F3715432 Sociology Essay: Home vs. Housing (Block 2, Weeks 5 & 6)

This essay, written by Mr. Abdirashid Moalim Dakane, compares and contrasts the concepts of home and housing, drawing from Weeks 5 and 6 of Block 2. It explores the sociological dimensions of home, social divisions, and social change. The essay highlights the differences, such as the long-term stability associated with home ownership versus the frequent relocations in rented housing, and the financial risks of homeownership. It also outlines the similarities, including the importance of maintaining a healthy environment. The essay references various sources to support its arguments, including the impact of home and housing on social outcomes. The essay concludes by summarizing the key differences and similarities, emphasizing the impact of these concepts on individual lives and broader societal structures, and the role of technology and social change in shaping living patterns.

Name: Mr. Abdirashid Moalim Dakane (F3715432)
Project Question
Comparing and contrasting Weeks 5
and 6 of Block 2-
Identify and Discuss Similarities and
Differences in the discussion of Home
and Housing.

Exploring home: sociology, social divisions and social change plays a vital role in
establishing stability among people across the globe. The essay will analyse the similarities and
differences in the discussion of Home and housing. The terms are very narrow and share a very
deep concept over the social divisions and sociology. Housing changes over time whereas home
is the own property of person in which he or she can live freely (Maguire and et.al., 2014, p.75).
Both the terms have been used in both the weeks. The essay will outline the deep concept will
share the societal mentality over both terms that is Home and Housing.
Home concept is interconnected with two ideologies that are social change and social
division (Silva, 2010, p.33). On the other hand, Housing concept is also related to two ideologies
that is non-profit housing and private sector landlords. When living in home social change occurs
the individual shift from its home and starts residing with friends, relative or companion. On the
other hand, in housing social change occurs when the people shift from one location to another
due to any reason which can be, finance, society, surrounding, environment etc. Further, in
accordance to analysis it has been evaluated that 36 percent people are tenants and live on rent at
private landlords, apparently 64 percent of people in UK, owns their home (Pannell, 2012, p.5).
It states that social housing tenants are happily and have less sense of personal ownership.
However, in home the social changes occurs very frequently due to infertility behaviour of
individual like changing expectations from marriages ad relationships, martial status etc. These
social changes lead to formation of new relationship new relation bonds, families (Russell, 2011,
p.322). Moreover, the major difference in Home owners and tenants is sense of living, people
like to buy their own house to sense freedom because the tenants are bound under specific rules
and regulations set by landlords. In addition, the people living at home have hold over economic
factors like, health, education and income. The Home and Housing concept are different from
each other because, higher income or wealth leads to Home ownership and better social
outcomes (Russell, 2011, p.362). Apparently, Lower income or wealth leads to rented housing
and worse social outcomes. In contrast, Home ownership encourages long stay at the same
residence which assists in better social outcomes while rented housing leads to frequent changes
in resident which impact the social life of people. Moreover, when the individual resides at home
than the person can use every essential technology such as, Television, computers, washing
machines, household durables etc. in contrary when the person resides in rented home then the
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individual has to situation and circumstances due to which tenants cannot use every
technological advancement as it limits them under boundaries against set of rules imposed by
landlords. Apart from this home ownership is riskier in context to investment because the prices
of houses can even hike and can decrease at the same time which leads to financial losses.
Hence, the home and housing concept reveals the concept of inequalities like the women can
perform their domestic cleaning activities more appropriate at home whereas in housing the
cleaning and laundering activities are invisible and unpaid activity (Maguire and et.al., 2014,
p.83). The home is the place in which the person gets its own space for working, living and
enjoying freedom whereas housing limits the freedom and space of people which generate the
concept of inequality. For instance, if talking about home than the person can formulate the
design of home according to his or her will like, the location of living areas, kitchen, guest room
dinning etc. On the hand if we talk about housing than the person and families has to live in
already designed house and even the individual do not hold freedom to amend and make changes
according to comfort. When living at home the people discover different sense of living and
freedom in comparison to houses because the freedom is sometimes restricted by landlords or
governmental regulation. In week 6, the discussion focused around the information that the
individuals have their own set of living when residing in homes but the houses are formulated
with the rules which are enhanced for tenants by owners.
The major similarly between home and housing is bedroom and kitchen culture because
the kitchen and bedroom in houses are designed according to scientific order and to maintain the
connection with air. Moreover, the basic amenities in home and houses are similar and are
formulated according to individual's wish. Further, the people maintain the healthy and safe
environment of both the places equally in order to stay in clean and healthy environment. Apart
from this, the individuals enjoy their own social life according to changes and in fact, the
environment is based on surrounding which individuals create for themselves. Both the living
patterns of society demand capital investment in which the home investment is for long term and
is risky whereas the housing investment is short term and bearable. The general practices of
people living are almost similar in comparison to maintenance and environment (Russell, 2011,
p.393). The designing of homes indicate appropriate spaces, social codes and activities of
different type of people residing at one place. In addition, the housing indicates similar activities
and spaced of different types of people in society. In contrast to this, week 6 discussed that
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society is influenced by the household decisions of the individuals regarding using housing as an
investment. Moreover, social relation and social life of people are similar as it depends on
individual behaviours and not on home and housing concept. On the other hand, the placement of
technological tools in both ideologies is similar as it considers the old and young people as the
shaping of housing and home depends on these individuals. The people living in home and
houses are equal and have equal sense of responsibility towards environment and their stability.
Social change in society and technology demonstrate the enhancement of home living in United
Kingdom. Thus, the changes in ways of living at home are wide in comparison to house but are
similar (Russell, 2011, p.410).
Henceforth, the experience of individuals from housing to home makes them analyse the
importance and enrich their living experience. It has been analysed that there is vast different and
minor similarities between housing and home ideologies. The residents provide completely
different situations circumstances of individuals but it is on people that how they manage their
lifestyles. It is important for the people to analyse the importance of both concepts. Thus,
themes, ideas, time, space and sociologists indicates the micro and macro changes in society
which impacts the living pattern of people. Distributed buying of houses on mortgage loans had
determined the measurable outcomes and influenced the inequality and distribution.
CONCLUSION
The essay summarized that the sociology, social divisions and social change in people
living under two concepts of Home and housing. It stated the difference which states that, Home
ownership encourages long stay at same resident which assist in better social outcomes while
rented housing leads to frequent changes in resident which impact the social life of people.
Further, the essay outlined that home ownership is riskier in context to investment because the
prices of houses can even hike and can decrease at the same time which leads to financial losses.
Thus, the report concluded the similarities of home and housing that is the people maintain the
healthy and safe environment of both the places equally in order to stay in clean and healthy
environment.
1267 words
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Maguire, M. and et.al., (2014) ‘Kitchen living in later life: exploring ergonomic problems,
coping strategies and design solutions’, International Journal of Design, vol. 8, no. 1, pp.
73–91.
Pannell, R. (2012) Maturing Attitudes to Home-ownership, CML Housing Finance, Issue 2,
CML, London
Russell K. S. (2011). Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research. Pine
Forge Press.
Silva, E. (2010) Technology, Culture, Family: Influences on Home Life, Basingstoke, Palgrave.
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