Intro to Sociology

Nature

Theorist argue that a person’s life is determined by the inherited qualities

Nurture

Theorists propose that a person’s life is determined by the environment they grow up in

Sex

Refers to the biological differences between men and women (either male or female)

Gender

Refers to the culteral and social differences between men and women (either masculine and feminine)

Gender role socialisation

The process of learning the expectations and attitudes associated with one’s gender

Canalisation

The way in which parents channel the child’s interests in activities or toys in conjunction with gender as deemed appropriate

Social status

Social position someone has in society e.g. son

Ascribed status

The status applied to someone at birth e.g. ethnicity

Achieved status

Result of a person’s own efforts e.g. graduate student

Role

Expected way of acting by a person in a certain position in society e.g. teacher

Role conflict

Clash between the demdas of different roles

What are the characteristics social groups are based on? (CAGE)

Class

Age

Gender

Ethnicity

Organic analogy (functionalism)

All parts of society have to work together to function properly, just like all parts of the body have to work together for it to function properly. Everybody has their own role to play within society.

Capitalism (Marxism)

Economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners rather than the government

Bourgeoisie (Marxism)

Private owners who own a business

Rulling class (Marxism)

Owners of the means of production, i.e they own factories, land and businesses

Proletariat (Marxism)

The working class work for the ruling class

Communism (Marxism)

Refers to society based on “equality”

There is no private ownership and all land belongs to the state

Feminism

Belief in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes

Patriarchy (feminism)

Male domination of society and its instructions