There are five institutions in society they are: family, education, government, religion, and economy. Every institution affects the daily life that we live. Institutions often overlap one another making all work together. Through my courses, I have learned more about the five primary institutions, and they have shaped my own behaviors attitudes, beliefs, and relationships.

Learning about different theories and theorists helped me develop a lens to view the economy. I learned about the different concepts of theories, and I started to find myself questioning the way I look at things that happen. While studying symbolic interactionalism I learned to take a step back and look at the economy. The economy fluctuates daily while nothing stays the same for long. Symbolic interactionalism helped me figure out the symbolism of small interactions that happen throughout society. At the end of the course, I learned that different institutions overlap continuously and help us function as a society. Each institution is directly affected by one another. Karl Marx is a theorist who focused on the capitalist economy.

Education is one institution that can be helpful or harmful for those who have disabilities, especially those who are not visible. It is sought to keep those who have disabilities away from “normal” students. Those who have disabilities often have to fight to get equal treatment in the classroom. Through education, we have learned how to communicate and live our lives. Education is sought to teach you what you want to do with your life. Disability within education can be difficult. No two people have the same experiences with the same disability, which can be hard for the education system to understand. Education has programmed us there is only one way to educate. Slowly as a society, we are moving toward trying new things within education.  

Family is an institution that starts to affect you at birth. You are only known what you are taught by others. My own family has played a huge part in who I am today. For children family is often the role model. Children began to act and think like their families. The resilience a family has during a crisis or stressful time is reflected in children. The outcome of a crisis or stressful time, good or bad, can be a turning point for a child. A child who grew up in a consistently stressful household may have a negative outcome as a child who had a perfect life. Family shapes us into who we are.

Religion is an institution that is pushed aside. Religion may not have an effect on all, but it does many. Religion has shaped many individuals’ thoughts. It can be difficult to understand different religions and their beliefs. I have learned to ask questions and expand my own personal knowledge of different religions. Émile Durkheim, a sociological theorist, founded his theory of functionalism on religion. Although religion may not affect everyone directly it does socially. Today society is steadily changing to be accepting of different religions and those who do not practice religions.