homemakers and
caregivers. Although women work outside the
home today they come home to do a “ second
shift” of taking care of the family.
Impact of the family on social
institutions

• Family- the nuclear family which was deemed

the ideal family type is changing to be more
accepting of the single, extended and same sex
families.
• The ideas of procreation is changing from
“vitro” family to that of a sperm donor or one
being a surrogate mother.
 Caribbean family life
• Extensive networks of kin – offers support the family needs.
Financial support from relative in the Diaspora.
• Godparents as apart of extensive networks.
• Child shifting – leaving children in the care of another
relative.
• The idea of illegitimate children has changed to give those
born out of wedlock the same privileges as those born within
marriage.
Perspectives on reasons for
family forms in the Caribbean

• African Retention theory–

• In West Africa, polygamy was practiced in that
a husband accommodated his wife in different
households.
• Therefore these practices were transferred to
the Caribbean in the one man with two or more
families form.
Perspectives on reasons for
family forms in the Caribbean

• Slavery theory -
• Critics of the African Retention theory.
• Slaves were forced to adopt the family forms
outside of the nuclear family since marriages
were banned among slaves.
• Therefore the slaves had to resort to family
forms such as single parentage and visiting
relationships.
Perspectives on reasons for
family forms in the Caribbean
• Economic thesis theory-
• Critics of both African retention theory and
slavery theory.
• Poor, unemployed or under-employed
mothers are willing to get involved in sexual
relationships for very practical reasons such
as financial help.
• Poor, unemployed or under-employed men
can only occasionally provide the kind of
support .
Economic thesis theory.

• Therefore mothers cannot depend on

only one relationship for assistance.
They create networks with other people
such as men, relatives to get the support
for their children.
• Critics of this theory argue that even
as living standards improve over the
years people still display non-nuclear
family forms.
Perspectives on reasons for
family forms in the Caribbean

• Gender inequality theory (Smith 2004)

• Critics of economic thesis theory
• The persistence of gender inequality has
portrayed masculinity in the Caribbean in a way
where men feel that it is not necessary to
married but should pursue a life outside of
marriage. Therefore men have outside families,
relationships etc.
Summary

• Social institution are intangible, social

organization tangible.
• Functionalist are optimist, conflict theory
are pessimistic
• Even though nuclear families are seen as
ideal, many family forms exist in the
Caribbean that have deviated from this
form.
• There are various perspective on the
reasons for Caribbean family forms.
Education
• Think about the following statements
• School is an asset to anybody
• The more schooling you have, the better for you.
• High school education qualification makes it difficult
for you to mingle as before with friends and family.
• Children don’t seem to learn as much in school – most
of them fail.
• Examination are necessary to separate the sheep from
the goats.
• You shouldn’t marry anybody who is not educated.
The History of Education in the
Caribbean

• Banned for slaves during slaves.

• Elementary education for ex-slaves after 1834
• Limited Secondary school access for blacks in
the 19th and early 20th century.
• Curriculum was heavily European.
• In the 1960’s and 1970’s access to Tertiary
education increased.
The History of Education in the
Caribbean

• 1970’s and beyond access secondary school

became wide spread.
• 1980’s and beyond, the education curriculum
change to reflect the life of Caribbean people.
Purpose of Education

1. Socialization of young people to perform a

number of functions in society so that the
status quo can be preserved.
• (Functionalist)
• (Marxism)
Purpose of Education

2. Enables social
cohesion by the
common curriculum
especially in culturally
plural societies.
• (Functionalist)
• Promotes national
values and ideals.
• (Marxism)
• Facilitates the division
among the classes
Purpose of Education

3. Provides the human resources for economic

development by training and recruiting
people for specific occupations. It sorts out
who are best suited for the top positions in
society.
• Functionalist – (roles) everybody can’t be a
doctor.
• Marxism – trains for the working class
 Purpose of Education
4. Fosters ‘the human development paradigm’
• A belief of inclusion- no one denied education
– Distance learning, special education
• Relevant curriculum -
– Caribbean studies, Caribbean history, functional French and
Functional Spanish.
• The pedagogy of the curriculum –
– The learner is powerful.
Concepts under Education

• Social mobility
– Limited Tertiary Education
• Sorting and allocating Education
– Streaming, special education
• Learning in school in too artificial
– Home schooling.
• Education for the middle class
• Academic achievement as an indicator for
intelligence
 Religion

• Religion as a social institution exist as

a realm in society where beliefs about
a supernatural power and an afterlife
and how these impact on our life now,
exist.
• This can be expressed in social
organisations such as churches,
mosque, temples and halls of worship.
Purpose of Religion

• The religious institution performs the

following functions to :
1. It provides a set of beliefs that explain and
interpret occurrences in the social and
physical environment that cannot be
explained by other means.
Purpose of Religion

2. It serves a basic human need to provide the

ethical principles, morality, and a set of
guidelines for appropriate behavior. In a
way, it functions as an institution of social
control. Many schools in the Caribbean
were started by religious groups. Devotions .
• (Marxism)
 Purpose of Religion

3. Provides a set of
beliefs for interpreting
the causes and
consequences of a
person’s past,
present, and future
conduct. It provides
people with answers
to the “whys” of their
existence and future.
Purpose of Religion

4. Provides people
with an identity as
members of a
specific group and
a sense of
connectedness
with past and
future. (social
cohesion)
Purpose of Religion

5. Provides emotional
support and
consolation in the
face of uncertainty,
anxiety, defeat,
alienation and
disappointment.
(functionalist)
Impact of Religion

• Individual – Oppressive to women e.g banned

use of contraceptive in Catholicism and
Rastafarianism. Muslim – conservative dress,
behavior expected.
• Groups – maintain solidarity, keep traditions
alive.
• Institutions – The justice system, family,
education.
The Legal system

• The social institution of the legal system is

ideas and beliefs in a society about protecting
and preserving the rights and obligations of
citizens (Mohammad 2007).
• The social organisation is procedures of the
justice system e.g. political and legal frame
work.
History of the Legacy system in
the Caribbean.

• Amerindians – Priest, Chiefs

• Europeans – The laws of Burgos (1512)
• Encomienda – Amerindians to Christians
• Siete Paridas, Code Noir (social stratification)
• Haitian Revolution (1804)
• Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
• West Minister Model (20th Century)
• Caribbean Court of Justice – replace the
Privy council
 Perspective on the Justice System

• Functionalist
• Mains social order,
social stability
• Marxism
• the justice system in
capitalist societies are
bias and favorable to
the elites.
The Legal system

• Used as a state of apparatus of social control.

According to Macionis (1997) the legal system
is “ a societal reaction to alleged violation of
law utilization police, courts and prison
officials.“
• It is society’s formal response to crime with
monitoring done by social workers etc.
 The Legal system
• We have adopted the
European legal
system and penal
system.

• Constitutions – a
countries basic right