INTRODUCTION FOR SOCIOLOGY Flashcards
what is SOCIALISATION?
socialisation is the process through which we learn society’s norms and values.
what are SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS?
● FAMILY
● EDUCATION
● MEDIA
● RELIGION
what is PRIMARY SOCIALISATION?
It is usually behaviour performed by family and teaches us PARTICULARISTIC norms and values that are passed on through traditions/ expectations/ habits/ customs
what is SECONDARY SOCIALISATION?
It is usually behaviour performed by other social institutions e.g. education, media, religion to pass on those UNIVERSAL norms and values
what is GENDER SOCIALISATION?
they are norms and values expected of different genders, which are taught from early ages through clothing, toys, books, education, and often referred to canalisation.
what are SUBCULTURES?
groups that are perceived to deviate from the normative standards of the dominant culture (mainstream society)
what are a FUNCTIONALISTS p.o.v of socialisation?
key to having a functioning society - essential to understand value consensus (societies to have common set beliefs and principles to work with as a general AGREEMENT)
what are the MARXIST AND FEMINIST P.O.V ON SOCIALISATION
we are all socialised into norms and values of dominant groups (upper class and patriarchy) and is a form of SOCIAL CONTROL
what is MARXISM?
it’s a STRUCTURAL CONFLICT THEORY that is a political, economic, and sociological perspective of KARL MARX
- suggesting there’s a CLASS CONFLICT in society
who are the BOURGEOISIE?
the CAPITALIST CLASS who own most of society’s wealth and means of production
who are the PROLETARIAT?
the WORKING-CLASS
what are the MEANS OF PRODUCTION?
● CAPITAL
● RESOURCES
● MACHINERY
(produced in industrial era)
what happens in a CAPITALIST SYSTEM?
goods are exchanged for money, and the only way PROLETARIAT could afford goods was to sell their labour (only get LOW WAGES in return= EXPLOITATION for BOURGEOISIE to maximise their profits
what is FALSE CONSCIOUSNESS?
the PROLETARIAT don’t recognise they’re being EXPLOITED by the BOURGEOISIE and become DOCILE (accept control) to meet their basic needs in society despite the inequality.
what is FUNCTIONALISM?
it’s a STRUCTURAL CONSENSUS THEORY by DURKHEIM that objectively studies society with scientific methods.
who was DURKHEIM?
●FOUNDING FATHER producing scientific methods into human behaviour
●proposed society held together by SOCIAL BONDS through SOCIAL SOLIDARITY
how do FUNCTIONALISTS view society?
● similar to the human body (organic analogy)
●different social institutions e.g. family have different roles to fulfil the basic needs (FUNCTIONAL PREREQUISITES)
how do SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS help members of society?
● e.g. FAMILY socialise children into NORMS AND VALUES to reproduce their next generation
●provides economic support
who is TALCOTT PARSONS?
●KEY FUNCTIONALIST and developed SYSTEMS THEORY and SEX ROLE THEORY
●examined the role of SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS for the needs of individuals and GENDER ROLES in the family
● underlined importance of the VALUE CONSENUS for socialisation
what are NORMS?
●patterns of expected behaviour in a given social context
●it’s how we are expected to act at a certain time/place/social situation
●influenced by our social characteristics, e.g, SOCIAL CLASS, GENDER, ETHINCITY, AGE
what are VALUES?
●what we believe as the ‘correct’ type of behaviour to display in a social context
●they’re internal thought processes that influence our behaviour e.g. SOCIAL CLASS, GENDER, FAMILY BACKGROUND, ETHNICITY
how are NORMS AND VALUES formed?
●they’re SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED (made by individuals within society)
●FUNCTIONALISTS argue they reflect the VALUE CONSENUS
●MARXISM & FEMINISM
(CRITICAL THEORIES) suggest they’re created by dominant groups in society
how do the NORMS AND VALUES change over time?
●they change as SOCIAL CHANGE OCCURS
●when society evolves= people’s attitudes, behaviours and beliefs change
●if used by majority= become DOMINANT norms and values
what are SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES?
