Community

                                      Communities

Community-Community plays an important role in the life of an individual.A community is the total organised social life of a locality."The mark of a community is that one's life may be lived wholly within it." One cannot live wholly within a business organisation or a church;one can live wholly within a tribe or a city.Some communities are inclusive and independent on others. There are a few premitive communities like that of the Yurok tribes of California which are almost isolated but modern communities have big population and very much dependent on other communities. The character of the community and the role of the individual in it depend much on its territorial size,size of the population,nature of the local government and the economic pursuits of the people.
The community has been an expression that emphasised the unity of the common life of a people or mankind." Community has been "generating a sense of belonging to gather "all these days.

                                   Types of Communities

Communities are divided into two types Rural and Urban.

The Rural Community-Rural society or the village community consists of people living in a limited physical area who have common interests and common ways of satisfying them.
As the rural sociologists Dwight Sanderson says that,a rural community consists of people living "on dispersed farmstead and a hamlet or village which forms the centre of their common activities."

J.H.Kolb and Bruner defined as "a group of people permanently residing in a definite geographic area who,having developed a certain community consciousness and culture,social and economic relations feel that they are separate from other communities.

Characteristics of the Rural Community

1-The Social Homogeneity-The rural community is largely homogeneous.The rural social life is simple and smooth going,unity and uniformity in social life are largely visible.We find similarly in the ways of thinking,behaving,dressing,action and living.

2- Dominance of Primary Relations- The Rural community is characterised by the primary relations. There exists face to face relations among people. Every person knows every other and hence everyone is interested in the welfare of all. The village community is relatively small in size. The members frequently meet and maintain regular contacts.

3- Informal Social Control-Social control that is the control of  social behaviour of people is relatively simpler and less problematic predominance of face -to-face relationship has made the task of regulating relations a simple one. Customs,traditions ,group standard and moral are themselves effective as social pressures.

4- Occupations- The Rural community is marked by predominant type of occupations,i.e.,agriculture.
Agriculture is associated with different crafts like pottery,basket-making,spinning,weaving,carpentry,brick-makings,shoe-making,tanning,barbering,oil-grinding toy-making etc.

5-Importance of family- The Rural family is very cohesive. It lives together as a units ,eat together and works together. People are traditional and conservative. People are bound by family customs. Rural women are very much dependent on their menfolk.

6- Role of Neighbourhood- Neighbourhood is a community in miniature. It is similar to a community in miniature. It is similar to a community, but it is smaller areas in which relationships tend to be primary,or more or less intimate. The neighbourhood is a part of village,town or city,in which live a number of families among whom close relationships exists.

7- Faith in Religion- The Rural men believe that the nature Gods will have to be pleased by various means to help them in agricultural operations. The deep faith in religion and god has minimised their mental tension and disturbances.

8- Conservatism and Dogmatism- The Rural people are said to be highly conservative,traditional and dogmatic in their approach. It is true that their social attitudes and behaviour patterns are dictated by tradition. They do not accept policies,plans,programs,principles,projects,doctrines etc.thar the majority disapproached. They are basically skeptical in their attitude.

9- Rural community and social change- The villagers are generally simpleton. They cling firmly to their beliefs,traditions and ago old practices,customs is their kin. They are not ready to go against it. Their behaviour is natural and not artificial. They are far away from the superficial manners and artificial gestures. They live a peaceful life. They are free from mental tension and conflicts. They dislike conflicts and quarrel. They are sincere,hardworking and hospitable.

                        Types of Rural Communities

1- Agricultural Village Community- Agricultural village is mainly built around agriculture even though trade may be carried on there in a small scale. Such a village is the trade and social centre for the surrounding farmers. In most parts of the world,it is customary for farmers to live in the village, and to go out by day to cultivate their land, returning to their homes in the village centre at night. In the Indian villages,normally people build their houses near their land and live in it. The Indian farmers depend more on agriculture rather than on trade.

