culture Flashcards
types of culture
mass, popular, consumer, global, folk, high, subcultures
culture
the whole system of behaviour and beliefs of a society which includes knowledge, language, art, music, morals and traditions
identity of sameness
adopting norms and values to fit in with others
identity of difference
adopting norms and values to be different from others
identity
the way we see ourselves and the way others see us
functionalists on identity
- institutions allocation people roles
- its caused by social constraints
marxists on identity
- depends on class position
- cultural norms and values are created by UC to protect capitalism
feminists on identity
patriarchal structure of society has influenced gender identity by causing people to believe stereotypes and socialising people to hold sexist views
postmodernists on identity
- we construct our own identities
- social class is no longer the most dominant part of identity construction
- we can pick and mix our identity due to different cultural sources
labelling theory
- interactionalism
- self fulfilling prophecy of how others see us
- our labels affect our behaviour
passive identity
you are born or socialised into this identity (cult)
active identity
people actively try to achieve this identity
functionalists on culture/society
- if there wasn’t internalised norms and values people would do what they want
- socialisation puts limits on behaviour
functionalists on religion
- produces codes of behaviour by giving ‘sacred status’ to chosen values
- children are socialised to this social conformity
marxists on socialisation
- designed to benefit the ruling class
- family, education and religion socialise wc into acceptance of exploitation
- form of indoctrination
indoctrination
teaching people to accept beliefs without question
Religion (Marx)
is the opium of the people
interactionalists on socialisation
- its a 2 way active process
- indoctrination isn’t the only way
- peer pressure leads to rebellion
- free agency to chose what we want
roles
patterns of behaviour which are expected from people in different positions in society
status
based on an individuals social position or a way a person is viewed in society
ascribed status
given to a person or born into it
achieved status
based on what an individual does in life to gain their status
pop culture
- activities and tastes and accumulation of cultural products that are widespread at a time in society
- associated with lower class and ordinary people
2 sociological arguments to pop culture
- used by elites to dull peoples minds and make them passive and easy to control
- its a vehicle for rebellion against culture of dominant groups
folk culture definition
is heritage transmitted through generations and includes music, literature, drama, art and dance
folk culture
- collectivist and intergeneration ties
- based on norms, rituals and customs
- through migration and electronic communication has formed a hybrid with other cultures
mass culture
is a set of ideas and values that develop from common exposure, disseminated via mass media
alienation theory - Marx
- proletariat have no control over their lives
- no creative freedom
- isolated from our own humanity
globalisation
interdependence of countries economically, socially and politically
causes of globalisation
- advances in technology
- not in war
- cheaper
- the internet
advantages of globalisation
- more opportunities
- promotion of respect of other societies
- increase of trade of raw materials
disadvantages of globalisation
- spread of disease
- environmental abuse
- growing gap between poor and rich
subcultures
represent a move away from the mainstream and is enjoyed by a small group in society
school subcultures
give them status through peer group affirmation and are often based on cultural comfort zones
the hidden curriculum
separate from the formal curriculum and teaches hidden norms and values
3 reasons for subculture
- apathy with mainstream culture
- anger at the mainstream
- annoyance and wanting to escape perceptions
national identity
the sense of a nation as a cohesive whole represented by distinctive traditions, culture and language
youth subcultures
- youth is starting earlier and carrying on later
- share particular set of norms and values
- value the importance of peer group
functionalists on youth subcultures
it’s a way of testing boundaries and reinforcing acceptable norms and values so it helps social order
marxists on youth subcultures
- based on class and economic situation as explanations for subculture
- still faced the same experiences and social conditions as their whole social class
postmodernists on youth subcultures
- there was no clear gender or class distinction
- subcultures developed outside of media influence no longer exist
- seen as being immersed in a media driven reality
race and ethnicity
race is associated with biology whereas ethnicity is associated with language, religion, culture, customs
sexuality
means someones sexual orientation (bisexual, heterosexual) and is something which society can seek to control
heteronormative
the expectation that heterosexuality is natural and normal
change in attitudes toward sexuality
- LGBT relationships must be taught in schools
- same sex marriage act 2013
- high profile celebrity weddings (Elton John)
corrective rape
In South Africa gay men and women are raped to ‘cure’ them
religion on sexuality
- promotes heteronormativity
- many forbid homosexuality and sex outside of marriage
functionalists on sexuality
control and channelling of sexuality is crucial to society
new right on sexuality
a moral decline caused by secularisation has encouraged homosexuality and these are cancerous and threats to society
media on sexuality
- hint but don’t depict same sex relationships
e. g. beauty and the beast was banned from Russia due to 2 seconds of 2 men dancing
law on sexuality
- homosexuality was decriminalised in 1967
- 1988 section 28 2003
- equality act 2007 made discrimination illegal
shared ethnic identities:
- common descent
- geographical origins
- history
- language
- religion
- traditions and rituals
- racism
police stop and search
rate is disproportionately higher for black and ethnic minority individuals (7 times higher in London)
hegemonic masculinity
- Connell 1995
- dominant view of men
- supremacy and success
- aggressive, strength, heterosexual
complicit masculinity
- the ‘new man’
- takes a shared role in raising the family
- less sexist and macho
- Prince Harry
subordinate masculinity
- men viewed as behaving differently
- gay and black masculinity
- Freddie Mercury
marginalised masculinity
- men affected by changing nature of labour
- decline in traditional manufacturing jobs
- sense of loss
assertive femininity
reflects the changing role of women and more recent assertive ‘girl power’
androgynous femininity
combination of masculine and feminine characteristics
hegemonic femininity
dominant view of how women should be (barbie)
types of masculinity
hegemonic
subordinate
complicit
marginalised
types of femininity
assertive
androgynous
hegemonic
ladette
a boisterous, boozy, free for all women who could get away with anything
aims of socialisation
- to instill disciplines
- to develop aspirations
- to develop skills
- to enable acquisition of social roles
deliberate socialisation
a purposeful intent to convey values, attitudes, skills and knowledge
unconscious socialisation
occurs as a result of spontaneous interaction with no intent to educate
formal social control
includes written rules or codes of conduct that individuals need to follow
informal social control
wider society has ways of controlling behaviour, for example peer groups
chronological approach
refers to the way that our age, in years, brings different roles, statuses and norms
life course approach
focuses on the different stages that people pass through
infantilisation
the elderly are shown as helpless and vulnerable, dependent and needing care
workplace on age
- retirement age 70 deems people over this old
- minimum wage only applies to over 18 so discourages under that
- 16 to 25 highest unemployment rate
The Social Disengagement theory
is that society has failed to provide roles that drew potential wisdom and maturity of older citizens which lead them to being alientaed
activity theory - interactionism
- high levels of activity in old age increases personal satisfaction
- the elderly need to experience new and different options
Muslim femininity
families stress the control of females as the future of community depends on them
education and ethnicity
- Chinese pupils are more likely to achieve A’s in English and Maths GCSEs
- Gypsy/Roma pupils are least likely
how does ethnicity effect education?
- culture doesn’t value education
- girls are taught to be mothers/wives instead
- teacher racism and labelling
- peer group pressure
immigration
the international movement of people into a destination country which they are not native
1st wave of immigration
1948 British Nationality Act allowed people from ex-British colonies to fill shortages in labour market
2nd wave of immigration
1972 Immigration Act meant that those with work permits or directly related to a UK citizen could gain entry
3rd wave of immigration
2004 the expansion of the EU meant EU members could move to the UK to work
