SOC100 UOFT

sociological imagination

framework for understanding social reality that places personal experiences within a broader social and historical context

ethnocentrism

the practice of evaluating or judging one culture by the standards of another; most typically, judging other cultures using your culture

cultural relativism

The view that a culture can only be understood and judged by the standards, behaviors, norms, and values within the culture and not by anything outside

assimilation

the process whereby individuals or groups of differing ethnic heritage are absorbed into the dominant culture of a society

multiculturalism

rather than seeing society as a homogenous culture, recognizes cultural diversity while advocating for equal standing for all cultural traditions. Follows cultural relativism, and dictates that cultural preferences should be respected and protected

Why did the education system become mandatory?

1. Provided job training

2. It created a population that was more compatible with democracy and functioning government institutions (literacy for example aided in the ability of people to vote, to become educated through news, to engage with the health care system and other aspects of society like unemployment)

3. It helped reduce class differences and class inequality by providing access to education

ideal culture

the standards a society would like to embrace and live up to

Functionalism (Emile Durkheim)

a view of the world that see's society as this relatively stable set-up that is based on known structures and relationship patterns that we can understand, study, and see the interconnections between

believes that society is generally working, figuring itselfout, and that yes, it is always changing and fixing issues, but itgenerally is good at restoring stability or balance

tenets of Functionalism

1. Functionalism stresses that human behavior is governed by relatively stable patterns of social relations, or social structures.

2. Functionalism underlines how social structures maintain or undermine social stability.

3. Functionalist theories emphasize that social structures are based mainly on shared values or preferences.

4. Functionalism suggests that re-establishing equilibrium can best solve most social problems.

macro-level

more concerned with the overall picture than any specific or smaller parts

functionalist view of education's purposes

1. Selection/Sorting

2. Socialization

3. Job Training

meritocracy

a system of rewards based on personal attributes (e.g., work ethic) and demonstrated abilities

manifest function

an intended function that structures are meant to fulfill, e.g. education is supposed to teach children knowledge

Conflict theory (Karl Marx)

society is made up of different groups with different interests and that they compete for power and resources.

often looks at various aspects of our social world and tries to explain them by looking at which groups have power and benefit from a particular social arrangement

tenets of Conflict theory

1. Generally, focuses on large, macro-level structures, such as the relations between or among socio-economic classes

2. Shows how major patterns of inequality in society produce social stability in some circumstances and social change in others

3. Stresses how members of privileged groups try to maintain their advantages while subordinate groups struggle to increase theirs. From this point of view, social conditions at a given time are the expression of an ongoing power struggle between privileged and subordinate groups

4. Typically leads to the suggestion that decreasing privilege will lower the level of conflict and increase the sum total of human welfare.

latent functions

unintended function that nevertheless benefits

micro-level

Concerned with the social psychological dynamics of individuals interacting. Concerned more with meaning and interaction than explaining large-scale problems

Symbolic Interactionism (Erving Goffman)

Concerned more with meaning and interaction than explaining large-scale problems

The key is that human behavior is influenced by definitions and meanings that arecreated through interaction with others.

tenets of Symbolic Interactionism

1. focuses on face-to-face communication or interaction in micro-level social settings.

2. emphasizes that an adequate explanation of social behaviour requires understanding the subjective (i.e. personal) meanings people attach to their social circumstances

3. stresses that people help to create their social circumstances and do not merely react to them

4. validates unpopular and nonofficial viewpoints by underscoring the subjective meanings that people create in small social settings, increasing our understanding and tolerance of people who may be different than us

labeling theory

how we label something is intrinsically linked to how it is viewed and handled, including whether it is seen as a problem or not

feminist theory

1. ...focuses on various aspects of patriarchy, the system of male domination in society. Patriarchy, feminists contend, is at least as important as class inequality in determining a person's opportunities in life, and perhaps more so

2. ...holds that male domination and female subordination are determined not by biological necessity but by structures of power and social convention. From this point of view, women are subordinate to men only because men enjoy more legal, economic, political, and cultural rights

3. ...examines the operation of patriarchy in both micro and macro settings

4. ...contends that existing patterns of gender inequality can and should be changed for the benefit of all members of society.

feminist critiques of education

1. Underrepresentation in Positions of Power

2. Gender Representation in School Activities

3. Sexual Harassment

critical race theory

1. Race is a socially constructed and NOT a biologically grounded category. It is used to oppress and exploit people of color.