●DIFFERENT WAYS in which SOCIOLOGISTS view society
●based on their own PERSONAL VALUES
●can come from a detached and OBJECTIVE viewpoint
how do SOCIOLOGISTS differ in their view of society?
●some adopt a STRUCTURAL approach by analysing the impact of SOCIAL FACTORS on individuals
● others have a SOCIAL ACTION approach so individuals have FREE WILL to make their own choices
what are STRUCTURAL THEORIES?
●they suggest that SOCIAL FORCES shape the behaviour of individuals
●focus on MACRO sociology (social trends and human behaviour from them)
●broken down further into CONFLICT AND CONSENUS theories
what are CONFLICT and CONSENUS theories and EXAMPLES?
●society ÷2 or more groups that compete for POWER AND RESOURCES
●common conflict theories: MARXISM AND FEMINISM
●CONSENUS theories suggest society is = (balanced), and people have a common identity and purpose
●common CONSENUS theory is FUNCTIONALISM
what are SOCIAL ACTION theories?
●examined society on a MICRO LEVEL + suggest society is made up of individuals who have FREE WILL
●they examine the EXPERIENCES OF INDIVIDUALS (with no ‘voice’)
what is FEMINISM?
●STRUCTURAL CONFLICT THEORY that examines differences between GENDERS in society
●they argue we live in a PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY
what was the 1st act of FEMINISM?
●FOUGHT FOR RIGHT FOR WOMEN TO HAVE LEGAL EQUALITY WITH MEN.
●women gained UNIVERSAL SUFFERAGE in 1928 in the UK
●SUFFRAGETTE MOVEMENT by Mary Wollstonecraft and Harriet Martineau
what was the 2ND act of FEMINISM?
●FOUGHT FOR LEGAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EQUALITY FOR WOMEN FROM 1950 ONWARDS
●WOMEN’S LIBERATION MOVEMENT secured control over reproductive rights
●led by Simone De Beauvoir and Gloria Steinem
what was the 3RD act of FEMINISM?
●DEVELOPED FROM 1980S ONWARDS ADDRESSED: INEQUALITIES W/ WOMEN AND MEN BASED ON SOCIAL CLASS, SEXUALITY, ETHNICITY AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION (INTERSECTIONALITY)
●led by Bell Hooks, Heidi Mirza, Kimberly Crenshaw
what is LIBERAL FEMINISM?
●focused on achieving equality through LEGAL RIGHTS and from 1950s +
●tackled ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INEQUALITY of females
●KEY sociologist: Anne Oakley
what is RADICAL FEMINISM?
●argues RADICAL CHANGE is required to gain GENDER EQUALITY
●focus on rebuilding society than gradual reform
●POWER DIFFERENCES are a result of biology= source of women’s OPPRESSION
●KEY sociologist: Shulamith Firestone
what is MARXIST FEMINISM?
●argues women are EXPLOITED by both MEN AND CAPITALISM
●focus on unpaid labour that women perform in society
●GENDER PAY GAP!
●KEY sociologist: Fran Ansley
what is INTERSECTIONAL FEMINISM?
●examines the different experiences of women across the SOCIAL SPECTRUM
●their experiences differ based on their: SOCIAL CLASS, ETHNICITY, SEXUALITY and GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
●critical on LIBERAL FEMINISM for being focused on white middle-class western women
●KEY sociologist: Bell Hooks
what is the NEW RIGHT?
●POLITCAL IDEOLOGY that combines neo-liberal economic policy and neo-conservative social policies
what is NEO-LIBERALISM?
●ECONOMIC POLICY prefers LESS STATE INTERVENTION and more public service run by PRIVATE COMPANIES (PRIVATISATION)
●involves public money collected by taxes given to private companies to run hospitals, schools, transport
●it’s the belief private companies are better= more efficient
what us NEO-CONSERVATISM?
●belief TRADITIONAL TAXES in social institutions e.g. FAMILY, EDUCATION, CULTURE
●focus on social problems being caused by INDIVIDUALS than the STRICTURE of society
what did the NEW RIGHT cause?
