Intro to Sociology (Final Exam)

Distinguish between sex and gender

-Sex is the biological traits thatdistinguish males from females (mostoften based on the reproductiveorgans)

-Gender is an ascribed status.However, within certain culturalcontexts gender roles can range fromvery rigid rules for behavior to morecreative expressions—or evenreversals of sexual roles

What are some statistics regarding gender inequality?

-women make about $0.85 for every $1 a man makes

-in the Fortune 500 companies, only about 10% of the CEOs are women

-25% of Congress is women

Functionalist and Conflict perspectives on the gendered Division of Labor

-Functionalist: if men or women predominate in some occupations, it must be because they are better suited, more efficient, or function better in those roles

-Conflict: if you look at the occupations that men and women predominate, you'll see that they reflect the power relations in the wider society (patriarchy). Occupations that are predominantly male tend to be more prestigious, better paid, etc.

How does Symbolic Interactionism understand gender?

-sex and gender mean different things to different people—even within the same society

-How we talk about and define our gender and sexuality influences norms for sexual behavior and gender roles

-Sex means different things to men ,women, sex workers, young people ,social classes, racial/ethnic groups, people with different sexual orientations, etc

What are some indicators of increased gender equality?

-the gender pay gap in the US is narrower among young workers than workers overall (ages 25-34, women make $0.95 for every $1 a man makes)

Define Institutions

-the established ways that society structures our efforts to satisfy our basic needs and desires.

-They are a major component of the social structure of any society

-major spheres of social life, or societal subsystem, organized to meet human needs.

-They involve standardized rules (norms) and roles that guide behavior

What is Power? What is Authority (Weber)?

-power: the ability to accomplish goals, despite resistance; individuals and groups can accomplish goals, but the ability to do so depends on the relative access to resources

-authority: the legitimate use of power

Describe and give an example of the three (3) types of Authority

-Traditional Authority—based on customs and the belief that an individual ruler's authority is derived from traditional practices (e.g., Kings, Queens, Popes, etc.)

-Legal-Rational Authority—based on established rules, regulations, and a hierarchy of office (Democratic governments, bureaucracies)

-Charismatic Authority—based on collective devotion to an individual that is seen as extraordinary in terms of his/her message and cause (Hitler, Martin Luther King Jr., Obama, Trump)

Distinguish between a Pluralist and Power Elite view of politics

-pluralist: According to this theoretical approach, the political system is just and fair (legitimate)because a plurality of groups compete within the political arena to have their best interests met, while discouraging competing claims

-power elite: This model stresses that political and economic power reinforce each other, and therefore, there is a small,immensely powerful group within society whose interests are rarely challenged

What is the general trend regarding confidence in US political institutions?

Public trust in the federal government, which has been low for decades, has increased modestly since 2023. As of May 2024, 22% of Americans say they trust the government in Washington to do what is right "just about always" (2%) or "most of the time" (21%). Last year, 16% said they trusted the government just about always or most of the time, which was among the lowest measures in nearly seven decades of polling.

What are some major issues with political institutions today?

Major issues with political institutions today include persistent partisan polarization, the influence of money in politics, and declining public trust in government. Additionally, there are concerns about the impact of gerrymandering, voter suppression, and the growth of executive power on the health of democracy.

Money in Politics (SCOTUS Supreme Court ruling); Gerrymandering

-impacted campaign finance laws, allowing corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns through independent expenditures. The ruling, which struck down existing limits on corporate and union political spending, was based on the First Amendment's free speech clause, arguing that such spending is a form of protected speech.

-gerrymandering: the political manipulation of electoral district boundaries to advantage a party, group, or socioeconomic class within the constituency

Compare and Contrast Capitalist vs. Socialist economic systems

-capitalist: based on private ownership, where the exchange of goods and services is based on the profit principle and the accumulation of wealth

-socialist: based on collective ownership with the government controlling the production and distribution of goods and services based on a principle of shared prosperity

What is Mass Media?

refers to large scale audiences for communication

How is mass media an institution? What needs should it meet?

-Mass media functions as an institution by its capacity to inform and influence a large audience, shaping public opinion and disseminating information.

-It should meet the need for accessible and accurate information, fostering informed public discourse and allowing for diverse perspectives.

Describe a Functionalist theoretical approach to mass media

-Access to information—the need for an informed public

Ability to communicate/connect with people

-Physical distance vs. social distance

-Having friends/followers; getting likes, maintain social bonds through messaging

Describe a Conflict theory approach to mass media

-we can see inequality, power relations and competition over scarce resources reflected in the mass media

-The digital divide: uneven access to technology based on race, class, location

-Digital Tribalism: fragmentation of news and information with people increasingly unlikely to get information or interpretations that challenge their worldview

Describe a Symbolic Interactionist approach to mass media

-meaning is constructed on an individual level via social media

-Symbols as vehicles of meaning—e.g., memes as a form of communication

-The Presentation of Self via mass media

-Social media as a platform for impression management (create a desired image of yourself)

-Conspicuous consumption and leisure as an attempt to create distinctions based on envy

Memes as symbolic interaction

memes as a form of communication; a form of cultural expression

Social Media as Presentation of Self/Impression Management

can create a desired image of yourself on social media

What are some causes of social change?

Social movements may emerge in response to social injustices or in reaction to events or trends that are defined as a social problem in need of collective action

What is an example of intergenerational social change?

An example of intergenerational social change is a family experiencing a change in social class across generations, where children's socioeconomic status differs significantly from their parents'

What is a social movement group?

-Any organized social group that encourages or discourages social change can be thought of as a social movement group

-Some social movement groups may create alliances when they see their goals as similar to those from other social movement groups; some social movement groups may form and develop in opposition to each other

Describe a Resource Mobilization view of social movements

-The extent to which any social movement group is successful in their attempts at creating (or preventing) social change depends on how successful they are in mobilizing resources.

-Resources should be thought of in a very general sense, but there are two broad type of resources—material and cultural resources

Give examples of material resources used in social movements

Social movements utilize a variety of material resources, including physical items like office space, equipment, and supplies, as well as financial resources and access to media. These resources are crucial for sustaining activities, organizing events, and disseminating information to a wider audience.

Give examples of cultural resources used in social movements

Social movements often utilize various cultural resources to advance their goals, including music, art, language, symbols, and even historical narratives

How is the "present" moment defined in relation to the past and future by social movements?

Social movements define the present as a critical moment shaped by historical injustices and oriented toward transformative futures. They use the past to legitimize current struggles and frame the present as urgent and necessary for change. Often, they see the now as a turning point—a chance to resist, reimagine, and reshape society