Definitions Flashcards
Erving Goffman’s Theory (Stigma)
- Overt/external social stigma (physical)
- Deviance in personal traits (illness, addictions etc)
- Tribal stigma (cultural, religious, ethnic, nationality)
Types of Social Movements:
Reform, revolutionary, reactionary/revivalist, utopian
Reform Movements:
Carry out change in specific areas. Endeavour to change elements of the system for better.
Revolutionary Movements:
Deny that the system will even work. Deeply dissatisfied and work for radical change. Want reorganisation of society
Reactionary/Revivalist Movements:
Aim to reverse social change. Highlight the importance of traditional values, ideologies and institutions. Criticise fast moving changes.
Resistance Movements:
Formed to resist a change that is taking place in society. Can be directed against social & cultural changes which are already happening.
Utopian Movements
These are attempts to take society or a section of it towards perfection.
Socioeconomic Status:
Economics and sociological combined total measure of a persons worth or place in society.
Power
The ability of an individual or group to achieve their own goals or aims when others are trying to prevent them from realising them.
Ethnicity:
Cultural factors such as nationality, culture, ancestry and beliefs
Social Dofferences
Differences among individuals on the basis of social characteristics such as race, education, age, culture, gender
Sociological Imagination
Term coined by the C.Wright Mills to describe the type of insight provided by the discipline of sociology. Understand personal and public issues.
Social Movement:
A group of likeminded individuals that come together to create or prevent a change in society.
Gender:
The way in which you act out your sex. Non biological. The traits that are assigned to your sex.
Social change
A change in society that is brought about by a social movement.
Sexuality
Your sexual orientation
Islamaphobia
Extreme and unreasonable fear of Islam/Muslims
Social Construct:
An idea, a rule, a norm that is created by society. Relates to anything that is non biological.
Youth
The period of time between childhood and adulthood
Teenager:
A person aged 13-19. An adolescent.
Adolescence:
A period between childhood and maturity. Generally 12-20
Popular Culture
Culture of the masses of people or of subordinate classes.
Stereotype
An often exaggerated generalisation of a person or group of people.
Social Category
Social categories are individual who share a common characteristic(s) but do not necessarily interact (eg blonde hair).
Sub-culture
A group within society that differentiates from the mainstream culture.
Generation
The entire body of individuals born and living at around the same time.
Social Stigma
The extreme disapproval or discontent with a person on socially characteristic grounds that are perceived and serve to distinguish them from other members of society.
Race:
A socially constructed category of people base on biological traits.
Ethnicity:
Ethnicity focuses on socially-constructed cultural traits that are seen as important to a society.
C Right Mills
Person who coined the term “sociological imagination.”
Racism
Discrimination against an individual or group because of their race.
Patriarchy
A social structure with males holding power over women, and males placed as head of the family unit.
Functionalism
A macro-level sociological perspective that interprets and evaluates the social actions of people in terms of their contributions to the essential tasks or functions in maintaining stable society.
Functionalist view of family
The view that the family performs certain functions including socialisation, regulation of sexual activity, social placement and material and emotional security in order to maintain the status quo.
