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The Five Social Institutions And Their Rights/Freedoms.
Introduction
Politics, religion, education, economics and marriage and family; the five institutions for the foundation upon which a majority of societies are built. These attributes of the society form an integral part of our lives and influence our thoughts, actions and quality of life. They are usually interdependent, and therefore none can flourish without the other. In order for the society to remain relevant and influential the structure of the five social institutions must remain intact, because when they are interfered with the results can be devastating: chaos, instability and animosity thrive in places where these institutions are either disregarded or downgraded (Adams, 102).
There are several rights and freedoms associated with each of the five institutions and which have been which have been violated so many times that they have almost become redundant. In this paper, I examine some freedoms and rights that occur in the five institutions together with why and how that in the process of being relinquished or totally overturned.
Politics
The Freedom Of Association/Assembly
This is the individual right to mix freely with other people with the view of pursuing, expressing, promoting and defending common interests collectively. The freedom of association is mixed with the freedom of assembly, thereby extending the definition to include the right of individuals to congregate, demonstrate, picket and present petitions peacefully and harmlessly. In many countries in the world, these freedoms are viewed as a threat to the political establishments. Dictatorships, (both oppressive and benevolent) are big obstacle to the preservation of these freedoms and the protection of citizens who enjoy them, and it is worth noting that not all countries are democracies (Brooks, 16).
It is a common feature to watch the news and see people getting arrested, physically assaulted and imprisoned just for assembling peacefully. In countries like Iran, Myanmar, China and Somalia it is almost a death wish to engage in public demonstrations either against the government or issues affecting the society (Adams, 36). Individuals who are arrested are often held in seclusion, not being allowed to talk or even see other people. Others are prevented from attending rallies and other congregations organized by persons who the political leadership views as a threat to them. The freedom of association is therefore becoming redundant because of being stifled in a majority of nations.
Religion
Freedom Of Worship.
This freedom is relative because different countries have different dominant religions (Brooks, 74). Despite this, anybody who happens to live in a country or place where the majority practice a different religion should be allowed to practice his or her faith in a peaceful and respectful manner.
This has not been the case however as individuals are often ostracized and sometimes even punished for practicing a “foreign” religion. This is common in Muslim countries where Christians are harassed for daring to build churches in which they can worship. Examples can be found in Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan and India (Kashmir).
Economics
Right To Own Property
Each and every person has the right to own property either alone in association with other people( depending on a countries’ constitution). The violation of this right is common to such an extent that in some places other people are not allowed to invest, conduct business, own land and other property. Violation of this right is most common in Third World countries especially in Africa and Latin America where a variety of tribes or ethnic communities abound (Brooks, 19). There is tendency of some tribes dominating different spheres of their countries and consequently denying others the opportunity by developing the “this is ours” attitude. Some people cannot therefore acquire property in places which are not “theirs”.
Education
Right To Education
Although efforts are being made to realize the dream of universal education, there remains a long road to travel before it becomes a reality. Basic education is still an elusive prospect for millions of people, with children being the most affected.
In some communities girls are still viewed as inferior to boys and therefore are denied the opportunity to go to school even when it is available. They are only thought of as being meant to stay at home, do household chores and then get married. This is a very pathetic situation.
Marriage And Family
Right To Inheritance Of Property (By Women)
This is a right that has refused to take ground even in developed countries, with women getting overlooked when it comes to sharing and acquiring parental or spousal property. In many societies especially in close-knit settings like families, fathers bypass their daughters when writing wills or just giving away property. The common perception is that since they will eventually get married, they should be content with having spouses who own property (Brooks, 87). Just like all the other rights and freedoms mentioned above, there are changes; but minimal. In fact the changes made are so minimal that they barely get noticed except by the elite of the society. This of course ensures that the trend continues and will remain with us for a long time, running the rule over the perceived right.
Conclusion
It is important to note that the rights and freedoms discussed above have not ceased to exist completely. This essay is based on the argument that although they exist, in a majority of societies they are barely recognizable. For example, in a world of more than 6 billion people, it does not make sense to keep shouting about the right to assembly when less than 200 million people get to exercise this right in a year (Adams, 54).
References
Adams, Janus. Freedom Days: 365 Inspired Moments in Civil Rights History. New
York: John Wiley & Sons, 1998.
Brooks, Alexander. Civil Rights and Liberties in the United States: An Annotated
Bibliography. New York: Civil Liberties Educational Foundation, Inc., 1962.
