Question 1
Over the past 50 years, family definitions based on aspects of gender, location and components have considerably shifted. During the mid-20 th century, a family was defined as a traditional setting constituting parents and children who cohabit together. However, changes in social structures have revolutionized families through distance, adoption, same-gender marriages, single parents and divorce. In respect to research, Americans believe that a family is a mindset issue that once you create and believe it is one, and then it becomes a family. Most Americans perceive children as the pillars of a family definition but still recognize different marriages without children as families ( Harper & Leicht, 2015) . However, almost all of the surveyed individuals believe a family is an essential aspect of their lives. A major contribution to this perception is the systematic changes in marriage structures, trends and processes.
The U.S. government can save families by creating awareness on family issues, solving root problems through policies and encouraging traditional marriages and children proliferation. On the other hand, citizens can help through social involvement in children protection and campaign for the mitigation of social issues such as divorces and same-sex marriages. In respect to functionalism, American society is responsible for creating and developing social change through perception and adoption. Therefore, they should look for alternative ways to ensure family stability which are cohesive and well-guided.
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Question 2
Credentialism is the over-dependence of academic significances or credentials especially in the recruitment markets leading to academic inflation. Over the past years, there has been an increase in credentialism in the U.S. especially resulted in the increased numbers of academic institutions and modern technology. This may, in turn, threaten past academic performers and the corporate market in terms of qualification and work output. Using functionalism theory, it is evident that inflation and credential over-dependence is a society issue aimed at culture modification for economic interests.
Question 3
Religion plays an integral role in cohesion and social development through diverse perspectives and beliefs. Both Durkheim and Weber’s theories attribute the social change to religious beliefs and affiliations through functionalism and culture shift respectively ( Cipriani , 2017). However, Karl Mark believed religion was against social change and was more streamlined to afterlife aspects. In American society, religion is greatly losing its validity and significance facilitated by more academic, power hunt strategies and modernized social cultures.
References
Harper, C. L., & Leicht, K. T. (2015). Exploring social change: America and the world . Routledge.
Cipriani, R. (2017). Sociology of religion: An historical introduction . Routledge.