Key terminology Flashcards
Society
Society is all the people living in a particular country. They all share the same education , justice, media, and similar rights and wrong
Social institutions
This is all the parts that make up society that’s can be physical forms or theories that support it
Meritocracy
The belief that someone’s value in society is based off of their abilities and merits rather than their states
socialisation
it is the lifelong process by which people learn the culture of society we live in. This is carried out by different agencies.
E.g. the education system, family, media
Primary Socialisation
This refers to learn during early childhood, when we are younger to learn basic behaviour/ language. This is taught by the family.
Secondary Socialisation
The begins later in childhood and continues through adulthood. This is when we learn societies norms and values.
This is learnt in school, media, work, and peers
Culture
The language, beliefs, norms, values, customs, dress and roles which make up a way of life.
Identity
How individuals see and define themselves and how other people define them.
Roles
The patterns of behaviour which are expected from individuals in society.
Role model
Peoples pattern of behaviour which others copy and model their own behaviour on
Structuralism
It is a perspective which is concerned with the overall structure of society and sees individual behaviour moulded by social institutions.
E.g., family, school, workplace.
Social action theories
This is perspectives which emphasises the creative action people can take rather than seeing them as passive.
This is important to know the meaning behind peoples actions and how others influenced their actions.
Feminism
It examines society particularly from the point of view and interest of women. Feminists argue that a lot of mainstream sociology has been focused on the concerns of men.
Marxism
it’s a political and economic theory where a society has no classes. Every person within the society works for a common good, and class struggle is theoretically gone
Marxist Feminists
Takes a Marxist approach to study women, and emphasise a way in which women are doubly exploited.
1. As workers
2. As a social women in society.
They challenge society and seek change.
Radical Feminists
Tends to focus on the problem of patriarchy- the system whereby males dominate in every area of society, such as family and work.
Liberal Feminists
Emphasises the rights of women as individuals , and the belief of removing all forms discrimination to establish equality of opportunity for men and women together. They want to ensure equality in all parts of society.
The new right perspective.
The new right is more of a political philosophy than sociological. It is asscioated usually with the conservative government in Britain from 1979-1997.
Postmodernism
This is an approach in sociology which stresses that society is changing rapidly and constantly which is marked by chaos. Social institutions like family or social class are breaking down and being replaced by a range of new social realtionships.
Functionalism
it focuses on the needs of the social system as a whole; it sees society based on its values and believes that research can leas to progress which ties in with the new right perspective and modernisation theory.
Norms
These are social rules which define the correct and acceptable behaviour in society or social groups to which are expected to conform.
Values
They provide general guidelines for behaviour. Values could include respect for human life, privacy and the importance of success
Customs
these are norms which have lasted for a long time have become apart of social traditions.
