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Social Structure And Its Impact On Society

Decent Essays

The macro perspective known as the ‘social structure’ is based on how society is maintained and preserved by social institutions. On the other side of this equation, human agency refers to an individual or a social group’s ability to make decisions out of free will within the structured society. Many sociologists question whether or not the wider social structure has an influence on the choices made by the individuals and the capacity in which a social structure allows a person to act independently. Since the industrial revolution taken place in the 1760’s, many new production methods have been introduced; this has resulted in a vast evolution in the technology industry. It has allowed us to produce innovative products which had not been …show more content…

This idea of ‘consumer role’ prolongs the search for identity as new and improved products are continuously blinding people and leaving them to chase after material products which are unlikely to maintain a long term gratification. An example of this is the Apple IPhone which annually upgrades, in addition promises ‘fashion’ and ‘style’ to an individual. However Bauman would argue that the constant release of a new and upgraded IPhone each year results in dissatisfaction of the consumer’s previous purchase and if unable to keep up this consumer role, there is a fear of being judged as ‘untrendy’ or ‘old-fashioned’. The concept of the consumer society fragmenting the sense of self is supported by many other sociologists. Baudrillard evolves Bauman’s theory by stating that consumption ‘is not derived primarily from the realm of nature but from the realm of culture” (Kellner 1989)likewise he emphasises the fact that temptations is one cause of consumption and concludes that this is the culture of the consumer society in which we live in. Similarly the culture of Marxism incorporates consumerism within the base and superstructure where Karl Max explains how this societal structure followed by the unaware proletariats develops everyday alienation. Marxism argues that

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