Gemeinschaft vs Gesellschaft in Sociological Articles

Gemeinschaft vs Gesellschaft in Sociological Articles

In the two articles Social Change Among the Amish, and The

McDonaldization of Society we can clearly understand the difference

between a Gemeinschaft and a Gesellschaft. The term Gemeinschaft

and Gesellschaft is used by Ferdinand Tonnies to analyze the two major

terms in society. A Gemeinschaft is otherwise known as a "intimate

community." It is used to describe the traditional type of society in

which everyone knows everyone else. While a Gesellschaft is what is

more common, Gemeinschaft's do exist. A Gesellschaft is otherwise

known as a "impersonal association." It is what we typically live in, it is

emerging society with short-term relationships, individual

accomplishments, and self-interests that crowd out personal ties, family

connections, and life-long friendships.

In the article Social Change Among the Amish out of a group of

selected Amish families 130 questionnaires and/or personal interviews

were obtained for the information in this article. The Gemeinschaft

community is clearly understood in this article about the Amish. The

Amish are a Gemeinschaft community living in a Gesellschaft society.

The Amish people are polite and cordial but they are not to intrigued by

outsiders intruding on their land. The Amish lifestyle and religion

promotes voluntary isolation and has been a major obstacle for anyone

wanting to collect data or research on the Amish community. The

lifestyle of the Amish emphasizes "the importance of humility, modesty,

strong obedience to God, and social conformity; they abhor pride, social

snobbery, individualism, and winning through competition. Family

bonds and their faith are the cornerstones of the Amish lifestyle." The

Amish are a perfect example of a Gemeinschaft community. The Amish

have a strong sense of social solidarity, some people argue the point that

the Amish practice of solidarity is a major reason that they have

survived as a model of the extended family of the past. The Amish like

many Gemeinschaft communities feel that "social change" is evident

but only if carefully controlled and monitored. "They work to preserve

traditions of the past, emphasize the importance of humility and divine

guidance in controlling their own destiny, and maintain a strong

posture of serving God rather than the interests of humanity." Even

though the Amish live in a offset community different than the rest of

the world they do not live in a social "vacuum." They are constantly

around a modernized world so they are constantly reminded and

pressured to move toward modernization. Whether it is through planters

having to borrow money for spring planting or married men having to