IMPACT OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS ON CARIBBEAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Institutio Functionalist Marxist Contributions and Challenges

n perspective perspective
Family - a The family is The family: - The family was of primary
social unit responsible for: - Facilitates importance during slavery and
of - producing and ruling class continues to be a central institution
individuals socializing control by in Caribbean societies.
specificall new members socialization - Typical characteristics of the Afro-
y related of society into Caribbean family include
by blood, - stabilizing accepting matrifocality, loose/unstable
marriage adult the status conjugal bonds, and predominance
or personalitie quo, respect of extended and single parent
adoption s rules and structures, male marginality, high
and linked - shape obey illegitimacy rates and strict
together individual authority gendered division of labour.
in a identity and - Reproduces - Explanations for these trends
special personality the labour include African Retention (M.
type of force and Herskovitz), Slavery (F. Frazier, F.
social When functional, motivates Henriques, M.G. Smith) and
relationshi the family the bread adaptation to socio-economic
p, contributes to winner to conditions.
normally social order and remain - Early researchers/ social
sharing a fosters value employed pathologists deemed the typical
domestic consensus and - Consume Caribbean family denuded and
unit. cultural capitalist dysfunctional because of the
- Nuclear continuity. goods relative absence of the nuclear
- Extend - Achieves form. It was therefore blamed for
ed greater many of the social ills in society.
- Single Key functions control of - The typical Indo-Caribbean family
parent - Reproduction women is patrifocal, extended and
- Sibling and sexual patriarchal. They are also
regulation characterized by various forms of
- Socialization endogamy and exogamy. These
- Economic patterns are largely explained by
cooperation retention, creolization and
adaptation to new circumstances.
- Key issues in the Caribbean family
include barrel children, juvenile
delinquency, poverty, domestic
violence and child abuse, children
and womens rights, male
marginalization, crime in the society
and changes in education and
health policies.
Educatio This institution is Schools are The education system in the Caribbean
n responsible for: largely has had only partial success in
The group - Secondary engaged in reducing social inequality in society. In
of social socialization structural or fact education has been used
organizati - Preparation of social historically to reinforce the divisions
ons which persons for reproduction. between the social groups in the
see to the the labour Education is society. This institution was one in
transmissi force role used to which the pluralism of which M.G.
on of allocation perpetuate Smith
knowledge - Integration of ruling class spoke existed, and is still evidenced
and skills members into advantage. today along social class lines.
needed society; - Through
for solidarity, streaming Education is also largely influenced by
economic patriotism, and other our former colonisers Caribbean wide.
production value forms of This legacy includes the major levels of
consensus differentiatio the system (primary, secondary and
- Allowing for n they tertiary), the classification and ranking
social further the of schools into traditional (grammar)
mobility, inequality and non-traditional
motivating between (technical/vocational, junior high), the
members of social use of 11-plus or 12-plus exams, the
 society groups use of Cambridge exams (general
- Promoting - They certificate of Education), use of a value
values such transmit laden and somewhat religious
as ruling class curriculum, a close relationship
achievement ideology and between the church and schools and
and equality reinforce the even the wearing of uniforms in public
of false class schools.
opportunity. consciousne
- Bridges the ss Attempts have been made to
gap between - Through the indigenize our schools and
the family hidden consequent education however. These
and the curriculum include:
society the - The establishment of local
inculcation universities, primarily the UWI
The above is of the which help to generate local
informed by the appropriate information, develop local
assumption that values and technology and resources and help
society is attitudes in to shape curricula and syllabi which
meritocratic. the working are more in touch with the needs of
class; Caribbean countries.
- It generates - The establishment of the
a large pool Caribbean Examinations Council
of unskilled which sets and administers
or Caribbean based school leaving
semiskilled exams (CSEC and CAPE), and
workers who designs Caribbean based syllabi for
compete students.
and settle - Programmes similar to the Primary
for low Education Improvement
paying programme inclusive of the GSAT,
working across Caribbean countries, and the
class jobs. introduction of the ROSE
programme in Jamaica. These are
Symbolic geared at reducing the inequality in
Interactionist access to a high quality of
s offer similar education.
arguments Many of the changes in the system
noting that have been influenced by global factors
teacher such as the introduction and use of
student ICTs, global standards including the
relationships, Rights of the Child, free trade and
streaming and access to markets (seen in the number
the teaching of foreign students and foreign
and learning is universities in the Caribbean) as well as
executed often the need to adapt to a changing global
result in the economy.
negative
labelling of All Caribbean countries subsidize the
members of the cost of education at all levels. In some
lower class, countries, education is universal and
reduce the offered free of cost at all levels. In
opportunities some countries however, secondary
they are and tertiary education are subsidized
afforded and rather than completely free to the
simply citizen. The aim is universal
reproduce the education and 100% adult literacy.
social
inequalities. Challenges in our education system
Both agree that include availability of resources in
a ruling class some countries, limited enrolment of
measuring stick students at the tertiary level; less than
is used to judge 100% adult literacy, street children,
all students. inequality in access to and quality of
education received across schools,
gender inequality and male
marginalization, stigmatization of
 non-traditional education (a trend
which is slowly changing), inter-
regional competition, quality of teacher
training and of late, availability of jobs
for teachers.
Institutio Functionalist Marxist Contributions and Challenges
n perspective perspective
Religion For structural This Religion has always been important to
The functionalists, superstructural Caribbean people.
pattern religion does the tool does the - Religion embodies the entirety of
emerging following: following: the culture of each ethnic group in
from - Enforces the - Reinforces the region.
practices collective the false - It was the primary tool of cultural
and rituals conscience class suppression and assimilation
based on of the society. consciousne during slavery as slaves were either
shared - Fosters ss and ruling denied religion or forced to practice
beliefs integration class Christianity.
about the and a sense ideology; - Ironically, religion provided the main
sacred of belonging - It acts as a tool of resistance for Africans.
for members conservativ Religion (along with the family) has
of the social e force as it been critical to each ethnic groups
group stifles the retention /preservation of its culture.
- Highlights the impetus to - Religion forms the basis of the
importance of seek subcultural identities of many
society and change; groups in the Caribbean.
thereby - Acts as an
increasing the opium for Most of the religious forms practiced in
commitment the suffering the Caribbean today are syncretic;
of members subject that is, they mix African and European
to the society. class; religious rituals and beliefs. Examples
(Religion is - Is not seen include Santeria, voodoo, candomble,
the worship as necessary Orisha, Revivalism and Rastafarianism.
of society.) in a perfect
communist However, religion illustrates the fact
society. that cultural traits are ranked in a way
that usually affords the Afro-creole
forms the lowest status in the pyramid
(as opposed to the Euro-creole).

