Culture and Identity key sociologists

Question 1

Mcluhan

Answer 1

says the world has become a ‘global village’

Question 2

Margaret Mead (fem)

Answer 2

Mead studied gender in tribes
Arapesti tribe- m+f were gentle and cooperative
Mundugumor- m+f were violent and aggressive
Chambri- f were dom and aggressive, violent and not involved in child-rearing. m were timid and emotionally dependent.

This shows that gender is socially constructed by the patriarchy to reinforces stereotypes

Question 2

Bourdieu and culture

Answer 2

Bourdieu says the worth of (high/popular) culture lies is those who support it and access it. High culture is becoming more accessable

Question 2

Bowles and Gintis on education (marxists)

Answer 2

Argues that the hidden curriculum is not just passing on n and v, but is a ‘giant myth making machine’ that brainwashes children into unquestioning obedience to authority to produce good workers, hidden curic is not good for the majority
taught to:
- know place
- believe in meritocracy
- Achievements and failures are their own fault

Question 3

Mulvey and the media

Answer 3

Women are stereotyped to fill the male gaze. it encourages viewers to eye up women from a male perspective

Question 4

Modood and religion

Answer 4

Modood surveyed young people and found that 67% of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis saw religions as ‘v imp’ compared to just 5% of British youth. Secularisation is not universal because people brought up as Sikh, Muslim, or Hindu may feel their religion is v imp to their n and v.

Question 5

Waddington and workplace (Reiner as well)

Answer 5

‘canteen culture’- n and v in some organisations- culture that socialises lang, behav, attitudes. Used to describe racism in the police. non racist police man may be socialised/influenced into racism. Way to deal with hostility and danger from their job.
Reiner argues the ‘core characteristics’ are a thirst for action, cynicism, conservatism, suspicion, racism

Question 6

Nayak white wannabees

Answer 6

Coined ‘white wannabees’ British men who dress, speak, and act in a way influenced by black hip-hop culture. ‘jafaican’ speaking is a product of multicultural London where groups influence each other.

Question 7

Ghuman and ethnicity

Answer 7

Found that tradition, religion and family values are important in bringing up 2nd gen Asians in the UK. Asian children tend to be socialised into extended family. Emphasis on duty, loyalty, honour, and religion

Question 8

Gilroy and the identity of young black people

Answer 8

Argued that ‘Black Atlantic’ should be used to describe an identity not rooted in the UK or their country of origin that is shared with young black people in the US. They share exp of racism and powerlessness that transcends differences in bg and history to create a black identity

Question 9

Hewitt and positive discrimination

Answer 9

Hewitt considered the white backlash against multiculturalism. Policies for equality are seen as unfair to white wc people- they are under economical pressure and are angry at ‘positive discrimination’ (favouring minority over maj) They feel the need to defend their white ethnic identity
Due to the expansion of the eu more ethnic minorities are white, there’s evidence that they feel similar discriminating that immigrants from asai, the Caribbean faced in the past

Question 9

Spencer and ethnicity

Answer 9

EE migrants spend little time socialising with British people. A Ukrainian waitress said ‘they do not let you in their circles’

Question 10

Dawney and ethnicity

Answer 10

Dawney found evidence of racism against European migrants, it came from a perceived threat and a fear of numbers that wasn’t based in reality

Question 11

Cashmere and Troyna, ethnic minorities

Answer 11

C and T argue that there’s a tendency for ethnic minorities to ‘turn inwards’ to seek support from their communities as a response to racism. This leads to strengthened religion and culture.

Question 12

James, ethnicity and identity (resistance)

Answer 12

James suggests that racism unified the culture and identity of African Caribbeans in the Uk

Question 13

Jacobson, identity in response to exclusion

Answer 13

Jacobson argues that young Pakistanis are adopting a strong Islamic identity in response to British social exclusion which leads to stability and resistance to marginalisation and racism. Hybridity is not just a mix of two but a complex process

Question 14

Postmods and identity

Answer 14

postmods may argue that in the globalised, media saturated soc of contemporary Britain, id is a choice. Hybridity means that ethnicity is less signif. However, ethnicity and race and still sources of discrimination, and they affect identity.

Question 15

Modood, ethnic identities over generations

Answer 15

Modood found that there are generational differences over identity issues.
African Caribbean and Asian bgs felt more British than their parents but still see their ethnic origin as a key part of their identity

Question 16

Anderson and national identity

Answer 16

Anderson says that nation is an ‘imagined community’ the members will never meet each other. National identity is constructed thought flags, anthems, holidays, festivals. Anderson argues that this societal construction is as facilitated by printing technological developments (newspaper, books, language through the media, education, religion, sporting events)

Question 17

Kumar, english id

Answer 17

Kumar found that unlike the rest of the uk, England has a hard time constructing an id. England’s imperial history had led to a sense of ‘missionary nationalism’: the quest the expand Britishness has diluted Englishness.