●promoted PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY by individuals
●more concerned w/ ECONOMIC GROWTH and TRADITIONAL SOCIAL VALUES
how did the NEW RIGHT do this?
●SOCIAL POLICY reduced spending welfare benefits; work was route of poverty than WELFARE DEPENDENCY
●there’s an UNDERCLASS of idle young men inadequately socialised by single parents
●targeted areas of HIGH CRIME and ZERO TOLERANCE policies imposed on criminal behaviour
what is the evaluation of the NEW RIGHT?
●Charles Murray criticised for blaming the most vulnerable in society for STRUCTURAL failings
●PRIVATISATION in education and healthcare accused of making profit off people
●TRADITIONAL VALUES exclude different social groups in society
what is INTERACTIONISM?
●collection of SOCIAL ACTION THEORIES that examine how individuals make sense of the world around them
●they INTERPRET behaviours of others to understand what they’re thinking and how they should behave
how do INTERACTIONISTS interpret behaviour?
●one way is through the meanings of SIGNS & SYMBOLS they see
● = SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
what is SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM?
●not instinctive behaviour; a process of INTERPRETING what signs mean and may differ in social contexts
what is the LABELLING THEORY?
●label APPLIED to individuals, categorised based upon superficial characteristics.
●they may INTERNALISE these ‘labels’ and begin to act upon them (SELF FULFILLING PROPHECY)
●reinforces belief of observers and the label becomes a MASTER STATUS
what is SELF-CONCEPT?
●according to COOLEY ppl understand themselves through the way others react to them
●so influence our SELF-CONCEPT and understand who we are
what is the DRAMATURGICAL MODEL?
●that individuals take on different roles in different social contexts
●GOFFMAN argues we’re like actors by performing actions expected of us in society
●that the ‘true’ and ‘authentic self’ is ‘back-stage’
what is CULTURE?
●way of life of a particular group forms part of an individual’s identity
●can be based upon: BELIEF SYSTEMS, GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS and PHYSICAL TRAITS
what makes up OUR CULTURE?
●LANGUAGE
●CUISINE
●CLOTHING
●MUSIC AND ARTS
●CELEBRATIONS+RITUALS
●BELIEFS
what TYPES of CULTURE are there?
●MAINSTREAM/POPULAR CULTURE
●FOLK CULTURE
●GLOBAL CULTURE
●HIGH CULTURE
●LOW CULTURE
●SUBCULTURES
how do FUNCTIONALISTS view CULTURE?
●take a consensus view and suggest it reflects the norms and values of the MAJORITY
●those who reject/replace social norms & values from SUBCULTURES
how do MARXISTS and FEMINISTS view CULTURE?
●MARXISTS claim mainstream culture reflects HEGEMONIC norms & values of the CAPITALIST ruling class
●FEMINISTS argue society’s culture is PATRIARCHAL and benefits men through promoting male interests
how do INTERACTIONISTS and POSTMODERN view CULTURE?
●INTERACTIONISTS suggest society’s culture is constructed through ppl interpreting social interactions (SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION)
●POSTMODERN suggests there’s no longer dominant culture; society’s FRAGMENTED and increasingly DIVERSE
what are the PROBLEMS defining CULTURE?
●value of different behaviour is down to INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETATIONS which makes CONSENSUS hard
●rapidly changing norms & values= culture change at a faster pace (can’t understand)
●definitions of culture VARY ACROSS GROUPS and there’s different CONTEXTS for cultural behaviours
what is POSTMODERNISM?
●rejects many of the assumptions made about the structure of society
●society moved into a postmodern era by INDIVIDUALISM & INSECURITY but there is more choice and diversity
●contrasts modern era when behaviour was more certain and predictable
what is DIVERSITY?
●the greater range of social characteristics in a society
●in modern era, CLASS, GENDER & ETHNICITY were from a LIMITED range
●in postmodern era people have greater choice over their identity and how they can present themselves
why is there now more choice now in the POSTMODERN era?
