Introducing Socialisation, Culture And Identity Flashcards

Question

What are formal mechanisms of social control?

Answer 1

The police, courts, the criminal justice system, the government and the military. Through the passing of laws, these institutions directly control the behaviour of the population. Education also has a formal element to its control, with legal requirements in terms of attendence and behaviour codes. Examples include: Warnings from the police, sentences from the court, dismissal from work and exclusion from school.

Answer 2

It is explicited and obvious - people are aware it is happening. Formal agents conduct it.

Answer 3

These control our behaviour more 'subtly' - they would include peer groups, education, religion, family, workplace and media. Different types of sanctions might include: socially excluding a person from a peer group disappointed reactions from parents being passed over for promotion at work celebrities being criticised in magazines.

Answer 4

The idea that social behaviour is biologcal or innate

Answer 5

A role is a part you play in society. People may ahve more than one role at the same. Each role has a set of norms or patterns of behaviour attchaed. These may be different in different societies or change over time.

Answer 6

The idea that the media targets middle aged people as they have the highest disposable income and they often define their identity and what they own and show this off. This idea of culture affecting identity is discussed by Saunders.

Answer 7

An indication of how sound your reasearch is. Validity in data collection means that your findings truly represent the phenomenon you are claiming to measure.

Answer 8

The extent to which results are consistent over time is referred to as reliability and if the results can be reproduced under a similar methodology, then the research intrument is considered to be reliable.

Answer 9

A representative sample is a small quantity of something that accurately reflects the larger entity.

Answer 10

Generaliseability described the extent to which research findings can be applied to settings other than that in which they were originally tested.

Answer 11

The reasearcher reads out a lift of closed questions from an interview scedule and writes/ticks the respondents answer according to pre-set fixed categories.

Answer 12

A mix of structured and unstructured interviews. They contain lots of closed questions to generate facts but also some open questions. There is flexibility for the reasearcher to probe and the respondent to ask for clarification.

Answer 13

An informal interview which is a guided conversation. The interviewer plays an active role in that he/she manages the questions to ensure that the respondant keeps to the subject of the research.

Answer 14

People getting toegther t discuss an issue, rather than simply giving an answer to a question.

Answer 15

Sociologists have different ideas about which classes exist and WHY e.g. Marxists suggest there are two social class groups: - those who own the means of production - those who need to sell their labour.

Answer 16

Ranking people into a hierarchy based on a number of social indicators. E.g. The Registrar Generals Scale and the NSSEC or now The BBC Class Calculator.

Answer 17

``` This model was used from 1911-1990s This model suggests a 2 class model MANUAL and NON-MANUAL. ```

Answer 18

This model has been used from 1997. | Ranks occupations according to their similarities of qualifucations, training, skills and experience.

Answer 19

Ask people to rate themselves.

Answer 20

Uses a measurement of class by asking respndents questions based on indicators such as income and occupation.

Answer 21

``` Elite Established middle class Technical middle class New Affluent workers Traditional service workers Emergent working class Precariat ```

Answer 22

They suggest that parents socialise middle class idenities by reinforcing attitudes and values about the importance of educational success through the use of role models, positive and negative sanctions and imitation. They suggest child centredness is a distinctive feature of middle class families.

