Social Characteristics Flashcards
Explanations for age patterns?
Voas and Crockett: they identify three explanations:
Age Effect- people get more religious as they get older because they are getting closer to death which brings about more uncertainty and fear.
Period Effect- those born in different periods are more or less likely to be religious, for example Generation Y are more focuses on happiness.
Generational Effect- each generation gets less religious.
What is the patterns with gender and religion?
Women are found to be more religious and say that religion is more important to them than men do.
How does Miller and Hoffman explain the reason for women being more religious?
They believe it is down to how girls are socialised, they are socialised into a more caring and nurturing role which are important values in many religions and therefore appeal more to girls.
What is Stark and Bainbridge’s explanation on gender and religion?
Women are more aware of relative deprivation, for example they are more likely to suffer with mental health problems and many find that religion can provide answers for this and help them through it.
Heelas and Woodhead’s explanation on gender?
80% of attendees of the holistic milieu were women in the Kendal Project as they are more drawn to new age movements.
What are the patterns with ethnicity?
In the UK the majority identify as Christian, however Muslims, Hindus and Black Christians say that religion is an important part of their life.
However Modood says there has been a decline in the importance of religion in all ethnicity’s.
What is Bruce’s, Bird’s and Herberg’s explanation for ethnicity?
He explains that religion is used for cultural defence and transition.
Bird- helps immigrants cope with racial oppression and preserves the culture and language of their previous country.
Herberg- it explains the high level of participation in first generation immigrants in the USA.
What does Heelas and Woodhead identify about class patterns?
Middle class women are more likely to be attracted to New Age Movements.
What types of religions appeal to the different classes?
Sects appeal more to the poorer or working class as they offer a haven from the deprivation. Poorer are more likely to be more religious as it gives them hope and answers questions about why they are deprived and gives them hope about being repaid in the afterlife.
What is happening with religion and age?
Younger people are less likely to be religious and older people are more likely to be religious.
