This video is a perfect example of how family and other social institutions influence way our acts and behaviors are constructed. Aim is to make us believe that Society is an “organism”, that each part has the purpose to function and has to work together to make society efficient. Social institutions make assumptions that individuals are born into certain categories, from religion to political affiliations “we are parroting what our parents are saying” (video), mass media influences our opinions almost on all social issues that later are shared among peers, constantly we are told how to act in a way that conforms so called general norms. Conclusion from above statement is that social institutions: like government, family, education, religion, media each contribute to the functioning of society, and for each one of them to function appropriately individuals have to adapt and have certain roles to play in it.
In my opinion it is inevitable that humans are shaped throughout their lives, it is part of the socialization process and we cannot deny it. Among others “Family” is central because it socializes us into most roles in all other institutions that later shapes our identity. According to video 95% share the same political views as their families without even knowing on what issues and where each political party stands on, this an example of “political socialization” that creates our “political identity”, unfortunately some think this is the way should be and have no desire to rebel. Yet for many of us it is problematic on two counts: a) normative assumptions built into the frameworks are not based on objective findings, but rather are hegemonic ideals that social institutions promote based on expectations and norms that are enforced in the society, b) they fail to account that those categories are categories of power. The important goal for use to learn is how to move away from language of norms and deviants and embrace the ideals that is not always close to the concept of hegemony.
