Society is a constant presence in the lives of most people. In the contemporary world, escaping social interactions is nearly impossible. Therefore, it is important for people to understand social structure, institutions, and appropriate behavior and rules of social conduct in order to function in society and be its productive members. This paper offers a reflection on the taken social sciences course, social change, as well as modern social movements. In addition, the application of gained knowledge in my other classes and future career is considered.
This course provided great insight into society, social structure, social institutions, and socialization as a multifaceted process. It should be noted that different cultures are distinctly represented by their respective societies. Nevertheless, the course showed that there are evolutionary universals present in every society, such as social structure, institutions, and beliefs (Gimbel, 2020). Social structure is complex and helps organize social institutions as well as relationships between those institutions and different social groups (Gimbel, 2020). Furthermore, the course provided numerous examples of how socialization benefits society and how ineffective socialization adversely impacts communities and individuals within them (Guhin et al., 2021). Overall, the course highlighted the intricacy of contemporary societies and the interconnectedness of different social processes.
Nevertheless, no society is immutable, and such universals as social institutions, beliefs, and customs are often subject to change as they reflect the needs of society as a whole. Social change, as a gradual change in social processes, relationships, and institutions, can be triggered by various factors, including changing mindsets and critical problems (Sarid & Goldman, 2021). Any change happens in the context of active civic participation, with change agents promoting specific changes within social institutions. One can become a social change agent by being involved in the local community and engaging in social and political life (Sarid & Goldman, 2021). An active position and support of important causes can eventually lead to the desired change in society.
In particular, participation in social movements can help promote different changes. Personally, I have participated in several movements, including Black Lives Matter, the #MeToo movement, and the global climate strike, among others. Specifically, Black Lives Matter and #MeToo stood out to me due to how quickly they gained nearly universal support, even from communities and groups that were not directly affected by the central problem. I believe that the widespread support and the involvement of multiple agents led to these movements being acknowledged and achieving changes. Nevertheless, it should be noted that to achieve enduring meaningful change, social movements need to address attitudes and beliefs as well as policies and legislation.
The knowledge gained from this course is instrumental and can be applied to my other classes, future career, and life in society in general. Understanding how society works helps solve everyday practical problems as it illuminates different relationships between institutions and individuals. This knowledge helps me realize how I relate to myself, others, and society as a whole and shows the importance of being socially active and aware to succeed in my personal and professional lives. The understanding of society helps develop skills and values that benefit that society, self, and other individuals.
In summary, the course taught vital concepts pertaining to society, social structure, intuitions, and socialization and how they relate to each other. Furthermore, it showed how different concepts are interrelated and impact each other, translating into social change. The latter can be achieved through social movements and individuals becoming active members of society and change agents within different institutions. Overall, it can be argued that this knowledge applies to different aspects of one’s life.
References
Gimbel, S. (2020). Complex social structures: Bureaucracy and other systems. Wondrium Daily. Web.
Guhin, J., McCrory Calarco, J., & Miller-Idriss, C. (2021). Whatever happened to socialization?Annual Review of Sociology, 47, 109–129. Web.
Sarid, A., & Goldman, D. (2021). A value-based framework connecting environmental citizenship and change agents for sustainability — Implications for education for environmental citizenship. Sustainability, 13, 1–19. Web.