Sociology 202 Shriver Exam 2

Debt Trap

The inability of third world countries to pay back their loans to northern creditors.

Race and Ethnicity

Chapter 11

Race

category of people whose biologically based common physical characteristics are believed to make them socially distinct

Sociological Perspective on Race

Biological differences themselves are not sociological important ~ But, what matters are the beliefs attached to such differences within a particular culture

Social Construction of Race

sociological way of understanding racial categories

Fluidity of Racial Categories

blurred and subject to change

- dynamic and fluid social construct

- changes in US census over time

Ethnicity

some real or presumed cultural characterstics such as language, religion, traditions, or cultural practices

- may define themselves on the basis of their ethnicities or may be defined by others

Ethnic Identity

a person's identification with a racial or ethnic group

- consciousness of common cultural bond

ex. Japanese Americans

Minority Group

Any distinct group in society that shares common group characteristics and is forced to occupy low status because of prejudice and discrimination

Dominant Group

Term is used to refer to the group that assigns the racial or ethnic group to the subordinate status

Intergroup Relationships

(range of tolerance to intolerance)

1. Assimilation

2. Segregation

3. Cultural Pluralism

4. Expulsion

5. Genocide

Assimilation

the social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another

American Society

"melting pot" of cultures

Segregation

The physical and social separation of different categories of people ~ often on the basis of race

(considerable disadvantage)

Segregation Impacts on Minority Groups

- substandard physical conditions

- reduced access to medical facilities

- proximity to hazardous waste facilities

cultural pluralism

Argues that minority groups should retain their distinct cultural identities, but only within a framework that ensures their overall equality

Rise of Cultural Pluralism

Racial and ethnic groups have sought to develop their own sense of solidarity and pride

Ethnic economic enclaves

alternative labor markets that are ethnic-specific

Expulsion

§subordinate group being force by a dominant group to leave a certain area or country.

ex.) Trail of Tears

Genocide

Deliberate extermination of a racial or cultural group

- most toxic intergroup relation

ex.) Holocaust

Prejudice vs. Discrimination

prejudice is a negative ATTITUDE, discrimination is a negative BEHAVIOR

Prejudice

A preconceived belief about an individual or group that is not subject to change on the basis of new evidence

(inflexible attitude toward others)

- racism, stereotyping, scapegoating

Discrimination

Refers to the unequal treatment of individuals on the basis of their membership in a group

ex.) unequal hiring practices in a company

institutional discrimination

Unequal treatment that has become part of the routine operations of major institutions such as businesses, schools, hospitals

white privilege

the benefits people receive simply by being part of the dominant group

legal discrimination

Unequal treatment based on group membership that is upheld by the law

environmental racism

patterns of development that expose poor people, especially minorities, to environmental hazards

Intersectionality

Idea that members of any given minority are affected by the nature of their position in other systems or other forms of inequality

ex.) women facing discrimination along gender AND racial lines (multiple group affiliations)

scapegoat theory

the theory that prejudice offers an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame

Functionalism Perspective on Race/Ethnicity

elements of society have functions that maintain order and stability.

- When one or more racial group experiences inequality, this creates tension and conflict, resulting in temporary dysfunction of the social system.

- Racism

Interactionalism Perspective on Race/Ethnicity

race and ethnicity are strong symbols for sources of identity

- Racial prejudice is formed through interactions b/t members of dominant groups and without the interactions, those views would not exist.

Conflict Theory Perspective on Race/Ethnicity

applies inequalities of gender, social class, education, race, and ethnicity.

- white ruling class and racial/ethnic minorities

Intersection Theory Perspective on Race/Ethnicity

we cannot separate race, class, gender, sexual orientation, etc.

- Multiple layers of disadvantage intersect to create the way we experience race

culture of prejudice

a value system that promotes prejudice, discrimination, and oppression

amalgamation

occurs when majority and minority groups combine to form a new group

pluralism

a great mixture of different cultures where each culture retains its own identity and yet adds to the flavor of the whole

Assimalation

A minority individual or group gives up its own identity by taking on the characteristics of the dominant culture

expulsion

subordinate group being forced, by a dominant group, to leave a certain area or country

Gender, Sex, and Sexuality

Chapter 12

Sex

biological construct (male/female)

- chromosomes

- genitalia

Gender

social concept/cultural terms

- differences and expectations learned

PERSONS SEX AND GENDER DO NOT ALWAYS CORRESPOND

- varies through society and culture

Gender Roles

societies concept of how men/women are expected to look and behave

- based on norms and standards

- children often learn through play

Gender Identity

internal sense/perception of being male or female

- men can have feminine qualities without interfering with their gender identity

Gender Socialization

the learning of gender roles through social factors such as schooling, the media, and family

sexism

the belief that one sex is innately superior to the other

Patriachy

a system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male line.

- Differences in Earnings: men make more than women

labor force participation rate

the percentage of the working-age population in the labor force

Feminization of labor

the rise of female labor participation in all sectors and the movement of women into jobs traditionally held by men

Why?