Answer 23

``` Suggests that schools helps to socialise people into middle class identities through the use of role models, imitation, rewards, sanctions and the whole environment of school being similar to aspects of their homes. He suggests that the middle class have values, knowledge, leisure interests, levels of language and skills at home that are similar to how schools is set up, and this serves to advantage their children in the education system. This is called 'cultural capital'. Therefore, the education system could be said to reinforce a middle class identity that has already been constructed by the family and other agents of socialisation. ```

Answer 24

Goodwin suggests that many middle class mothers define their identities by peer approval. The new breed of 'Yummy Mummies' are no longer passive or traditional types of hegemonic females, but are now defined by peer approval on maternal capabilities, glamour and the styles and experiences of their children.

Answer 25

The New Right Sociologist suggests that those who satisfy their needs through ownership of various goods are influenced heavily by advertising and the media. The media targets the middle class as they are the group with the highest disposable income and they often define their identity by what they own.

Answer 26

The Neo-Marxist Wright argues that the middle class occupy a contradictory class position - this means that they are both exploited (taken advantage of) by the upper class and also exploit the working class. Wright suggests that they are in this position due to the fact that they have managerial roles.

Answer 27

Studdied the lads who formed a counter school subcultures and opposed the schooll's values. They saw manual work as superior to mental work. Their behaviour from school was adopted in their work life later on. He found that the counter school culture prepared them for the boredom and mnotony of the work. Similar to school, during work they would mess around and doing the minimum. The boys were seen to follow in their father's footsteps.

Answer 28

He noted that boys from working class backgrounds generally followed their fathers int traditional working class, manual labour job roles. One of these subcultures was named as the 'Macho Lads'. De-indistrialisation led to the Macho Lads facing a crisis of masculinity. The decline of the traditional, manual jobs led to a shift to more part-time roles that were office based and traditionally suited to the "life of women". For those who could no longer gain these traditional wokring class jobs they had these options: - becoming upwardly mobile to gain the new working class, white collar jobs - to face the prospect of low-paid work - face long-term unemployment. The majority of the working class didnt have the qualifications needed in order to move into the new working class job roles. As a result, women became the breakwinner in some cases, this alongside having no medium for displaying their working class macuinity further reinforced this "crisis of masculinity".

Answer 29

Bowles and Gintis argue that the education's function is to maintain, legitimise and reproduce class inequalities in wealth and power. They believe that it does this by transmitting ruling class values disguised as common values in the hidden curriculum. They suggest that education is for the ruling class and encourages children from wokring class backgrounds to be obedient and passive workers in the future. This means that education is teaching the next generation or workers to accept exploitation and alienation by encouraging conformity to a ruling class ideology.

Answer 30

Studies the digital divide in Brussels and found a clear link between class and internet usage. Those from lower social classes use the internet less. They also found a difference in how the devices were used. Those from lower social classes used technology as a form of entertainment, whereas the middle class used their devices more to boost their knowledge and to research different information.

Answer 31

Murray claims that the underclass are lazy, workshy, immoral, criminal and dependent on benefits. He suggests it is their own fault they are in this position because they have a culture based on idealness, failure and criminality.

Answer 32

He argues that the underclass have the same values and attitudes as everyone else in society and most of them would work if they had the chance. He suggests they feel a sense of shame bevause they cannot provide for their families. The underclass are a disadvantaged group who want to break the cycle of poverty.

Answer 33

Postmodernists such as Pakulski and Waters suggest that there has been a shift from production to consumption in the defining of identities. We are now definied by what we buy, not what we do.

Answer 34

Offe argues that in todays society, fewer and fewer individuals share a common, unifying experience of full time work - the experience that used to shape the culture of social classes. The days when people had a job for life have gone and we are all able to create our own identities regardless of the social class of our families and the particular level of qualification or job we have at any one time.

Answer 35

``` The contemporary UK gives choices and opportunities to everyone, which may have been limited to the privilidged few in the past, such as the possibility of going to University. Decline in manual work, the number of people employed in traditional heavy industries such as minings have fallen rapidly since the 1980s. This means that the sense of working class identity has changed and solidarity has weakened. ```

Answer 36

Skeggs found that working class women had instrumental attitudes to work, their jobs didn't influence their identities they were simply a means to and end. The new working class also saw capitalism as effective in rising their living standards and therefore had no sense of class injustice or political loyalty. They see society as meritocratic. The new working class believe in individualism. They develop identities based around popular culture, conspicuous consumption and consumer culture.

Answer 37

According to Parsons, women have an 'expressive role' in the family, this is based on their child-bearing role, and is reinforced by socialisation.

Answer 38

Males have an instrumental role in the family, as the protector and breadwinner.

Answer 39

She argues that gender role socialisation takes place in four main ways, and that primary socialisation is key to developing a sense of gender identity. The four ways are: - manipulation - canalisation - verbal appelations -domestic activities ^ These are processes of social control, but only for gender.

Answer 40

Encourgaing or discouraging gender approriate behaviour.

Answer 41

Parents directing children's interest into certain toys and play e.g. dolls v cars.

Answer 42

Parents using stereotypical feminine and masculine descriptions such as 'gentle' girls and 'strong' boys.

Answer 43

Daughters have cultural expectations of future responsibilities (helping out with housework).

Answer 44

Daughters have cultural expectations of future responsibilities (helping out with housework).

Answer 45

Manipulation Canalisation Verbal appellations Domestic activities.

Answer 46

McRobbie is a feminist sociologist who discessed bedroom culture. They said that as girls faced restricted future and played smaller roles in subcultures than boys they created their own culture - to make life bearable. This involved having a girl best friend, who they were tied up with with the desire to attract a man. It is not as public or as spectactular as girls would gather in their rooms to discuss boys and makeup, in order to reatreat away from the risk of being humiliated or harassed by boys.

