In my last blog, I disclosed that my Sociology know-how had seized up over the years, to the point at which I needed some academic WD-40 and an intellectual impact wrench to move ahead. Although I've been reviewing the fundamentals recently from a helpful primer, I had a stubborn sociology problem I've struggled with all my adult life-how to remember the difference between Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft.  I put out a distress call to any sociologist in the vicinity. Help was on the way!   

First some background and a quick review for anyone who's been out of school as long as I have.  Both German words refer to a type of societal association.  Gemeinschaft refers to family-like kinship and close-knit ties that are based on community and shared values of group relationships.  Gesellschaft is the type of association in which people are less collective, more individualistic and competitive; in other words, more business-y relationships.  Gesellschaft relationships have shared values too, in a way, but the shared philosophy is more or less "enlightened self-interest."  (Sociologists-how did I do?) 

So what's the problem?  I could never remember which was which! I always had to look them up.  I needed a foolproof tool to remember it-a slam-dunk mnemonic device.  I was rescued by a sociological "Mighty Mouse" if ever there was one, Penn State's Paul Amato.  Click here and sing along to Paul's rescue soundtrack,"Here He Comes to Save the Day!"  Professorial Superhero Paul has bailed me out of a social science jam more than once.  This time he devised an ingenious trick to use so that I will never again confuse my Schafts.

He pointed out that the words in question are identical except for the "Mein" and the "Sell."  He told me that in Gemeinschaft, I should think of Chow "Mein"-a meal shared in small, intimate groups.  Now-the "sell" part of it, in Gesellschaft, I can associate with the commerce, business-type of relationships. Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!

Which brings me to the topic of NCFR. The National Council on Family Relations is a wonderful blend of both Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft.  We engage in a business, to be sure-NCFR professionals are employed in the marketplace, write and sell books, serve families, and we belong to a professional organization.  However, just come to an NCFR conference, and you will feel the warm Gemeinschaft.  When we survey members as to why they belong to NCFR, they value the business side of it-the exchange of academic and practice information and the collaboration.  But the friendships we form by networking in NCFR are cited as well-it gives us our feeling of "family." 

Now here's a Gesellschaft pitch for membership-all of this is available for less that $3 a week.  How many of us spend that much just on Lattes?  Join NCFR today online.  Or if it's the Gemeinschaft touch you prefer, call me personally at 763-231-2887 and I'll take your information over the phone. Introduce yourself, and we'll have a nice chat and a virtual Latte.

 Finally, a P.S. to P.A.-Vielen Dank.  Next time I see you, I owe you a Chow "Mein" dinner.