●individuals are seen as a consumer than producers of goods
●less believing in religion and there’s distrust of social institutions= more choice
●GLOBALISATION= increased education, changing SOCIAL ATTITUDES so ppl have choice over what they believe in
why have we lost FAITH in INSTITUTIONS?
●MEDIA SATURATION led to increased knowledge; LACK OF FAITH in information from SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
●growth of ‘fake news’ (SIMULACRA) so not real as we perceive
●Lyotard suggested rejection of METANARRATIVES (single truths)= now ppl decide w/ multiple sources instead of 1
what is ETHNICITY?
●shared cultural practices, tastes and attributes of a group
●COMMON LANGUAGE, CUSTOMS, RITUALS, CELEBRATIONS AND BELIEFS
●often based upon GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
how does ETHNICITY impact on life chances?
●EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES vary on ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS
●reflected in poverty figures, access to healthcare and rates of offending and victimisation
why does ETHNICITY impact on LIFE CHANCES? PT1
●INSTITUTIONAL RACISM- SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS have practices & policies that discriminate against different groups
●OVERT RACISM- individual response of people in society
why does ETHNICITY impact on LIFE CHANCES? PT2
●RELATIVE DEPRIVATION impacts on life chances & overrepresentation of ethnic minority groups
●LABELLING AND NEGATIVE STEROTYPING in the MEDIA and other social institutions
●LACK OF REPRESENTATION- e.g. the curriculum seen as ethnocentric
what is GENDER?
●SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED CHARACTERISTICS that surround people across the gender spectrum
●differs from BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS! (e.g periods/ child birth)
what are the GENDER DIFFERENCES in education?
●GIRLS achieve HIGHER but face discrimination e.g. HARASSMENT and get low paying careers
●BOYS UNDERACHIEVE and so curriculum is accused of being ‘FEMINISED’
●BULLYING of non-binary
what are the GENDER DIFFERENCES in CRIME?
●MALES more LIKELY to commit crimes linked to SOCIALISATION (attitudes towards MASCULINITY and STATUS within society)
●younger males more LIKELY to be VICTIMS of crimes
●FEMALES more LIKELY subject to sexual crimes
what are the GENDER DIFFERENCES in EMPLOYMENT?
●WOMEN earn less on average than males in the workplace
●WOMEN LESS LIKELY to be in leadership roles
●DECLINE in traditional male jobs since 1970s
what is SOCIAL CLASS?
●form of STRATIFICATION (way of organising ppl based on their SOCIAL & ECONOMIC characteristics)
●associated w/ employment and their access to resources
●it’s a SUBJECTIVE measurement of status
what SOCIAL CLASSES are there?
●UPPER CLASS (ELITES)
-inherited wealth & status
●MIDDLE CLASS
-professional occupations
●THE WORKING CLASS
- manual occupations
how is SOCIAL CLASS measured?
●by EDUCATION and SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
●OCCUPATIONS of HIGHER STATUS= HIGHER CLASS
does SOCIAL CLASS matter?
●HEALTH, LIFE EXPECTANCY, EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES demonstrate HIGHER SOCIAL CLASSES at an advantage
●working class is at a DISADVANTAGE in HOUSING, DIET, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION
how do FUNCTIONALISTS view SOCIAL CLASS?
●society is MERITOCRATIC and that social mobility is possible
●SOCIAL CLASS INEQUALITY is inevitable as skills vary
how do MARXISTS view SOCIAL CLASS?
●MARXISTS argue its dependent on an individual’s relationship to the MEANS OF PRODUCTION (either BOURGEOISIE OR PROLETARIAT)
what are the other THEORETICAL VIEWS of SOCIAL CLASS?
● NEW RIGHT argue there’s a UNDERCLASS beneath working class that’s WELFARE DEPENDENT
●POSTMODERNISTS reject it influences our behaviour as society is TOO FRAGMENTED
●SOCIAL ACTION approach SOCIAL CLASS as a MEASURE of their ECONOMIC SITUATION, STATUS IN SOCIETY AND POWER OVER OTHERS
