In this essay I will be discussing Dorothy Lee’s chapter called “Individual Autonomy & Social Structure” and what she believes is the key social problem and her various examples of cultures and societies in which individual autonomy is encouraged and how the deal with resolving issues regarding individual autonomy. I am going to do this by addressing the key social problem and then giving an example relating to one of the themes of language, child rearing, children and work. Furthermore, I will explain what she has shown/stated in the chapter overall and her basic resolution to the key social problem. By addressing this, this will show how we can change our ways and also, learn to respect other societies for who and what they consist of. …show more content…
This is because we have been caught up in the fast paced lifestyles of western society or as she describes it, “speeded tempo of living” (Lee, 5). It may be difficult to state what a certain social problem is within a society, because in many different societies, there are many different norms and ideals. However one can agree with Lee that a society that has gained dependant on social structure because they feel that is how they will gain individual freedom, does have a social problem relating to individual autonomy. The overall outlook of society has changed from child rearing, language, work and leadership. People are more self-absorbed and only care about furthering themselves as oppose to the individuals around them that make up a society and therefore we have lost the true meaning of life and value of existence. In the chapter, Lee discusses other cultures such as the Navaho Indians, and how they have supported and maintain autonomy in their