Sociology Quiz 2

Deviance

behaviors, ideas and attributes that do not conform to social expectations

Is Deviance Built in?

No, it is determined by the group

Is Deviance relative

yes, what is deviant in one group may not be in another

Social Control

The formal and informal mechanisms used to increase conformity to values and norms of a group, and thus increase social cohesion

Benefits of Deviance

1. Deviance helps reinforce group boundaries; and makes those boundaries visible to group members

2. The violation of norms brings to light the boundaries of group.

3. Deviance exposes what is acceptable and unacceptable to the group

4. Promotes conformity, which helps stabilize the group. 

Problem with Victim blaming

ignores the role of society or government in creating the conditions for deviant behaviors. 

Labeling theory:

An approach to the study of deviance which suggests that people become ‘deviant’ because certain labels are attached to their behavior by political authorities and others.

Primary Deviance

• The initial act of deviance committed

• The violator is not labelled deviant

Secondary deviance

• Person is labelled deviant, label becomes part of their identity

Stigma

an attribute that is socially devalued and discredited.

Disability

a social construct that refers to a physical or mental impairment that limits a person’s ability to fully participate in typical life activities

Ableism

involves the largely unintended neglect of the conditions of people with disabilities.

Privilege

A special right, immunity, or benefit granted only to a particular person or group.

Social structures

1. Society consists of Social structures and Cultures

2. They shape human behavior and are shaped by our behaviors

3. Social structures: the social patterns of relationships through which a society is organized; can be horizontal or vertical. 

4. Hierarchies can produce social inequality

Social inequality

unequal distribution of resources, rewards, privileges, punishments, power and opportunities.

Race

a sociall construct used for marking groups based on presumed biological/genetic differences. 

Social Class

A ranking system based on economic resources.

Albert Memmi

1. Differences are identified

2. Values are then assigned to those differences

3. Those differences are treated as absolute

4. Differences used as justifications to treat group inequality

Oppression

The mistreatment, exploitation, and abuse of a group of people by another group. 

Sex

A social construct that refers to the physical and biological attributes that societies use to assign people in the category, male or female. 

Essentalist view on gender

views gender biological and fixed; a binary

Social Constructionist

views gender as a spectrum

Cisgender

when gender identity aligns with sex assigned at birth

Intersex

when a person is born with biological parts that are assigned to males and females.

Transgender

when a person’s gender identity does not align with their assigned sex at birth. makes a transition to make that alignment

4 principles of Social Stratification

1. It is a characteristic of society rather than a reflection of individual difference

2. It persists over generations

3. Different societies use different criteria to rank their members

4. It is maintained through beliefs that are widely shared by members of society.

Caste system

A system of stratification based on hereditary. It is an ascribed status, cannot change.

Social Mobility

The movement of individuals or groups within a hierarchical system.

Closed system

very little opportunity to move statum to another

Poverty

The state of one not having enough money to meet basic needs including food, clothing and shelter. 

Income

money earned through salaries, investment returns or other capital gains

Wealth

the total value of assets families own minus their debts. 

racial wealth gap

measures the difference between the median wealth of blacks versus the median wealth of whites.

Jim Crow laws

A collection of state and local statutes that legalized racial segregation and denied African-Americans Civil Rights.