2- Industrial village community- In some villages,more than the agriculture some small industries have provided means of livelihood for a relatively bigger number of people. The people in such industrial villages gain most of their income from small industries located there. Industries such as cutting the tree and baking, producing stones for building houses,fishing,rolling,beedis,mining etc. maybe carried on there.

                            The Urban Community

An urban community in which a large number of people are engaged other than the agricultural pursuits,i.e. in the production and collection of food. Such community has a large densely settled and relatively heterogeneous population. The emergence of urban communities has altered human lifestyles and values. The size complexity and density of urban communities have given rise to new forms of social organisation,new behaviour and new attitudes.
George Simmel (1960) designated urban life as rational in the sense that it involves quick logical and calculating reaction. He constrasted this to the slow,habitual and simple quality of rural life.

            Characteristics of Urban Community

1-Large size and high density of Population- In urban areas, there is high density of population. Density increases the number of short-terms, impersonal and utilitarian social relationships a person is likely to have.

2-Heterogeneity- Urban population is heterogeneous. It consists of various shades of people-different castes, classes, ethnic groups,religions etc. They are not alike. Urban community is not worthy for its diversity.

3-Anonymity- Anonymity is a loss of identity and sense of belongingness. The heterogeneity of city life with its mixture of people of all races,castes,classes,creeds,occupations and ethnic origins heightens the sense of anonymity.

4-Mobility and Transiency- Urban life is dynamic.Social relations are temporary. Therefore,permanency does not develop in urban relations. There is a high rate of geographical as well as social mobility in urban areas. In America on an average, a person changes his job within six years. Different types of mobility usually mean transiency of contact. As such,urban social relations continue for a very short time.
Urban dweller continually makes-new social contacts.

5-Formality of Relations- In Urban social life, relations are not intimate and kinship based. Most routine social contacts in the  city are impersonal and segmented. Formal politeness takes the place of genuine friendliness. The impersonality of urbans a necessary and convenient way of urban living.

6-Social Distance- Social distance is a product of anonymity, impersonality and heterogeneity. Occupational differences may be even more important sources of social distance.

7-Regimentation- The city is always in always in hurry. The life in the urban community becomes 'clock regulated'.Order , regularity and the punctuality are the characteristics of urban life.

8-Segmentation of Personality-Most contact are instrumental, that is ,we use another person as a necessary functionary to fulfill our purposes. We do not necessarily interact with entire persons but with people in terms of their formal roles as postman ,bus driver, office assistant,policeman and other functionaries ,we thus interact with only a segment of the person , not with the whole person.

Difference between Rural Community and Urban Community
                     
                            Rural Community

1-The Rural society is homogeneous. It is marked by unity and uniformity.

2-It is dominated by primary relations. It is hence more cohesive.

3-People are known for simplicity and hospitality,frankness and generosity.

4-Informal means social control such as customs ,more conventions are sufficient to regulate impersonal relations.

5-It is less mobile.Opportunities for social movements are limited status is mostly 'ascribed'.

6-Women are mostly tradition bound.

7-The rural community has a small number of people.

8-It is simple uni-group society.

9-It is known for its ethnocentrism and its correlative,suspicion towards outsides.

10-People are poorer.Still they are not class-conscious.Class conflicts are unknowns. 

                     Urban Community

1-It is heterogeneous and also known for its diversity and complexity.

2-It is dominated by secondary relations. It is not united.

3-It is known for their artificiality ,narrowmindness and selfish.

4-Formal means social control such as law,legislation,police court etc

5-It is more mobile. It is an 'open' society. Status is achieved.

6-Women have almost an equal status with men.

7-Urban community consists of a big number of people.

8-It is a complex multiple group society.

9-The growing contacts with outsiders make the people to become tolerant with them.

10-Chances are greater for people to become rich.People are more class conscious. Class-conflicts often paralyses the city-life.