2. Racism is a normal, persistent, and defining characteristic of social institutions including politics, the legal system, the economy, and all other societal institutions/structures.

3. Progress on racial issues occurs primarily during periods of interest convergence

4. Individuals cannot be adequately understood by their membership in separate marginalized communities. In other words, marginalization is intersectional

culture

The way that non-material objects—like thoughts, action, language, and values—come together with material objects to form a way of life

material culture

all physical & tangible objects that reflect and define a way of life, including tools, weapons, utensils, machines, art, jewelry, clothing, religious objects, physical art, books, architecture, food, and so on

non-material culture

all non-physical/non-tangible objects that reflect and define a way of life, including a culture's ideas, beliefs, behaviors, gestures, norms, morals, spoken language, and so on

Post-modernism (Michel Foucault)

A broad and somewhat intentionally difficult to define term, typically applied to the arts and philosophy that is skeptical of 'objective' universal explanations of how society and culture operate

socialization

the lifelong process of an individual learning the expected norms and customs of a group or society through social interaction

popular culture

The cultural behaviors and ideas that are popular with the majority of people in a society

mainstream culture

The cultural patterns that are broadly in line with a society's cultural ideals and values

subcultures

Cultural patterns that set apart a segment of society's population

are NOT always countercultures

countercultures

cultures that push back on mainstream and/or popular culture in an attempt to change how a society operates

are always subcultures

cultural diffusion

a social process resulting in the transfer of beliefs, values, and social activities (e.g. games or sports) from one society to another

globalization

the Worldwide flow and integration of culture, economies, media, and technology due to advances in communication systems and economic interests

Why do newer generations not believe in science?

1. Newer generations are more skeptical and critically think more.

2. Increasing use of the internet and social media as sources of evidence.

3. The feedback loop relationship between media, politicians, and the news

Why did mass media grow in the Western world?

1. the Protestant Reformation, which promoted literacy

2. the expansion of democracy, which promoted involvement and interest in political matters

3. Capitalist industrialization, which created the expansion of media as a source of profit

functionalist view of media

1. to coordinate the operation of industrial and postindustrial societies

2. to act as agents of socialization

3. to engage in social control by helping ensure conformity

4. to provide entertainment

conflict theory view of media

1. Media broadcast beliefs, values, and ideas that often create widespread acceptance of basic structure of society, including its injustices and inequalities

2. Ownership of traditional and new media is highly concentrated in hands of small number of people and is highly profitable for them (CTV, Globe Media, Rogers, Shaw for traditional media)

economic inequality

who is rich and who is poor and how we measure the inequality or difference between these two categories

operationalizing

turning abstract concepts into measurable observations

Consumer Price Index

measures inflation each month. It sets inflation based on the price of a 'typical basket of goods'

active income

Income gained by exchanging time for money usually through a paid job or self-employment

passive income

income that is not tied to active labor. in other words, income you do not exchange time for and may actually require no time at all—hence then name "passive"

Matthew effect

advantage accumulates in ways that allow the rich to get richer.

ascribed statuses

Attributes (advantages and disadvantages) assigned at birth.

achieved statuses

Attributes (advantages and disadvantages) developed throughout life as a result of effort and skill.

income quintiles

way to determine how income changed over time for people at different levels of socio-economic status by dividing the population into 5 levels

GINI Coefficient

The Gini coefficient ranges between 0 (or 0%) & 1 (or 100%). A score of 0 or 0% indicates that income is perfectly distributed in the country. In other words, every citizen of the country has an equal income and overall income is perfectly shared equally between everyone. A score of 1 or 100% indicates that income is totally unequal. In other words, one person earns all the income and everyone else earns nothing

Why has inequality in Canada grown?

