Social Structures
Definition
Social structures refer to the organized patterns of relationships and social arrangements that form societies. They include institutions like family, education, religion, and government.
Analogy
Think of social structures as the skeleton of a body. Just as our bones give us structure and support, social structures provide a framework for how society operates.
Related terms
Institutions: These are established laws or practices in a society such as marriage, education systems or religious organizations.
Hierarchy: This refers to a system where people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.
Social Stratification: This is the division of society into levels based on factors like wealth, occupation, race etc., creating an implicit hierarchy within society.
"Social Structures" appears in:
Subjects (3)
Study guides (2)
Practice Questions (6)
In what way did feudalism impact social structures differently between Western Europe and Japan?
How did Islam's spread impact social structures along Trans-Saharan Trade Routes in medieval times?
How did the introduction of Islam affect political and social structures in West Africa during the period 1200-1450?
How did Hinduism shape social structures within the Maratha Empire?
How did Western imperialism impact the social structures within colonized societies?
What impact did Buddhism have on the social structures in Tokugawa Japan?
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