Answer 47

Looked at the concept of the 'new man'. It is becoming cool for men to takw the same amount of care as women over their appearence and what they wear. (Aided by the Laundrette advert).

Answer 48

'New Man' fashions encouraged changes to the male identity. E.g. a rise in men's fashion magazines and consumption of toiletries.

Answer 49

The male body was being sexualised in the media as something to be desired, similar to how the female body is sexualised. The cultural code which normally reinforced differences between male and female was being blurred.

Answer 50

Policing Ladettes Ladettes are assertive and boisterous women who take part in drinking and smoking. The media protrays them as 'not feminine enough' and blames them for a veriety of problems, including heart disease and child neglect. In schools, male lads are perceived as the loveable rouge, whereas the ladettes are seen as breaking the rules and not obeying teachers.

Answer 51

Argues that the media presents masculinity as dominant and femininity as subordinate.

Answer 52

Although women are steroetyped in the media, digital communication and the internet are increasingly being used by women, as a forum for support when they face discrimination and inequality.

Answer 53

Concluded that women's magazines were based arund a 'cult of femininity' which promotes the idea that excellence is achieved through caring for others, family, marriage and apparence.

Answer 54

Boys do less well than girls in education because teachers tend to be less strict with boys, giving them more leeway and allowing them to underachieve. More likely to label boys as disruptive.

Answer 55

The hidden curriculum is responsible for perpetuating gender differences in subject choice e.g. through gender segregation, men in senior leadership roles, ‘dinner ladies’ and boys and girls playing separately at break.

Answer 56

Science is male dominated because it is packaged as a boys subject with textbooks containing pictures of boys, and examples that would interest boys such as football and cars. Secondly, boys dominate science classrooms by shouting answers and grabbing equipment first.

Answer 57

School subject choices are effected by three things, their perception of gender roles, subject preferences (independent of discussion tasks) and the learning environment (single sex or mixed)

Answer 58

The labour market has a gendered character - there are certain jobs for men and certain jobs for women. Part of the criteria for female employers is to look attractive and engaging in ‘sexual servicing’ is an integral part of women’s work.

Answer 59

Hegemonic masculinity is the most common type of masculinity. Other forms of masculinity he identifies are subordinate masculinity, which he links to homosexual males and marginalised masculinity , which he links to unemployed men.

Answer 60

Changes in style which new man fashions encouraged were reflecting significant changes in male identity. Mort argued that changes in men’s consumption patterns (more self-care products and designer clothes) was accompanied by the sexualisation of the male body.

Answer 61

The concept of the new man can be traced back to the release of the levi's laundrette advert.

Answer 62

Studied ladettes, who are boisterous and assertive females who engage in crude behaviour, drinking and smoking. The media attempts to control them by creating a negative stereotype and associating them with problems such as child abuse and heart disease. In school, lads are seen as the loveable rouge whereas ladettes get away with less as it is expected of them to be quiet and successful.

Answer 63

How boys learn to be men in peer groups at school, policing their own and others sexuality. Gender power based on hyper masculinity was the main source of identity for the macho lads, identified by Macand Ghaill.

Answer 64

Traditional/dominant form of masculinity within any society. Traditional, dominant, heterosexual masculinity tends to be dominant now. E.g. the masculinity Oakley explains boys are socialised into.

Answer 65

Men who believe that men and women should share roles within families. E.g. the ‘new man’ studied by Mort. For example, men who do housework and change nappies.

Answer 66

Masculinities which are less powerful and carry lower status. E.g. homksexual masculinity as studied by McCormack.

Answer 67

A masculine identity held by those men who did traditionally masculine jobs, and now feel their masculinity is under threat as many of these jobs have been lost. E.g. Mac an Ghaills study in the crisis of masculinity.

Answer 68

Biologial or physical differences between groups of people e.g. skin colour

Answer 69

Cultural differences between groups based on things such as religion, language, country of origin, customs, norms, values, food, dress and music.

Answer 70

Refers to your country of origin or the country where you are legally entitled to reside. Also gives you rights e.g. to vote/a passport.

Answer 71

Someone who has moved from a country to permenantly reside in another.

Answer 72

Someone who seeks refuge in another country for a temporary period if it is too dangerous for them to be in their own country e.g. due to war or religious persecution.

Answer 73

When an ethnic minority group become absorbed into the ethnic majority and adopt their cultural norms and values.

Answer 74

When ethnic minorities become part of the majority culture and adopt their norms and values and cultural practices (to some extent). This has led to multiculturalism.

Answer 75

When an ethnic minoirty group unite together and strangthen their own ethnic identities as a way of resisting racism from the ethnic majority. - Cashmoore and Troyna.

