A pronoun problem

Question

A pronoun problemThe passage below comes from a website as follows:https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=629233633838578&id=623078377787437&substory_index=0 Authorities crave recognition and constantly find ways to reinforce their status. Doctors and researchers sport white coats. ... Today, even more symbols and props are used to signal expertise: from appearances on talk shows and on the covers of magazines, to book tours and their own Wikipedia entries. Authority changes much like fashion does, and society follows it just as much.I'd like ask a question regarding the underlined 'it'.What does it refer to?It seems to imply 'change' to me.(Am I right?)

Teechr · Accepted Answer

"It" refers to authority.

Stenka25 · Answer

Thanks a lot for your immediate reply, teechr.

Then can I parse the phrase in question
as in society follows it (= authority) just as much (as authority changes)?

Teechr · Answer

follows it = society also changes
just as much = just as much as society follows fashion

Stenka25 · Answer

Thanks a million for another immediate reply of yours.

But, teechr, I'm in a serious deadlock.
I still cannot make sense out of the phrase in question.

At first, you said the underlined 'it' refers to 'authority'.

Then you say
society follows it = society also changes
just as much = just as much as society follows fashion

Now I cannot follow your train of thought.
Maybe I am wrong.
But I cannot know what I get wrong.

Since I can't get what you mean.
Let me put my thought straight.
And I want you to appraise it.

Based on what you state,
I think the sentence means as follows :

Authority changes much like fashion does, and society follows it just as much.

?Authority changes much like fashion changes, and society follows authority just as much as authority changes.
?Authority changes much like fashion changes, and society changes just as much as authority changes.
?Fashion changes a lot as time changes, and authority changes much like fashion changes, and society changes just as much as authority changes.

Do you agree with me?

Teechr · Answer

Yes, I agree with you.

Stenka25 · Answer

Thanks a lot as always, teechr<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Teechr · Answer

You're welcome.

I don't mean to confuse you, but I forgot to draw your attention to the play on words in that sentence (follow ... fashion). This is just a by-the-way thing.

Stenka25 · Answer

Thanks a lot for your feedback, teechr.
I appreciate it for everything

A pronoun problem

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