1) the VERY rich became much MUCH richer.

2) Workers lost bargaining power over their employers due to the loss of unions (a product of globalization)

3) Corporate Consolidation (big companies forcing smaller ones to sell to them or go out of business) means fewer corporations and, therefore, fewer CEO's and owners that are richer

Why is inequality not seen as that big of a problem?

1. Most homes gained an extra income earner and this was not seen as unfair or unequal but as societal progress towards Women's Rights (in other words, inequality grew but almost everyone's quality of life did too)

2. Access to loans and debt has grown tremendously allowing access to the goods we want or need despite not having the money for it (this increases the Matthew effect)

3 components of wealth

1) Assets: Examples: real estate value, vehicle value, cash on hand or in bank account, investments, retirement funds, value of other possessions (jewelry, electronics, etc.)

2) Liabilities: Examples: typically just different kinds of debt such as mortgage, auto mobile, student loan, credit card debt, etc.

3) Net Worth: Net worth= Assets minus Liabilities.

DEBT IS BECOMING INVISIBLE

Why discuss environmental problems?

1. They have the greatest potential for catastrophic results. (SF)

2. Our entire economic system is set-up in a way that has resisted and will continue to resist environmental protection. (CF)

3. It's a global problem that requires a global solution, yet the world remains organized as competing nations more than allies willing to work together (SI)

functionalist imbalance in equilibrium

1) a growing human population creating greater strain on the environment

2) greater scientific developments allowing us to exploit resources and change the environment more than ever before (ex: nuclear technology, new drilling techniques like fracking, use of fertilizers and pesticides, etc.)

3) a human culture/society that has never had to prioritize the environment over the economy before

echo chambers

an environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced, and alternative ideas are not considered

Who has control over corporations?

1. Consumers

2. Governments

3. Justice system

mental health

the successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity

mental illness

all mental disorders which are characterized by sustained patterns of abnormal thinking, mood, or behaviors that are accompanied by significant distress and/or impairment in daily functioning

challenges to understanding mental health epidemic

1. Socially defined

2. Tied to culture

3. Tied to conceptions of morality

Dramaturgy (Erving Goffman)

compared societal interactions to a theater to understand how people behave and represent themselves. In this theory, people are actors, they follow norms in the form of roles, scripts, and props (expected ways of acting, speaking and using expected meanings of different objects)

front stage

the self that we show the world. On the front stage we manage impressions by following the behaviors, scripts, and norms that we are socialized to know and expect

backstage

our true selves, it is the aspects of self which we reserve for private areas or places where we are comfortable. In these places we do not feel the need to (or if alone simply do not need to) manage impressions

alienation

(Marx) estrangement from human's essential nature: creative potential

changes to and inequality within the labor market

1. Well documented and publicized violations of human rights and international labor standards (as well as domestic labor standards) around the world, which results in the immense suffering of manufacturing and other workers.

2. Growing power and wealth of Multi-National Corporations making them some of the most powerful organizations in the world today

surplus value

the workers produced more value in terms of the products they made, then they were paid in wages

benefits the bourgeoisie

labor union

an organization formed by workers in a particular trade, industry, or company for the purpose of improving pay, benefits, and working conditions

race to the bottom

where workers must offer their labor for cheaper, to work for longer hours, and/or to work under worse conditions in order to secure employment versus a corporation being located elsewhere

master status

status of an individual is one which, in most or all social situations, will overpower or dominate all other statuses

usually references race, also includes gender

standpoint theory (Dorothy Smith)

knowledge stems from social position

rejects that science is objective because of the exclusion of different perspectives like women, racial minorities, the 2SLGBTQIA+community, those from lower socio-economic statuses, and others

Feminist (Dorothy Smtih)

the belief in social, economic, and political equality for the sexes

an ideal type

gender identity

each person's internal and individual experience of gender. It is a person's sense of being a woman, a man, both, neither, or anywhere along the gender spectrum

gender expression

the way in which a person presents themselves in terms of gender

intersex

general term used for the variety of ways in which a person is born with an anatomy that doesn't fit the conventional biological definitions of female or male

1.7% of Canadians, EX: Caster Semenya

biological sex is defined as:

1. Chromosomes such as XX (female), XY (male), but also other non-binary configurations such as X, XXY, XXYY, and so on.

2. Based on internal reproductive organs, which are primarily responsible for hormone production.

3. Based on different reproductive hormones like testosterone and estrogen, as well as the effects they have on the body.

