social structure
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Social structure refers to the established patterns of how people are organized and arranged in society, including their relationships, roles, and institutions. It matters because these patterns shape how individuals interact, what opportunities are available to them, and how society functions as a whole.
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Pyramide à renverser - The poster shows a social stratification pyramid which symbolises class society. At the top we can see King Leopold II.
In the social sciences, social structure is the aggregate of patterned social arrangements in society that are both emergent from and determinant of the actions of individuals. Likewise, society is believed to be grouped into structurally related groups or sets of roles, with different functions, meanings, or purposes. Examples of social structure include family, religion, law, economy, and class. It contrasts with "social system", which refers to the parent structure in which these various structures are embedded. Thus, social structures significantly influence larger systems, such as economic systems, legal systems, political systems, and cultural systems. Social structure can also be said to be the framework upon which a society is established. It determines the norms and patterns of relations between the various institutions of the society.