What binds us together?

                    COMMONALITY AND COMPLEMENTARITY

                    In understanding the evolution of modern societies, it is important that we consider some intricate details without restricting our scale of measurement to the development in art, science and technology.The division of labor as we know has always been appreciated for its role in achievement of physical and economic efficiency.But the views of David Emile Durkheim, one of the principal architects of modern sociology, brings to light the key role of this division of labour in attaining the current day well built social solidarity.This post completely shares his views on the function of the division of labor.

Basis of attraction:

      Finding answers to some of the questions that govern our relationships would help us understand his views better.Why are we attracted to some people? What binds us? Is it the commonality among us? If so, should not we be amazed that most of the people we hang out with are completely contrasting? So yes, our relationships arise out of commonality as well as complementarity.

If two individuals share a common belief or an ideology,they tend to unite and can be considered as a single unit. But when two individuals possess different characters as that of tenderness and boldness, an attraction is felt because on their union they feel complete.In this case,they exist not as a single unit but two subunits that gives completion.As a great man said,'If what one has,the other has not, but desires leads to positive attraction'.This mutual attraction that comes from dissimilarities is the basis of the division of labor.

Conjugal solidarity:

      In the early matriarchal societies, the relationship between the mother and the children were defined and strong whereas the bond between the mother and her partners were lax.They parted on their own will.At those times,men and women almost were undifferentiated in their roles unlike today where the role of women is limited.They were alike.When the ritual of marriage came into existence with the growth of civilization, there was no place for ephemeral relationships and they were bound to be together for eternity. Men and women differentiated in their roles where women were centred around family and withdrew from politics and warfare.Durkheim says that this differentiation ,the sexual division of labor has made an orderly social life possible.If marital life disappears,the relationships would be merely sexual and there would be no social life.This obligation of marriage has helped society to become of what it is today. Now the whole society around us is based on the family setup that has made social solidarity possible.

Mechanical solidarity:

      Earlier in the agrarian societies where the division of labor could not be prominently found, we see that the cohesion of people came from the similarities between them.They were united by the common religious beliefs, work-style, customs.They functioned as a single unit.The concept of individualism had no place.They all had a collective conscience.A person who offended this conscience had to be punished without actually considering whether the act actually harmed anyone.For instance, in primitive societies there were certain objects,places or people considered to be untouchable.If a person violates, he is considered to have offended the collective conscience and is punished though the act by itself is harmless. The leaders back then felt the need for this customs to be kept rigid whether or not it had meaning in order to ensure social order and solidarity. They feared that any kind of aversion from it would lead to confusion and chaos.The laws were repressive and had no consideration for social relationships.

Organic solidarity from the division of labor:

     After the industrialization, when the society diversified to many different activities from just agriculture, the division of labor became the natural law.The greater investments and the need for production efficiency led to specialization of occupations.It is the reason for the economic prosperity.Since each job was performed by a specialized person,the efficiency increased manifold.But it has to do beyond the economy.It influences the political,social,administrative and judicial life of a society. Individuals gained more focus.One would feel that the greater development of individualism would rupture the existing solidarity.But in turn this brought more cohesion.One understood the need and importance of the other person. Complementary attraction played its role. This has tightened the social solidarity.Durkheim calls this the organic solidarity that can be seen only in modern societies arising out of the division of labor. Everybody is interdependent and this connects an individual with the society.The laws are restitutive. Punishments are based on the extent of defacement of the victim. Laws are framed based on the social relationships.We have well-defined rights.Our administrative structure has a proper hierarchy.This complex relationship between different individuals strengthens social solidarity.This division of labour is thus the condition of progress of any society.

       

      In the present day,we see that women have slowly started assuming the same roles as men do.You may wonder that if women and men turn alike would that make the social solidarity weak.But Durkheim says that after every period of likeness, one gender tends to differentiate into other ways.We have been witnessing an upcoming trend of house-husbands already.Will the society revert back to matriarchy? Let's wait and watch;)

Suggested reads: The division of labor in society -Emile Durkheim