Question 18

Sardar and changing national id

Answer 18

Sardar suggest that the world is in the middle of a global identity crisis. Divisions such as cap v com or E v W have broken down. Britain lost the empire and is unsure if it should be more American or European. English traditions are irrelevant to the masses and they struggle find an English identity. Sadar argues to the develop a more certain identity we should embrace diversity AND similarity

Question 19

Hall and 3 responses to globalisation

Answer 19

• cultural homogenisation, accept global culture, countries are more similar, eg McD
• cultural hybridity, take part in some parts of global culture alongside their own culture eg Bollywood
• cultural resistance, resisting global culture and protecting their own cultural heritage, becoming more traditional and nationalistic eg Brexit

Question 20

Wilson, biological view on gender

Answer 20

Wilson argues men are biologically promiscuous to have more children w women (spread seed) while women are naturally faithful to the father to ensure help in its upbringing

Question 21

Parsons, func view on gender

Answer 21

Parsons say that females have expressive roles (domestic work, child rearing) while men have Instrumental roles (breadwinner, protector). The roles are functional to society.
These roles can be viewed as natural but they are also based on socialisation.

Question 22

Anne Oakley, four ways of socialisation

Answer 22

1) Manipulation- encouraging stereotypes, discouraging certain behaviour. eg dis/encouraging dolls or trucks
2) canalisation- toys, clothes, games that are associated with different genders. eg cars, dolls
3) Verbal appellation- nicknames/pet names eg princess/soldier
4) Different activities- eg help w baking, help clean car

Question 22

Hey and teen girl peer groups

Answer 22

Hey studied teen girl friendship group and the power it has over girls behaviour and how norms in peer groups are rooted in the patriarchy

Question 22

Mac an ghaille, boy peer groups

Answer 22

Mac an Ghaille explored how boys become men in peer groups. They police their own and other people’s sexuality. Power was based on ‘hypermasculinity, they had three values/f’s
Fighting, Football, F–king

Question 23

Connell, masc id

Answer 23

Connell argues that there are three masculine identities:
1) hegemonic masculinity- most common hyper masc, dom, aggressive, breadwinner, strongly reinforced
2) subordinate masculinity- Homosexual men/ more fem
3) marginalised masc-unemployed men not fully accepted as masc

Question 23

Jackson and Descombe ladette (stereotypical masc behaviour by women)

Answer 23

Jackson found that some girls spent time drinking and smoking, disrupting lessons swearing for fear of being uncool
Descombe associated the rise in female risk-taking behaviour w laddette culture, they want to be seen as anything but feminine

Question 24

Mac an Ghaille, crisis of masc

Answer 24

MaG used crisis of masculinity to refer to wc men who felt insecure with their masculinity, they have lost the breadwinner id due to decline of manual labour

Question 25

Canaan, unemployment and masc

Answer 25

Canaan questioned those who were long term unemployed and asked them ‘what is the most imp thing about being a man?’ employed men predictably said, fighting, drinking, sex. Unemployed men said ‘job’, they felt emasculated by their unemployment

Question 26

Faludi and crisis for female and male identity

Answer 26

Faludi discussed that in patriarchal society, media campaigns undermine the success of feminism. independent women are judged and blames for social problems. Faludi developed this by looking at the reaction of mainly wc men to feminism. When combined with the crisis of masc and the loss of breadwinner roles and manual labour.
Faludi investigated the Spur Posse- a group of young men who created a point system for sleeping with girls. One was charged with the rape of a twelve yo –> inc in dom and sexual violence can be part of the masc issue. One of their last sources of power.

Question 27

Bourdieu (marxist) and capital

Answer 27

Bourdieu argued that there are three types of capital, which are often interrelated
- economic capital: income, wealth, property
- cultural capital: knowledge, attitudes, skill
- social capital: network, access to people with influence

The ruling class have access to shape which attributes are valued, they define knowledge and skills that are valued. They can also pass capital to their children. This is significant for Bourdieu because parents can transmit capital to their children leading to educational success as well as social skills and etiquette that let them thrive

Question 28

Fox and the middle classes

Answer 28

Fox discussed the ‘upper middles’, ‘middle middles’ and ‘lower middles’ to highlight the difference within the mc. There’s a big difference between public sector professionals (teachers, nurses) and private sector professionals (lawyers, bankers) Not all mc share common exp and id.

Question 29

Hutton and the wc

Answer 29

Hutton argued that the decline in trade union memberships and manufacturing, as well as the dispersal of WC communities, has eroded the wc identity. wc is often romanticised as hard-working, straight-talking, salt of the earth people. Many people who are mc in terms of edu, career and income still identify as wc

Question 30

Skeggs and wc women

Answer 30

Skeggs studied wc women who felt humiliated by others (teachers and Drs for eg) who judged and dismissed them bc of their bg. The wc women made and effort to show they were respectable- outfits, hobbies, home decor

Question 31

Murray underclass

Answer 31

Murray argues that overgenerous benefits encourage people to create a culture and n and v of not taking responsibility for their actions, expectation of being looked after and dependency culture. The gov is v concerned.

