Sociology Final

Intersectionality

The idea that different aspects of a person’s identity such as a race, gender, class, or sexuality intersect and combine to shape a unique experiences of advantage or discrimination

ex: a black woman may experience discrimination differently than a white woman or a black man

Sex

Biological traits (chromosomes, hormones, anatomy); typically assigned at birth

Gender

socially constructed roles, behaviors, and expectations associated with being male, female, or another identity.

Social construction

meanings, categories, or behaviors are created and defined by society rather than biology

Gender - ideas of “masculine” and “feminine” vary across cultures and time

Deviance - what is considered deviant depends on social norms (e.g. tattoos were once deviant, now common)

Meritocracy

A system in which success is believed to be based on talent, effort, and ability, rather than social background

Manufactured Merit

The idea that “merit” is not purely earned but is often produced through unequal access to recourses like education, wealth, and social connections, making success appear earned when it’s structurally advantaged

Stratification

The structured ranking of individuals and groups in society into layers (strata) based on wealth, power, and prestige

Groupthink

A phenomenon where group members prioritize consensus and harmony over critical thinking, leading to poor decisions

Groupthink in 12 Angry Men

Early votes reflect groupthink, Jurors conform without evidence, Juror 8 disrupts groupthink by encouraging independent thinking

Socio-emotional Leader

Focuses on group harmony, morale, and emotional well-being

Task Leader

Focuses on completing goals and solving problems

Primary Group

Small, close, emotionally bonded (family, close friends)

Secondary Group

Larger, goal-oriented, impersonal (school, workplace)

Social Dilemma

A situation where individual self-interest conflicts with the collective good, often resulting in worse outcomes for everyone

Ascribed Status

A social position you are born into or have little control over

ex: race, sex, age

Achieved Status

A social position that is earned through effort or choice

ex: occupation, education level

Deviance

Behavior, beliefs, or characteristics that violate social norms

Social Control

Mechanisms society uses to encourage conformity and discourage deviance

Formal: laws, police

Informal: peer pressure, family expectations

The Nacirema

A fictional tribe described by anthropologist Horace Miner

The name “Nacirema” is America spelled backward

What was the point of the article titled “Nacirema”

To show how ethnocentrism and biased language can make familiar cultural practices seem strange, highlighting the importance of cultural relativism.