Examination #3 Sociology

What is meant by Race?

is a biological classification of human groups that share similar physical characteristics.

What is Prejudice?

is a positive or negative bias or attitude toward a group or category of people. is often determined by one;s experience with a particular group and then generalizations are made to include ALL members if that particular group.

What is Discrimination?

is an action that disqualifies members of a particular group from social opportunities including college admission, employment, housing, bank loans, etc.

What is Assimilation?

is the process in which a minority group is absorbed into the larger society. This can be either a voluntary or forced experience.

What is Dominant Group?

is a category of people whose values, language, customs, and traditions are practiced and enforced in a given society over that of others.

What is meant by a Minority Group?

refers to a category of people who often face differential treatment because they lack POLITICAL and ECONOMIC influence.

What is true about Stereotypes?

have a small amount of truth that becomes greatly distorted and followed with illogical and often negative generalizations about that category of people.

What is Gender Stratification?

is a society's unequal distribution of wealth, power and privilege between the two sexes.

What is meant by “sex?”

The biological characteristics that includes chromosomes, anatomy, hormones and other physical or physiological attributes that science uses to distinguish male and female human beings from each other.

What is meant by “Gender?”

refers to the social, cultural, and psychological aspects of what it means to be a male or female.  

What were the “Three Waves” of the Women’s Rights Movement in America?

First Wave: two branches of Feminism existed—a radical branch that advocated the reform of all of society’s institutions, and a conservative branch that concentrated on winning the right to vote for women. During the first wave, the conservative branch dominated. After the vote was won in 1920, the movement began to dissolve.

Second Wave: The goals of this second wave {which continues today} is broad, ranging from changing work roles and compensation {equal pay} to reforming policies that deal with violence against women and sexual harassment in the workplace.

Third Wave: largely focusing on women in the least industrialized nations, values that dominate society and female socialization from a global perspective. This includes the right for females to have an education, the right to vote and hold positions in political office, reproductive rights {birth control} fight human trafficking {sex slavery} ending historical cultural violence against women {honor killings}, and institutional sexism.

Why do sociologists consider women in a minority group?

they lack the same power, privilege, and opportunities as men, not due to their numerical representation.

What is a Key Point regarding Feminist Theory on Gender and Sexuality?

Feminist theorists emphasize that gender, race, and

social class intersect to form a hierarchical stratification

system that shapes people’s experiences and behavior.

What are the reasons for sexual harassment according to feminists?

because they more often than men lack power, are in more vulnerable and insecure positions, lack self confidence, or have been socialized to suffer in silence.

What is Marriage?

is a socially recognized union between two or more individuals that typically involves sexual and economic rights and duties.

What is a Family?

is a socially defined relationship among at least two people related by birth, marriage, adoption or cohabitation.  

What is a “Blended Family?”

A family whose members were once part of other families. Two divorced people who bring their children into the new marriage and form a new family unit.

What is Endogamy?

requires a person to marry a person from inside their own race, group, or tribe.

What is Exogamy?

requires a person to marry someone from outside his or her own group.

What are the 6 different theories of Marriage and Family from the handout?

Functionalist Theory: Examines how the family is organized in meeting the needs and demands of society.

Developmental Theory: 1. The family life cycle divides the family experience into stages, over the life span. It describes the changes within the family structure and what one experiences during each stage. 2. The second concept is that of developmental tasks, or growth responsibilities that arise at certain stages in the life of the family.

Symbolic Interaction Theory: the family is a unity of personalities who interact through symbols; such as words, gestures, rules, and the roles they play within the family.  

 Systems Theory: emphasizes the interdependence of family members and how each family member affects the others.

Exchange Theory: is based on the principle that we enter into relationships in which we maximize our benefits and minimize our costs.

Conflict Theory: argues that adversity within the family is normal.

What is Social factors in the USA influence us in who we should marry?

socioeconomic status, education level, and peer groups significantly influence who people marry in the USA by shaping their values, expectations, and available social circles.

Why are dating patterns in the United States seen as a “marriage market?”

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What is Cohabitation?

Cohabitation is an arrangement in which two unrelated and unmarried people live together and are in a sexual relationship.