Answer 76

When someone changes their language based on who they are with, typically to fit better with that group.

Answer 77

Observed by Sewell. People prefer to 'hang around' with those from similar backgrounds.

Answer 78

The curriculum gives priority to a particiular ethnic group (The majority: British) whilst disregarding others. For examples, a focus on white history and literature.

Answer 79

A group who share the same cultural background e.g. Black Carribbean.

Answer 80

A scattered population.

Answer 81

As a response to hostility and racism, many immigrants ‘turned inwards’ and created their own communities with people from the same ethnic backgrounds. Migrants respond to racism by strengthening and asserting their own ethnic identities.

Answer 82

Rastafarianism was seen as a religion in Jamaica, but UK youths adopted this as a type of subculture. They wore dreadlocks and smoked cannabis, which was something unique to them, that white youths weren’t a part of - allowing them to resist racism.

Answer 83

Researched British-Asian identities, and found that religion, tradition and family played an important part in the upbringing of second-generation Asians in the UK, and that Asian children tend to be socialised into the extended family, with an emphasis on duty, loyalty, honour and religious commitment.

Answer 84

Found that the family can be a source of conflict for some Asian children, particularly around the issues of Western clothes, arranged marriage and freedom. The younger generation mix with others at school who hold different cultural values. This could create a culture clash.

Answer 85

Stereotypes in the media include: Muslim extremism, girls being forced into arranged marriages and Muslim women being supressed and isolated, in a subordinate position to ‘their’ man. Western views fail to understand the cultural traditions of Asian people. Pakistani and Bangladeshi parents fear that their children will abandon their culture - a generation gap is forming between Muslims in Britain due to children experiencing ‘Western’ culture in school. Control is often places of Muslim girls as they will be the ones to pass on the Muslim values. Some Muslim women diften away from Islam in their teens, but returned feeling a stronger connection with their religion. Few Muslims regarded themselves as British due to racism, however, many didn’t identify as Bangladeshi either as they thought aspects of their religion had been taken from Sikhism. Many say that it isn’t the laws of the Quar’an that confine Asian women, but instead it is laid out in Asian culture - people who came over from Pakistan (first generation) are still upholding their values, whereas now Pakistan has moved forward. Also, subcultures are predominantly man made. First and second generation Muslims have experienced different cultural and social expectations. Now Muslim women are beginning to get a better understanding of their rights in relation to Islamic Law, and consequentally they have more freedom e.g. to work and stay in education. (they can utilise aspects of their religion)

Answer 86

Argue that Indian families place a great value on their children’s education.

Answer 87

Suggest that cultural factors are important in explaining the success of British-Chinese students. Educational success is part of their identity.

Answer 88

Argues that the curriculum is based around one particular cultural viewpoint while ignoring others. White history and literature dominate the curriculum, and therefore the National Curriculum is ethnocentric and education is institutionally racist.

Answer 89

Argues that teachers are institutional racist to black boys. He suggests that black boys are seen as a threat and disruptive by teachers, and are more likely to be negatively stereotyped and labelled. This means that they are less likely to be entered into higher sets etc, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Answer 90

Asian youths in East London are unfairly targeted by the police and the media. Argues that there is a ‘myth of the Asian Gang’ which was created by the media.

Answer 91

Studied black Afro-Caribbean boys and attempted to explain their lower rates of educational achievement, their higher rates of participation in crime and the influences on their identities. 57% of Afro-Caribbean families were headed by a single parent - the majority headed by a mother. This means that many lack male role models - so instead seek alternative role models in the media, often rappers who promote messages of violence, women and getting rich quick. This culture is reinforced by the peer group, as status is given to those who show the characteristics portrayed by the rappers. Black boys feel more secure with people who share similar backgrounds (cultural comfort zones). They reject education as they believe all figures of authority are racist and will discriminate against them anyway, so there is no point in following a conventional pathway.

Answer 92

Studied council estates in South London and found that Black, white and Asian youths all shared fashion, friendship, music and language. This was evidence of new ‘hybrid identities’ where youths shared the same culture. Back said that these youths were trying out new ‘cultural masks’ and that ‘cultural borrowing’ was taking place.

Answer 93

Carried out a survey of British Asian students and identified a number of them as ‘Blasian’ meaning that they adopted Black styles of dress and language and combined these with their Asian culture.

Answer 94

Studied second and third generation Asian footballers. He found that they adopted an Asian identity when with their parents but a white identity when with their peers. He refers to this as ‘code switching’ and suggests that these Asians wear a ‘white mask’ when with their peers.

