Sociology Key Ideas

Miss Blackwood Unit 1

norms

shared rules or guidelines that govern the behaviour of members within a society or group, influencing social expectations and interactions

values

ideas or beliefs about about general principles or goals that are considered important within a culture, guiding behavior and decision-making

how norms influence behaviour

manners - develops politeness and respect in social interactions

religion - creates a sense of belonging and moral identity

following laws - maintains social order

culture

things that are learnt and shared by a society or group of people and are transmitted from generation to generation through socialisation

how culture influences

subcultures - influences clothing, music, friends

provides traditions, language, and practices that individuals use to form their identity (wearing a hijab or attending church)

consumer culture influences identity more than class through fashion, social media trends

provides shared values that shape behaviour (queuing)

status

position in society 

ascribed - determined by fixed characteristics

achieved - position is a result of individuals effort/ability

how status influence

high-status individuals are expected to behave in ways that show authority and responsibility

higher social status often means better access to education, healthcare, and jobs

low status can lead to stigma or exclusion

socialisation

process by which an individual learns or internalises the culture of society

primary socialisation

family socialises children into society’s norms and values, teaching them how to behave and preparing them for wider social life

secondary socialisation

the process of learning society’s norms, values, and culture beyond the family

takes place through institutions such as education, peers, media, religion, and the workplace, and prepares individuals to take on wider social roles in society

subjective/objective

where individuals own viewpoint influences their perception or judgement (bias)

functionalism

the idea that everything in a system (like society or the mind) works together to serve a purpose

criticisms of functionalism

functionalism sees society as harmonious and stable (ignores inequality, conflict, and power struggles — e.g., class exploitation or patriarchy)

postmodernists argue functionalism can’t explain today’s diverse, fragmented, globalised society

marxism

the idea that society is shaped by class struggle, especially between the rich (bourgeouise) and the workers (proletariat)

workers are often exploited and that a fair society would share wealth more equally

criticisms of marxism

focuses too heavily on class as the main source of inequality (ignores other inequalities, such as gender and ethnicity)

marx’s ideas don’t fully apply to today’s service-based, consumer society, where class lines are blurred

functionalists argue marxism paints too negative a picture of society, ignoring shared values, stability, and cooperation that hold society together

postmodernists argue marxism is a “grand narrative” that no longer explains fragmented, diverse societies (identity today is shaped more by consumption, lifestyle, and media, not just class)

liberal feminism

gender inequality is caused by unfair laws, stereotypes, and lack of opportunities

achieve equality through reforms – education, work, and legal rights

marxist feminism

women’s oppression is linked to capitalism

women serve capitalism by:

• doing unpaid domestic work (reproducing labour power)

• being a "reserve army of labour"

• absorbing male workers’ frustrations

solution: overthrow capitalism and patriarchy together

radical feminism

patriarchy (male dominance) is the root of all inequality

men oppress women in all areas – family, work, sexuality

solutions: separatism (living apart from men)

difference feminism

not all women experience oppression in the same way

criticism of other feminists: they treat women as one group, ignoring race, class, ethnicity, sexuality, etc.

how multiple identities (e.g. Black, working-class women) affect experiences

postmodernism

he idea that society has changed so much (especially since the 1980s) that the old ways of understanding it—like class, gender, and traditional norms—don’t fully apply anymore

evidence of postmodernism

• end of grand narratives – people create their own realities

• society is diverse and fragmented – there’s no one way of life

• media and consumer culture shape identity more than class or family.

• traditional structures (like religion, family, class) have less influence

• people have more choice in shaping their identities and lifestyles

the new right

a conservative political perspective that believes society works best when people follow traditional values, especially around the family, education, and morality

the new right key ideas

• strongly supports the nuclear family

• believes in self-reliance – people should take responsibility, not depend on the state

• thinks too much welfare creates a "dependency culture"

• supports traditional education with discipline, competition, and national values

• often links social problems (like crime or poor education) to the breakdown of family and moral decline

consensus theory

society works because people agree on shared norms and values

• belief that social order and stability come from agreement (consensus)

• everyone plays a part to keep society running smoothly

• sees institutions (like family, education, religion) as positive

examples:

• functionalism

• new right (to some extent)

conflict theory

society is based on inequality and struggle between groups

• different groups (like classes, genders, or ethnicities) have unequal power

• the powerful benefit while others are oppressed

• sees many institutions as tools of control

examples:

• marxism – conflict between rich and poor (class struggle)

• feminism – conflict between men and women (gender inequality)

macro approach

looks at the big picture – how society as a whole works

• focuses on large-scale social structures and systems (like class, education, government)

• sees individuals as shaped by society

examples:

• functionalism – how institutions keep society stable

• marxism – how capitalism causes class inequality

• feminism – how patriarchy shapes society

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micro approach

looks at the small picture – how individuals interact and make sense of their world

• focuses on everyday behaviour, meanings, and social interactions

• sees society as built from the bottom up

examples:

• interactionism – how people create meaning through interaction

• labelling theory – how labels affect identity and behaviour