An Introduction To Sociology (theory) Flashcards
Who was Oxana Malaya and why was she important?
-Feral child not brought up by humans
-Parents were alcoholics and exiled her from home
-She lived in a kennel in the back garden of the family home from the age of 3 - 8 with the dogs which roamed the streets
-She learned their behaviours and mannerisms as they cared for her
-Her actions and sounds mimicked those of her carers as she barked, walked on all fours and had very good senses
-She could only say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ when she was rescued
-She now lives at a home for the mentally handicapped
-She made an astonishing recovery and now has impressive language skills which is very rare for feral children
-She had a boyfriend too
What is a norm?
The rules that social group uses for appropriate/ innapropriate attitudes and behaviours. These rules may be explicit (obvious) or implicit (less obvious). The opposite is abnormal or “deviant” which is breaking away from the norms of society. For example, a 70 year old wearing a hoodie and trainers.
What is a value?
General principles or goal that tell us what is good and what we should aim for. For example, in America there is a very high value on achievement and personal wealth, whereas Native American Indians place a high value on group duties, such as sharing wealth.
What is a role?
The part that one acts/ plays in a society. As individuals we play many different roles, such as son, daughter or student. The behaviour and expectations associated with each role are likely to be different and therefore we behave differently in our different roles. There are norms associated with these roles.
What does status mean?
One’s social position in society. For example, doctors have a high status and ‘chavs’ have a low one. Status can be gained in two ways:
-Ascribed status: Status fixed at birth, for example gender
-Achieved status: Status gained through our own efforts, for example getting into university through working hard
What does socialisation mean?
The learning process of norms and values of society. For example, the way in which we are socialised into gender roles. You often hear politicians blaming youth crimes on a lack of good socialisation from parents! There are two ways in which we are socialised: primary which is done by the family and secondary which is done by peers, the media and religion.
What is culture?
‘A shared way of life which is learned and which acts as a guide for living’. Culture is made up of societies norms, values, language and customs or traditions. This may vary from society to society. For example, how is the culture of Iraq different to that of Britain?
What does social control mean?
The maintenance of order in society and is vital if society is to function properly. This is often underpinned by shared values within a shared culture. The informal controls that restrain our behaviour, such as disapproval, dislike and isolation. As opposed to formal controls, such as the police and legal systems.
What do liberal feminists believe in?
Changing society through laws and policies
Moderate
Equal pay
Political representation
Sex discrimination act
What do radical feminists believe in?
Patriarchy
Political lesbianism
Extreme
Separatism
Men use violence or threat of violence to control women- Millet
Men are the enemy- Millet
Campaign against pornography- Andrea Dworkin
Revolutionary feminists
Misogyny
What do black/difference feminists believe?
Intersectionality
Not all women have the same experience
Black women deal with sexism and racism
What do Marxist feminists believe?
Women are lower than proletariat
Role of women- capitalism (economy)
Socialist feminists
Capitalism is the root cause of inequality
Revolution and communism is the solution
