Ashley Powers
Do Me a Solid
Solidarity can be defined as a type of unity that connects people within a group. Emile Durkheim describes solidarity in his work as the glue that connects everyone together and keeps things from falling apart. Durkheim depicts two different types of solidarity in his work: organic solidarity and mechanical solidarity. Organic solidarity is put into terms by Durkheim to express a more structured society or large group of people versus his take on mechanical solidarity which is based off a smaller group of people much like a community.
Organic solidarity is expressed much in our everyday lives because most of us live in this big city, Chicago. This type of solidarity is built off the differentiation in a society. People are more specialized and less connected intimately. There is a greater division of labor making more jobs specialized versus people doing multiple or diverse jobs. For example, a hospital is broken down into special jobs: doctors specialize in one particular part of human anatomy, nurses specialized in a particular part of anatomy, nurses’ assistants, cleaning crew, and so on. Each group is sectioned off in the sense that they do not do each other’s job. The doctor wouldn’t be throwing out the trash; it’s not his specialty he is in position for. Labor is divided accordingly so that a receptionist would not be conducting brain surgery and answering phones. Each personal has an essential role in society that is broken down for everyone to work together, but separated duties. This division of labor causes society to be much less personal and people are not as intimately bonded by one another. In an organic solidarity community, one would not necessarily know their mechanic outside the repair garage. People’s relationships are then based on roles much like a hierarchy of superiority. People are no longer looked at individually but more so thought of as a generalization of characteristics. Although people in a society of organic solidarity are less intimately connected the specialization of the work force makes outcomes stronger and more efficient. People depend on each other’s qualifications to ensure life run smoothly. One person knows about this topic, the next knows about another, and so on. Each person’s specific role is utilized within a society because people rely on each other to fulfill important everyday needs.
Mechanical solidarity is expressed by Durkheim to describe more of a small-town or community based environment. Mechanical solidarity is not exactly the opposite of organic solidarity; it is just broken down for a smaller group of people. Mechanical solidarity has a community of people that are divided by their labor, but minimally. Some people might produce a common likeness for something and more team work is enforced. If something needs to be done, people will stick together and get the job done. There is more emphasis on group work. People often wonder what they can contribute to their group, and they really enjoy intimate relations with each other. Due to the fact people are more versatile in this type of community there are not as much stress on social roles. For example in a small town, everyone knows each other. It is just known that Mr. Brown is the town barber, and Sue Ellen is town’s best sewer. Everyone just knows each other and their business friends and people help each other complete our important everyday tasks. People’s social interactions are based on intimate social contact. There is a real relationship built amongst people, where people are more personable and almost like extended family.
Both degrees of solidarity are workable and manageable just different. I tend to put mechanical solidarity into my own sort of sub solidarity to organic solidarity. I think that within cities there are many different sub-cultures that very well can function like a smaller town. In my neighborhood, I feel it is very small town like where I know the local baker, pharmacist, and jeweler. We are all very much connected on a personal level where I know their families and go to their barbeques. These people are connected to me intimately and are very important in the unfolding of tasks I may have, but on the larger scale I don’t know my doctor on that level at UIC. I think that under most circumstances people in this day in age can relate to both types of solidarity presented by Durkheim.
Do Me a Solid
Solidarity can be defined as a type of unity that connects people within a group. Emile Durkheim describes solidarity in his work as the glue that connects everyone together and keeps things from falling apart. Durkheim depicts two different types of solidarity in his work: organic solidarity and mechanical solidarity. Organic solidarity is put into terms by Durkheim to express a more structured society or large group of people versus his take on mechanical solidarity which is based off a smaller group of people much like a community.
Organic solidarity is expressed much in our everyday lives because most of us live in this big city, Chicago. This type of solidarity is built off the differentiation in a society. People are more specialized and less connected intimately. There is a greater division of labor making more jobs specialized versus people doing multiple or diverse jobs. For example, a hospital is broken down into special jobs: doctors specialize in one particular part of human anatomy, nurses specialized in a particular part of anatomy, nurses’ assistants, cleaning crew, and so on. Each group is sectioned off in the sense that they do not do each other’s job. The doctor wouldn’t be throwing out the trash; it’s not his specialty he is in position for. Labor is divided accordingly so that a receptionist would not be conducting brain surgery and answering phones. Each personal has an essential role in society that is broken down for everyone to work together, but separated duties. This division of labor causes society to be much less personal and people are not as intimately bonded by one another. In an organic solidarity community, one would not necessarily know their mechanic outside the repair garage. People’s relationships are then based on roles much like a hierarchy of superiority. People are no longer looked at individually but more so thought of as a generalization of characteristics. Although people in a society of organic solidarity are less intimately connected the specialization of the work force makes outcomes stronger and more efficient. People depend on each other’s qualifications to ensure life run smoothly. One person knows about this topic, the next knows about another, and so on. Each person’s specific role is utilized within a society because people rely on each other to fulfill important everyday needs.
Mechanical solidarity is expressed by Durkheim to describe more of a small-town or community based environment. Mechanical solidarity is not exactly the opposite of organic solidarity; it is just broken down for a smaller group of people. Mechanical solidarity has a community of people that are divided by their labor, but minimally. Some people might produce a common likeness for something and more team work is enforced. If something needs to be done, people will stick together and get the job done. There is more emphasis on group work. People often wonder what they can contribute to their group, and they really enjoy intimate relations with each other. Due to the fact people are more versatile in this type of community there are not as much stress on social roles. For example in a small town, everyone knows each other. It is just known that Mr. Brown is the town barber, and Sue Ellen is town’s best sewer. Everyone just knows each other and their business friends and people help each other complete our important everyday tasks. People’s social interactions are based on intimate social contact. There is a real relationship built amongst people, where people are more personable and almost like extended family.
Both degrees of solidarity are workable and manageable just different. I tend to put mechanical solidarity into my own sort of sub solidarity to organic solidarity. I think that within cities there are many different sub-cultures that very well can function like a smaller town. In my neighborhood, I feel it is very small town like where I know the local baker, pharmacist, and jeweler. We are all very much connected on a personal level where I know their families and go to their barbeques. These people are connected to me intimately and are very important in the unfolding of tasks I may have, but on the larger scale I don’t know my doctor on that level at UIC. I think that under most circumstances people in this day in age can relate to both types of solidarity presented by Durkheim.