communities function

According to Dictionary.com, a society is a group of people who live together, in the same environment, at the same time and share certain characteristics. People benefit from the community because it provides them with a sense of security, satisfies their needs, and embraces them for who they are. People’s performance in society is heavily influenced by their cultures. Who we are, what we do, and how we live are all defined by our culture. This paper discusses the workings of the community, precisely how the community accepts us for who we are and how we embrace ourselves. The approach of this paper will be an analysis of two articles, written at different times that attempt to describe the roles of the community in the human societies. The articles to be used are “Rituals and Traditions; It takes a tribe” and ”A secret society of the Starving.” A community is an important facet of the society because it serves our needs, accept us for who we are, and provide us with a sense of stability.

Discussion

The article Rituals and Traditions; It Takes a Tribe was written by David Berreby in 2004. The article setting is in campus or college life. The community addressed in the article is the school community. Throughout the article, the author demonstrates the different roles of the community. The school community, especially colleges and universities, are comprised of people from all lifestyles. They come together and develop a sense of belongingness. They share values and standards common to students in colleges. In the school scenario, the author shows how the school community accepts students who come from different corners of the country and the world and gives them an equal opportunity to access knowledge. In colleges and schools, the academic potentials of students differ significantly. Some are academically endowed; some cannot communicate effectively or speak fluent English, among other difference. However, while inside the school facility, they are identified as students of a certain university or college and they feel proud of being in that community. ”...at colleges across the country, from Ivy League to less exclusive state schools, students who are mispronouncing the library’s name this month will soon feel truly and deeply a part of their college. They will be singing their school songs and cherishing the traditions (just as soon as they learn what they are)…”(Berreby). In this statement, the shows attempts to shows that the school community accepts students for whom they are.

In the school, people group according to their tribes, race or other factors. Human beings are social beings, they, therefore, identify according to their character, and they can do anything to defend their union or grouping. The world is characterized by different groupings such as schools, political movements, and religious groups. The interests of each group differ from one group to another (Berreby). However, despite their difference, each group in very important in the society. Any society is not lacking thousands of community grouping. As aforementioned, the groupings are based on the interest of the group. For example, the school fraternity’s interest may differ from that of the political class. Each of this group is important contributes to the wellbeing of the society.

The article A secret Society of the Starving by Mim Udovitch also highlights the different roles of the community. Claire, 18 years old high school girls, is experiencing medical problems related to dieting for a repeated period of anorexia. Claire fails to eat enough food to maintain the minimum healthy weight. She appears a very weak girl for fewer intakes of calories. The eating disorder began when she was 14 years. Her eating disorder came about from her friend who introduced her to the new lifestyle of keeping weight at low. Anorexia is a health disorder that develops when somebody fails to eat enough food to maintain their healthy. Claire is not alone in this problem. According to the article, over 200 American women suffered from anorexia at that time. Despite her appearance of being weak, Claire is not segregated from the community actions. The anorexia community is not segregated. With her weak body, Claire is an active sportsperson. ”…Claire’s is also the kind of town where how the local high school does in sports matters. Claire herself plays two sports. Practice and team fund-raisers are a regular part of her life, along with the typical small-town-Florida teenage occupations -- going to ’’some hick party,’’ hanging out with friends in the parking lot of the Taco Bell, bowling, and going to the beach”(Udovith). Her friends do not sideline her from their daily activities because of her look or body shape. Instead, they collaborate to do different activities important to the society.

The scenarios presented by the two authors clearly demonstrate the role of the communities in supporting the human existence in the community. The community accepts people for who they are and serves to meet their needs. According to Udovitch, the anorexic population does not feel rejected by the society. They work and lead a normal life just like other people. For example, despite Chaos being anorexic, she has a full time job that she is comfortable with. Her anorexic condition does not bar her from getting a good job. She is a hard working girl who takes double major. Besides academic and work, Chaos is an artist. She can play different musical instruments, and she is a good photographer. The two authors demonstrate that the community functions to build its members for who they are. Berreby notes that in the school community, students are modeled to become whom they want despite the significant differences. The two articles present two main assumptions about the function of the society: First, people in the society differ significantly and that the society has to accommodate them with their differences. The communities recognize and appreciate that people have differences and interests in their life. The second assumption presented is that the society must defend its people and the members must work to defend and protect their community, evidenced by the Pro-Ana population and school community highlighted in the two articles.

Personal opinion

The argument presented by the two authors about the community roles and functions is right. From a personal perspective, the society must provide its members with a sense of stability by accepting them for who they are and serving their needs. Likewise, the people (members of the community) have a role to defend their community so that it (community) can accommodate them and provide them with basic needs.

Works Cited

Berreby, David. ”Rituals and Traditions; It Takes a Tribe“. Nytimes.Com, 2004, http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/01/education/rituals-and-traditions-it-takes-a-tribe.html?_r=0.

Udovitch, Mim. ”The Way We Live Now: 9-8-02: Phenomenon; A Secret Society of the Starving“. Nytimes.Com, 2002, http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/08/magazine/the-way-we-live-now-9-8-02-phenomenon-a-secret-society-of-the-starving.html.