Answer 95

Referred to ‘White Wannabes’ who are white, working class males who adopt the style and language of ‘black culture.

Answer 96

Second generation ethnic minorities felt more British than their parents.

Answer 97

Young British Asians are skilled cultural code-switchers, and that this is a more appropriate way to see their identities than as a hybrid.

Answer 98

Argues that the national curriculum supports the ideology of nationalism and that history lessons, in particular, are a key factor in creating national identity as it creates a shared national consciousness and a collective identity.

Answer 99

All British people are socialised into a common national culture and identity through: a common language, education, symbols, rituals, media and mass production of fashion.

Answer 100

Unlike the Scotts, Irish and Welsh, the English find it difficult to say who they are. He argues that the quest to expand ‘Britishness’ may have diluted ‘Englishness’.

Answer 101

Britain has been a ‘white backlash’ from the white working classes against what they perceive to be preferential treatment of ethnic minorities. In education, young white people had felt victimised by teachers in comparison to their ethnic minority peers e.g. fights that are assumed to be based on racism resulting in the white boy being punished.

Answer 102

Suggests that countries may display 3 different reactions to globalisation: - cultural homogenisation, - cultural hybridity - or cultural resistance.

Answer 103

In all societies childhood is a period when socialisation into society’s culture takes place. Parsons believed that the family has two main functions: The primary socialisation of children and the stabilisation of the adult personalities of the population of society.

Answer 104

The media portray youths as a social problem in 3 ways: | Dysfunctional, Suffering a Deficit and Deviant.

Answer 105

the cult of femininity within the Bedroom Culture.

Answer 106

Hypermasculinity - the boys imitate aspects of black role models.

Answer 107

WC boys adopted an anti-school subculture.

Answer 108

The middle aged generation are a pivot generation meaning that they often look after both their children and their parents. The means that they have a dual burden.

Answer 109

The media created a middle aged identity by targeting that group as consumers. They have the highest disposable income and often display their wealth through conspicuous consumption.

Answer 110

The Goth subculture is easier to be part of in middle age because education isn’t discouraged unlike other youth subcultures, and so they have better career opportunities. Also, it would be hard to leave as it is about being passionate about the music and style. Also, it can be marinated whilst having a job and a family as they adapt their look to fit in at work.

Answer 111

For people with manual jobs, the workplace reinforces a middle age identity which is often the most dominant source of their identity.

Answer 112

When the steel workers had been made redundant the men felt that they had lost a sense of their identity from their tight knit communities associated with their job. Their loss of role as a breadwinner led them to feeling a loss of status and identity (crisis of masculinity).

Answer 113

The elderly have less status in society. They lose their most important role within the family. Refers to the disengagement theory.

Answer 114

Old people are less likely to be portrayed in advertisements, when they are they are negatively stereotyped.

Answer 115

There is a double standard of ageing, whereby women are required to be youthful.

Answer 116

Old age may be a time to make new friends and engage in new interests. They may experience Active Ageing.

Answer 117

Suggested that ageism occurs in the workplace in the UK.Suggests that ageism is institutionalised and expressed through stereotypical assumptions.

Answer 118

Older people are more likely to be religious because: The generational effect: brought up in a more religious era. The ageing effect: people become more spiritual as they get closer to death.

Answer 119

Link old age and childhood, and argue that they are both socially constructed in a similar way, having lost their ‘personhood’ status. They use the concept of ‘infantilization’ to describe the way that old people are treated in care homes.

Answer 120

Life course has begun to be deconstructed through processes: Dedifferentiation: the process by which the differences between different stages of the life course became less clear. Deinstitutionalisation: institutions of society become less closely associated with maintaining different phases of life course.

Answer 121

The retired are now important consumers who are targeted with a range of products and services. The ‘grey £’ is valued. ‘Consumer culture’.

Answer 122

Argues that disabled people are socialised into seeing themselves as victims and that people with impairments may accept this ‘victim mentality’ because they can use it as a reason for their failure.

Answer 123

Mass media presentations of disability have generally been oppressive and negative. They are rarely presented as people with their own identities. Presented as: in need of pity, victims, villains, super-cripples, a burden, sexually abnormal, ordinary or normal.

Answer 124

“When you become a member of a group you previously felt pity for, you can’t help but turn those feelings on yourself”.

Answer 125

Disabled people have the ability to construct a self-identity that accepts their impairment but is independent of it. People with disabilities reconstruct what is considered ‘normal’.

Answer 126

The blame/focus is on the individual, and instead the focus needs to be on how society caters for disabled people.