4. Based on external reproductive genitals, which is what most people think of and what is most commonly used at birth as the determining factor.

5. Based on the ability to bear children

Why does the gender wage gap exist?

1. Difference in occupational choices (due to gender socialization)

2. Social expectations around childbirth

3. Discrimination (illogical [sexism and prejudiced beliefs] and logical [aka statistical and due to numbers being skewed by the first two])

race

a category of people who are perceived to share distinct physical characteristics that are deemed socially significant

ethnicity

a shared cultural heritage or nationality, socially constructed

less associated with physical characteristics compared to race and is more often regarded as an identity

equally as historically based as race

immigration

the movement of people into a country from another. It is often the result of push and pull factors

Why has immigration become a popular topic?

1. More immigrants being accepted into countries

2. Low birth rates

3. Controversial because of racism and decline bias

prejudice

favorable or unfavorable preconceived feeling or opinion formed without knowledge, reason, or thought that prevents objective consideration of an idea, individual, group, or thing

racism

a belief that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

pluralism

A mixing of different cultures in which each culture retains its own unique identity

informal social control

any non-official type of control exercised for violating norms, laws, folkways, or anything someone else deems inappropriate

EX: class complaining to their teacher, teasing about wardrobe choices, etc.

formal social control

an official type of control exercised for violating the policy, rules, laws, or regulation of a formal body

EX: criminal justice system, formal organizations; people getting fired, etc.

What is the criminal justice system composed of?

1) Law Enforcement Officials: exist to enforce laws, protect people and property, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Includes campus police, city police, provincial police, federal law enforcement such as the RCMP, and more.

2) Criminal Courts: exist to ensure laws are executed fairly and with due process.

3) Prisons: exist to ensure punishments are enforced and public safety is upheld

4 Crime facts

1. Every place has formal rules (laws) and people who break those rules, but there is great variation between countries.

2. Most countries have the same components in their criminal justice system (law enforcement, courts, and prisons)

3. Adult males are disproportionately crime suspects and perpetrators in all countries.

4. In all countries, theft is the most common type of crime and violent crime is relatively rare.

structural functionalist view of crime

argues that laws and crime are important for reaffirming society's beliefs and reinforcing social norms and solidarity—i.e. a unification towards a common goal.

Strain Theory (Robert Merton)

Merton's alternative functionalist explanation for crime. He states that there are institutionalized goals in society and legitimate means for attaining those goals.

However, society is structured in a way that gives people different access to the legitimate means; so there exists a gap between the goals and means. To respond to this gap, people engage in different modes of adaptation.

conformity

accepts the means and the goals

EX: "normal"

ritualism

accepts the means, rejects the goals

EX: church members, donators

innovation

rejects means, accepts the goals

EX: drug dealers

retreatism

rejects means and goals

EX: hippies

rebellion

an act of violent or open resistance to an established government or ruler.

conflict theory view of crime

how inequality causes crime in society. This includes crimes of necessity like burglary and joining gangs to provide for oneself or one's family economically

real culture

the way society really is based on what actually occurs and exists

structure

the organized framework of social relationships, interactions, and patterns within a society

agency

the ability to think, act, and make choices independently

empirical evidence

scientific evidence obtained by careful observation and experimentation

norms

expectations of how we should act, look, and think

personal choices

choices that individuals make that are influenced by the big picture

Life Chances (Max Weber)

the opportunities people have varying based on their socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race and gender