1. More opportunities

2. Difficulties in economy

3. Increasing divorce rate

4. Changing values

occupational sex segregation

the concentration of women in certain occupations and men in other occupations (women often in lower-status)

1. Work in different occupations OR

2. If same occupation, work different level jobs.

glass ceiling

an invisible limit on women's climb up the occupational ladder (unable to work top-level management positions)

"Second shift"

the unpaid housework and child care often expected of women after they complete their day's paid labor

Occupation sorting

Men tend to outnumber women in professions such as law enforcement, the military, and politics. Women tend to outnumber men in care-related occupations such as childcare, healthcare

(US traditional ideas)

Scripts

society expects women and men to behave according to the expectations of their respective gender roles

- developed through socialization

pay gap

the disparity between women's and men's earnings

Structural Functionalism Perspective on Gender

family most integral component of society

- gender roles established well before pre-industrial era

Conflict Theory Perspective on Gender

struggle for dominance among social groups that compete for scarce resources

- men as dominant group, women as subordinate group (men suppress women)

Feminist Theory Perspective on Gender

examines inequality in gender related issues

- Maintenance of gender roles and inequalities

- Radical Feminism: perpetuating male dominance

- Patriarchal perspectives

Symbolic Interactionism Perspective on Gender

"Doing Gender": performing tasks or possessing characteristics based on gender role

- we act and react based on meanings of symbols

Social Construction of Sexuality

socially created definitions about the cultural appropriateness of sex-linked behavior which shape how people see and experience sexuality

Biological Determinism

the belief that men and women behave differently due to inherent sex differences related to their biology

Structural Functionalism Perspective on Sex/Sexuality

stresses the importance of regulating sexual behavior to ensure marital cohesion and family stability

- family preservation

- discourages premarital sex

- long-lasting marriages

Conflict theory Perspective on Sex/Sexuality

power differentials (ex. gay marriage)

Symbolic Interactionism Perspective on Sex/Sexuality

meanings associated with sexuality and sexual orientation.

- masculinity is a symbolic norm

- "Looking-glass self": self develops as a result of our interpretation and evaluation of the responses of others; constant exposure to derogatory labels, jokes, and pervasive homophobia would lead to a negative self-image, or worse, self-hate.

Queer Theory Perspective on Sex/Sexuality

an interdisciplinary approach to sexuality studies that identifies Western society's rigid splitting of gender into male and female roles and questions the manner in which we have been taught to think about sexual orientation.

The Importance of Being Beautiful

Moodle Reading

Main Theme

the idea that attractiveness matters and goes against the cultural grain

"if your performance is average/below, attractiveness especially matters"

**BEAUTY IS ACQUITTED WITH SUCCESS

Halo Effect

the tendency to draw a general impression about an individual on the basis of a single characteristic (attractiveness)

horn effect

attributing a variety of negative qualities to those you dislike/think are not attractive

Examples of halo/horn effect

Halo: a physically appealing defendent will receive less jail time

Horn: in college, the unattractive student is assumed to be less smart, make more grammatical errors, etc.

Examples: continued

- an alluring women has a "more social and busier life"

- taller men are more likely to get a job because they are seen as a "leader"

Karl Marx

**Conflict Theory

- conflicts between workers and the rulers

- advocate for communism

- Inequalities in society based on social class differences

Max Weber

***Father of sociology

Argued that in a capitalist society inequalities would lead to conflict, but that there would be more than one source of conflict. Argued that there were several factors that moderated people's reaction to inequality.

Davis-Moore thesis

the functional analysis claiming that social stratification has beneficial consequences for the operation of society

Immanuel Wallerstein

WORLD SYSTEMS THEORY

rich core countries exploiting the lower ones

Social Stratification and Inequality

Chapter 9

Stratification

Societies categorization of people into rankings based on factors such as wealth, income, education, family background, and power.

System of STRUCTURED INEQUALITY

Social Class

social structural position groups hold relative to the economic, social, political and cultural resources of society

DETERMINES ACCESS TO RESOURCES

Caste System

(closed stratification system)

- Individuals are born into their social standings

- Enter into marriage based on their caste

- Ideals: Fate, destiny, will of higher power

Closed System

little change in social position

Open System

based on achievement and allow for movement between layers/classes.

Class System

(open system)

- social factors and individual achievement

- Share similar wealth, income, education, etc.

Meritocracy

a hypothetical system in which promotion is based on individual ability or achievement.

- NO SOCIETY HAS EXISTED ON JUST MERITOCRACY

Income

money recieved during a given period

Median Income

the midpoint of all household incomes

Occupational Prestige

the subjective evaluation people give to jobs as better or worse than others

Status Consistency

the consistency, or lack thereof, of an individual's rank across social categories like income, education, and occupation

Caste System: HIGH consistency

Class System: LOW consistency = more choices/opportunities

Educational Attainment

someone w/ no highschool diploma = lower attainment

Upper Class

- owns most corporate and personal wealth

- influence collective identity of the nation

- Old Money (inheritance) VS New Money

Upper Middle Class

- High income and social prestige

- Well-educated professionals, business executives

Middle Class

MORE THAN AN ECONOMIC POSITION - wide range of american self identity

- hold jobs supervised by upper middle class

- decent lifestyle, no significant savings

Lower Middle Class: "working class"

- workers in skilled trades and lower bureaucratic workers

Lower Class

- less formal education

-Working Class: steady jobs, hands-on, physically demanding

- Working Poor: unskilled, low-paying employment, rarely offers benefits, seasonal/temporary positions, limited education.

class traits (class markers)

the typical behaviors, customs, and norms that define each class

Social Mobility

Movement of individuals or groups from one position in a society's stratification system to another

- Upward: increase from lower to higher

- Downward: ex. business setbacks

Intergeneration Mobility

a difference in social class between different generations of a family

Intragenerational Mobility

movement up or down within one's life span or generation

Structural Mobility

a societal change that enables a whole group of people to move up or down the class ladder

Income Trends in US

Growth is the greatest for those at the top; the gap between classes is widening

Wealth

the monetary value of everything one actually owns

financial assets

stocks, bonds, property, insurance, savings