Community and its nature - Assignment Example

?Research Critique Community and its nature Community is not an unknown concept for human beings as we are bound by it to feel the togetherness and aunified sense of humanity. The very meaning of community is being together and it is necessary to experience a feeling of wholesomeness by eradicating the solitude ness and isolation .There are numerous forms of communities on the planet and each of them nurture their own beliefs and concepts and identify their uniqueness against other .But a community is a not that appears on surface and has a darker side to it many overlook often times. The racism, social exclusion and oppression prevalent in a society are an evil hard to neglect. The author Elias and Scotson states that superior community always defended against an outsider invasion into their social group. The author is right in mentioning that communities are double sides and exclusion and oppression is the darker side of the community which in many cases people leaves un -noticed. The cultural differences and hostilities towards other culture is a common practice in many countries and less has been done to abolish this social evil. There is a considerable amount of conflicts in and between the communities which only has lead to fragmentation that unity among people. The real purpose of community and social grouping is to ensure peace rather than rubbing against to spark violence and clashes. Social exclusion and oppression in community Social exclusion is a concept which relates to a disadvantage of a society where in communities or social groups are alienated or isolated. Social exclusion and oppression can arise due to income inequality, occupation and difference in racial background. The social exclusion is a concept visibly connected widely with various kinds of social and economical problems. According to this concept certain groups or communities are considered inferior or underprivileged due to their social circumstance and racial background or poverty. As per the reading, community is the breeding ground for discrimination, social inequalities and social taboos. The very core nature of community is to create borders, limitation and restriction among people to breed animosity, condemn and conspiracy. According to reading, the communities are always afraid of its security and regard other communities as alien beings. In this attempt to secure themselves and their social belongings they consider other people around them as aliens, intruders or strangers. The author contemplates that violence is not originated without any valid reason but is the residue of the alienated attitude nurtured by the rich and wealth class of the society. The minority of people who are poor class are least powerful in the society are symbolized as violent groups. This lack of power and wealth in many sectors of society give way to the up rise of social inequality oppression and segmentation among people. The author points out that if a society is scrutinized thoroughly one can find a presence of division and conflict within and outside of it. However, the society projects a warm outlook which displays nothing but peace, love and harmony. Here the author enquires about the social interaction between the men and women and that attachment arises out it which gives a qualitative shape to the social scenario. It is also been mentioned that historical circumstances play a significant role in formulating social consequences which other wise intended. The Historical circumstances here can be referred to the history of certain country or geographical boundary which gives a certain identity or cultural foundation to people. This cultural identity or foundation can persuade group of people to differentiate themselves from the people of other geographical areas by forming practice and cultural beliefs. Social formation got initiated with the consistent practices of certain culture and historical practices. Social formation is a complex phenomenon and history and cultural beliefs and practices lead to the emergence of varying community and social groups .Here author Elias and Scotson are focused on the question that who has the right to join the suburban community of Winston Parva. Winston Parva is a pseudonym used for suburban community based in the outskirts of Leicester England which is the basis of research for both Elias and Scotson. Winston Parva and its social structure According to the reading, Winston Parva is a suburb with a people of varying social classes, residential status and social interests. Elias and Scotson attempts to show the people that this suburban community is very different from what it seems. The Elias and Scotson segregate the Winson Parva community in to three zones namely; Zone 1, 2 and 3.Here Zone 2 being a hub of community is that haven for work place, cultural activities and accommodates residencies with all amenities. Zone 1 is area where the rich resides and Zone 3 is a marshy land with rented housing estate were the poor and low income resides Both these authors argue that the social structure of both the people in Zone 1 and 2 is highly structured and they share a social tie. The Zone 1 being poor has no identity and are considered as outsiders or intruders by the inhabitants of Zone 1 and 2 .Here the Zone 1 and 2 created a social group of themselves on the paramount of the wealth and social belongings. The conflict and collision is harbored in their mind and attitude towards the less privileged or poor class in the Zone 3.The living condition of Zone 3 inhabitants are unstructured and disorganized and they are severed form the superior class of Zone 1 and 2.The Inhabitants of the Zone 1 and 2 share a similar cultural identity and whoever threaten their security is identified as intruder or enemy. The “outsider” is a concept which these wealth and superior class have for the less income group and they are considered as “dirt”. These superior social groups treat them as pollution and practice all they can to avoid them or keep a distance from them. According to Mary Douglas the “Dirt” is a classification attributed to the group of people who are less privileged and leading a life of low living. It implies that dirty people do not belong to a specific geographical area and they are treated with social exclusion and oppressive mentality by the rich. The theme of dirtiness is related to an alien social group which is trying to invade the rich or well affluent from a foreign land. For the wealthy class these dirty people are aliens and have no right to interact with or associate with them. Another author Bauman also agrees with Elias and Scotson that a social community can exist only if can differentiate itself from other social groups. This is a very valid statement as a distinctive identity arises only out of alienating oneself from the other. These are no such thing as unified society or community. From the time known, history nurtured and practiced the idea of distinctive society, groups and communities. The superior groups have always oppressed and secluded the minority and there is no freedom in the world. It is explained that communities employ anthropophagic and anthropogenic strategies to implement oppression. By these strategies outsiders are doomed into exile as they are considered mysterious outside force that can threaten the superior community. The article is extremely justified in mentioning that these kind of alienating and oppressive practice happening in normal world. In the present situation, major part of the world has people belonging to minority groups who suffer oppression, poverty, social discrimination, racism and social taboos. The rich mostly thinks for the best of their life and conclude that poor can harm them or hamper their way of living. The evil face which lurks behind the so good community is social violence, oppression and cruelty to the secluded societies and communities. They only culture mutual hatred, conflicts and collisions to exclude themselves from each other. The great writer Amartya Sen. points about the illusion about the community which boasts itself to be unified is not in reality spreading the message of love. In the depth of this community lies the essence of physical violence, seclusion and oppression to other social groups. Here the reading compares this mentality to that of foot ball players who cultivate a singular group admiration towards a particular team. Even more horrendous side of social partiality is the Serbians act in Bosnia to throw out the minority through social violence and assault. It can be concluded here that where there is violence and oppression there can never be unity and peace but only a masquerade face of a unified singular community Read More