Culture And Identity Flashcards
What’s the just the women study findings 2012
If wad done over two weeks and wad based on 11 newspapers. 1,300 news reports involve sexism.
They found that there is a lack of context which leads to inaccurate and misleading impressions of women’s lives.
Photographs and coverage focus on women’s appearance. Can reduce women’s aspirations.
Objectify women and reduce them to sex objects which wouldn’t be acceptable in the work place (women harder to get work)
Sexual violence is selective and there is a lack of context which can affect females confidence.
It glamorises violence against women.
Women’s issues are covered in a narrow and stereotypical way.
Politically successful women are humiliated by male journalists
What was the aim of the study folk devils and moral panics
It aimed to understand how certain groups within society, known as “folk devils” were constructed as a threat and led to moral panic. It helped understand how society responded and perceived deviant behaviour and its impact on public perception
Strengths of folk devils and moral panics
It highlighted that moral panics can occur when behaviour or values emerge that can be seen as a threat to social order.
For example, fear over immigrants and asylum seekers stealing jobs
It demonstrates that concerns can escalate through media sensationalism and shows how the process of deviance amplifies creating folk devils.
What are the weaknesses of cohens study
It writes from an interactionist perspective where they tend to look at lower levels of social control like the police without looking at the role of the state.
They do not look at where the stereotypes of these groups come from
They are able to label the deviance, however fail to examine the reasons for deviant behaviour in the first place
What was the functionalist theory on culture and sub-culture?
They believe that culture acts as the social glue that maintains society. They see culture as creating a value consensus, encouraging people to share common beliefs and norms.
-they believed that subculture as groups create their own norms and behaviours different to those of a larger society. They argue that sub-cultures emerge is response to dissatisfaction in the mainstream cultural values. However they also believe that subcultures may lead to social disorganisation and conflict if they challenge dominant culture too intensely.
-for example punk culture may have its own set of norms and values which are distinct from the dominant culture, which provides a sense of belonging for individuals who don’t conform to mainstream values. Therefore subcultures serve as a function by accommodating the needs of a certain group
Functionalist theories on identity?
They focus on how culture and social institutions shape individuals sense of self. They believe through socialisation, individuals adopt the values and norms of society, which in turn shapes their identity. This view emphasises the role of social structures and shared beliefs in forming personal identity.
They also argue that things like family, education and other social institutions play a crucial role in shaping one’s identity. These institutions teach people norms and values and behaviours that are essential for functioning society, thus influencing their self of identity
What is the Marxist theory on culture and subculture?
They believed that culture contributes to maintaining class inequality by promoting the values and norms that benefit the capitalist system, serving as a tool for social control and reinforcing the power dynamics within society. For example, the media often portrays wealthy individuals as successful, happy and powerful. This can reinforce the idea that wealth and success are linked, supporting the interests of the ruling class and perpetuating class inequality.
-Marxists view that subcultures are a result of the working class expressing their resistance of the dominant culture, which is seen as serving the interests of the ruling class. Subcultures can be seen as a form of rebellion against the values and the norms of the ruling class and can potentially challenge the existing power structures.
For example, the working class may engage in criminal subcultures such as theft, to go against the high classes norms and values to show them the economic struggle and to show that the don’t agree with their ways. This may be out of poverty.
How do Marxists believe identity is formed
Marxists believe that our identity is mainly shaped through the social class we belong too. They believe that if we are rich or poor, it affects how we see ourselves. This is because society is divided into classes. For example, if you are from a working class, you may internalise that you are less worthy or capable compared to someone with a wealthier background, therefore, you may not try as hard to go to uni or get to where you want to be in life.
What are feminists views on culture and subculture?
Feminists believe that due to male stream, women are less likely to be able to join subcultures, this is so women can be pushed to the background and men are the more important and seen ones.
Feminists also believe that due to bedroom culture, parents want their daughters to stay at home, therefore they do household duties out of boredom, therefore, women will want to be stay at home wives in the future for their husbands.
What are feminists view on how identity is shaped?
Feminists believe that due to male stream media, women’s identity can be shaped through the media as women are more sexualised or seen as the one who stays at home, whereas men are the ones who are going out working and are the successful ones. Or even women who are political are made fun of.
Feminists also believe that having gender roles shape our identity by telling us what we should like and what we can like. Therefore, the patriarchy can control women into what they should like, how they should behave and the expectations they have which are all molded to fit a men’s desires
What is symbolic interactionists theories on culture and subculture?
They believe that through symbols, language and gesture people can develop a shared understanding and shape their behaviour within a culture. Culture is not only something that influences individuals, but it is also developed everyday through interaction and communication. Through these interactions people develop a shared meaning that shape their behaviour and create a shared culture.
Within subcultures, they set themselves aside from the rest of society by using their own symbols, gesture and language. For example, goths may use the symbol of dressing in all black clothing with massive boots or a lot black makeup to show they are apart of the gothic culture.
Symbolic interactionists views on how identity is shaped
They believe that peoples identity is shaped through symbols, gestures and language to develop their sense of self. They emphasise on how people respond to other peoples language or symbols by using their own which contributes to the formation of their identity. They believe that our identity is not fixed but is rather something that evolves as time goes on through interaction.
For example, if someone is criticised or complimented by others, this may change their perception on how they see themselves. This may influence them to embrace this part or hide it away to focus on a new or different part of their identity.