Religion has affected our morality,

attitudes to sex and marriage, our work
ethic, economic activities and laws,
perceptions of health and level of
discipline.

The institution is challenged largely by

the mass media and by extension, the
force of globalization. This has been
blamed for the growing secularization
of society and changes within many
churches which by traditional
standards would seem worldly.
Justice - Laws are This institution The justice systems of the Caribbean
System based on the is used by the are largely influenced by our colonial
value bourgeoisie to history. Models of government and
Comprises consensus. protect the consequently the legislative arms of
organizati They interests of the most Caribbean countries are
ons and standardize ruling class; influenced by their mother countries. It
structures the rules primarily, is noted too that our laws and even the
clearly agreed on by private police force were initially designed to
identified members of property. suppress rather than to protect
with social society. - The laws are individuals. For most Caribbean
control - The justice set by and in commonwealth countries, the Privy
such as system favour of the Council is the highest court of appeal
the executes the bourgeoisie,
judiciary, integration and unfairly Our justice systems have also been
police function as punish the influenced by global
force and defined by proletariat. standards/conventions such as the
the Talcott - Selective universal declaration of human rights
legislature Parsons. It law and the concept of Human Rights.
. punishes and enforceme Constitutions of the Caribbean
thereby nt results in countries guarantee inalienable human
It deters an rights such as the right to life, property,
administer deviance. overreprese conscience, and the right to vote
s justice- - It also ntation of among others. These rights it is
fair rehabilitates proletariats expected are to be enjoyed by all
treatmen deviants. in crime citizens by birth or naturalization
t of all statistics. regardless of gender, race, age, creed
before This is or any other factor which might
the law. despite the differentiate one individual/group from
fact that the another.
elite not
only commit
white The justice system is one of the least
collar/elite trusted institutions in Jamaica, and its
crimes, but effectiveness is being called into
they also questions in other Caribbean countries
play a as crime rates increase.
primary role
in lower Crime is a distinct feature of Jamaican
class crimes. society and is becoming problematic in
- Elite other Caribbean countries. Major
crimes are crimes include trade in narcotics and
seen as related crimes such as shooting and
harder to murders. There is also an increase in
detect, less sex related crimes.
severe in
their impact Across the region, challenges to the
on society justice system include:
and are - The interregional networks which
underreport underlie the drug/narcotics/guns
ed. trade;
- Corruption;
- Delays due in part to corruption as
well as lack of resources;
- Discrimination (affected by gender,
race, age, community of residence
and social class)
- Inadequate rehabilitative efforts and
space in the prison system
- Inadequate provisions for juvenile
delinquents and at risk children;
- Outdated laws pertaining to issues
such as rape, homosexuality, incest,
child pornography;
- Lack of faith in the system
especially given the perception that
it is incapable of functioning well;
- Conflicts involved in establishing the
CCJ and moving away from the Privy
Council