Question 32

Does class still matter? NO- Pakulski and Waters (postsmods)

Answer 32

Pakulshi and waters suggest that there has been an identity shift from production to consumption. We now id with what we buy instead of what we do. We can construct our id bc there is a lot of choice on what to buy.

Question 33

Does class still matter? NO- Offe, media and working

Answer 33

Offe argues that in contemporary soc, individuals share a common unifying experience of full time work. This exp used to shape soc class culture, but now jobs for life are gone. We are able to make our own identity of class, fam, edu. Uni, travelling, starting a business, home-owning is more common.
The media has broken down class barriers and broken down barriers.

Question 33

McIntosh ‘The Homosexual Role’

Answer 33

McIntosh argues that in western culture, being a gay man carries certain expec of characteristics- effeminate mannerisms, high voice, attention to appearance.
McIntosh argues that once a gay man accepts this label, he starts to fulfil these expecs.
evidence- married men who admit to liking other men don’t show signs of gayness, but out people do.

Question 34

Weeks and homosexual attitude

Answer 34

Weeks said that sexuality ‘is a strange thing’ and is v complex. He points out that some people do gay stuff but don’t id as gay and others are the other way around.

Question 34

Does class still matter? YES- Savage, differences within classes

Answer 34

Savage argues that soc class still affects edu, health, life expec. Differences in culture and lifestyle between classes is still relevant. Ability to make choices can depend on money. There are still class problems.

Question 35

Reiss and homosexual id, ‘rent boys’

Answer 35

Reiss found that young male prostitutes id as straight but had paid sex w men. They actively despised the men as a way of neutralising their behaviour

Question 36

Plummer ‘homosexual career’

Answer 36

Plummer agrees with McIntosh and sees homosexuality as a process.
‘Homosexual career’- men accepted the label and will seek out others to join the subculture so that stereotypical characteristics become the norm.

Question 37

Postman, childhood

Answer 37

Postman argued that childhood only emerged through the spread of literacy that allowed adults to shield children from aspects of adult life–> sexuality, death, disease
However, postman suggested that the spread and emergence of the media in the 20th century has led to a decline in childhood (threatens it)

Question 38

Mead, youth

Answer 38

Mead argued that the ‘storm and stress’ associated with youth is subculture specific, however these findings have been questioned.

Question 39

Bradley, middle age

Answer 39

Bradley argued that m age people have a higher status than youth and old age. They run countries, have power at work, and have wealth. However also seen negatively as youth is lost and old age looms. assoc w midlife crisis and empty nest syndrome.

Question 40

Hockey and James, personhood

Answer 40

H and J say that children lack the status of personhood, they are excluded from the public world and confined to ‘specialist’ places (school, nursery, family)

H and J also link old age and childhood, as they have both lost their ‘personhood’ status. oaps are infantilised, vulnerable and dependent.
H and J researched into a retirement home- clients were treated like children- no control of money, being bathed and dressed, having to be asked to be taken to the toilet, daily routine decided for them this leads to a Self Fulfilling prophecy. H and J found that the elders mocked the staff by behaving like children.
H and J argue that in most cases it is not based on medical needs, the oap id is possible to resist. Alt sources of power can be gained eg gender

Question 40

Featherstone and Hepworth (postmods) Changing age identity

Answer 40

F and H argue the media perpetuates stereotypes, but as the population ages, positive images may emerge, eg 80s fashion coming back blurs the life course.

Question 40

Shakespeare, medical model

Answer 40

med mod- disability is a problem that needs to be fixed. Shakespeare argued that disabled people are socialised into seeing themselves as victims

Question 41

Shakespeare, social model

Answer 41

soc mod- society is the problem for not being inclusive, e.g. building and public spaces that aren’t accessible. Disability is a soc con. Shakespeare says that there are obstacles to forming a positive disabled identity, as they are often socialised to see themselves as inferior and isolated from each other. Collective id is difficult. There is a lack of public and family/friend role models. Pity, avoidance and awkwardness need to be avoided.

Question 42

Disabled id, interactionalists

Answer 42

‘Disabled’ label carries stigma and creates a ‘master status’ (a status that transcends other aspects of their id) defining characteristics from which they are judged. They are only seen in relation to their disability and not other aspects.

Question 43

Gill, Zola

Answer 43

• Gill who became disabled later in life said reconciling your id when you had previous notions about disability is hard.
• Zola- learned helplessness says that vocabulary to describe disability is negative

Question 44

Muragami disability

Answer 44

Disabled identity doesn’t become a master status slash learned helplessness and can be an empowering aspect
Other aspects of identity are good

Eg paralympics

Question 45

Rich, compulsory heterosexuality

Answer 45

Institutions like marriage force women to be straight