Sociology Midterm Questions from Readings and Lectures

What are some take-away points from the Valley of the Nine Families reading?

Social inequality and class privilege are not natural or earned, but are instead artificial structures created by historical advantages and maintained through self-reinforcing institutional rules.

What are some structural or sociological reasons that an individual might smoke or be overweight? (lecture)

Smoking and obesity are influenced by social factors such as neighborhood conditions, stress, food availability, advertising, income, and social networks, not just personal choice.

What is the purpose of systematic research? Why do sociologists rely on systematic research? (lecture, Best)

Systematic research uses organized, evidence-based methods to understand social patterns and test ideas. Sociologists rely on it to avoid assumptions and produce reliable knowledge.

What does it mean to think sociologically?

Thinking sociologically means connecting personal experiences to broader social structures and recognizing how society influences individual behavior and opportunities.

What do sociologists mean when they say they are doing “research”? What are some different kinds of data that sociologists collect and analyze? What is the purpose of systematic research? (lecture)

Sociological research is the systematic collection and analysis of information about society. Researchers may use surveys, interviews, observations, census data, experiments, and historical documents.

What is the difference between correlation and causation? (lecture)

Correlation means two variables are related, while causation means one variable directly causes changes in another. A correlation alone does not prove cause and effect.

What are Lisa Wade’s main arguments about hookup culture and how students talk about their sexual experiences on campus? (Wade)

Contemporary campus hookup culture is an overarching social script that pressures students into emotionless casual sex, distorting how they talk about, experience, and value their sexual lives. Many students conform to expectations even when those expectations do not reflect their personal desires.

What are some characteristics of both the sociological model and medical model of health and illness? Do they contradict or complement one another? (lecture)

The medical model focuses on biological causes and treatment of disease, while the sociological model emphasizes social influences on health. The two approaches complement each other by explaining different aspects of illness.

What are Klinenberg’s major questions regarding the Chicago heat wave of 1995? What social and structural conditions contribute to extreme isolation? What is his argument about why so many people died in the heat wave? (Klinenberg)

Klinenberg argues that the deaths during the 1995 Chicago heat wave were caused not simply by weather but by social isolation, poverty, weak community ties, and neighborhood conditions. The disaster revealed deep social inequalities.

Do all cultures perceive the world in the same way? (lecture)

No. Culture influences how people interpret reality, communicate, and understand health, illness, and social behavior.

Why is paying attention to culture important in the field of health sciences? Provide concrete examples in your response. (lecture)

Understanding culture helps healthcare providers communicate effectively and provide culturally appropriate care. For example, cultural beliefs may shape attitudes toward medical treatment, mental health, or diet.

What does Rios mean when he refers to misrecognition? Why did Mike steal the bag of chips, according to Rios? What are “resistance identities”? (lecture, Rios)

Misrecognition occurs when society views young people, especially marginalized youth, through negative stereotypes rather than recognizing their humanity. Resistance identities develop when individuals embrace identities that challenge or resist stigma and exclusion.

What is the influence of religion on beliefs about technological advancements? (Fahmy)

Religious beliefs can influence how people evaluate and respond to technological innovations. Different faith traditions may either support or question technologies depending on whether they align with religious values.

Do all religions fast? Are followers of religions who fast equally likely to fast?

Many religions practice fasting, but not all followers participate equally. Individuals vary in how strictly they observe fasting based on personal beliefs, culture, and circumstances.

What does intersectionality mean? Be able to define, explain and provide examples of intersectionality (lecture)

Intersectionality describes how multiple social identities such as race, gender, class, and sexuality overlap to shape experiences of privilege and disadvantage. People's lives cannot be understood through a single identity category alone.

Explain the difference between race and ethnicity and provide examples of each. (Morning, lecture)

Race is a socially defined category often based on perceived physical characteristics, while ethnicity refers to shared cultural heritage, language, traditions, or ancestry. A person can belong to the same race but different ethnic groups.

What is the relationship between health and wealth? (reading)

Wealthier individuals generally experience better health because they have greater access to healthcare, nutritious food, safer housing, and other resources that promote well-being.

Is race a biological category? What does it mean to say that race is “socially constructed”? (lecture)

Race is not a biological reality with clear genetic boundaries; it is a social category created and maintained through historical and social processes. The meanings attached to race vary across time and place.

Are cities in the United States still segregated by race? Since 1900, what factors have contributed to racial segregation? What federal policies have influenced the black/white wealth gap? What historical practices by banks and realtors have influenced the black/white wealth gap? What is the relationship between race, class, wealth, and geographical segregation? How are these connected? (lecture, Massey and Denton).

Residential segregation has been shaped by government policies, discriminatory lending, and housing practices. Segregation contributes to unequal access to resources and helps maintain racial and economic inequality.

Are home loans today given out equally to whites and other races of the same income brackets? (lecture: Home Mortgages in the Twin Cities).

Evidence shows that people of color are often less likely than white applicants with similar incomes to receive mortgage loans, contributing to ongoing racial wealth disparities.

Does evidence indicate that there is racial equality in our country today? Why or why not? Is there equality with regard to wealth? With regard to representation in leadership positions and the media? (lecture)

While legal barriers have decreased, significant disparities remain in wealth, leadership positions, housing, education, and representation. Evidence suggests racial inequality continues to affect opportunities and outcomes.

What does it mean to say that “gender is a social construction?” (lecture)

Gender consists of expectations, behaviors, and meanings that societies attach to categories of people. These expectations vary across cultures and historical periods.

In what ways do we see evidence of gender stratification in education and employment? (lecture)

Gender inequalities appear in differences in pay, leadership representation, fields of study, and occupational opportunities. Men and women are often concentrated in different educational and career paths.

Beyond personal choices, what are some explanations for occupational sex segregation? (lecture)

Occupational segregation is influenced by socialization, workplace discrimination, stereotypes, and organizational practices, not simply personal choice.

What kinds of gender socializing messages are apparent in society? (lecture)

Society communicates messages about appropriate behaviors, interests, and roles for different genders through families, schools, media, peers, and workplaces.

How is sexual orientation different from sex and gender? (lecture)

Sexual orientation refers to patterns of romantic or sexual attraction, sex refers to biological characteristics, and gender refers to socially constructed identities and expectations.

What are “queer recruitment panics”? What is the authors’ main argument about queer recruitment panics? What percentage of young people identify as LGBT? (Brown-Sarancio and Compton)

The authors argue that fears about LGBTQ people "recruiting" others are unsupported by evidence and reflect broader social anxieties about changing norms. They show that LGBTQ identification among youth does not support claims of recruitment.

What does it mean that families on social welfare benefits are “living on a cliff”? Why would women receiving welfare turn down promotions or raises? (Getting Me Cheap)

Families receiving welfare are described as "living on a cliff" because small increases in earnings can lead to large losses in benefits. As a result, some women decline raises or promotions to avoid becoming financially worse off.

How do family expectations of their daughters differ from expectations for their sons with regards to caretaking? How does that impact the lives of those daughters? (Getting Me Cheap)

Daughters are often expected to provide more family caregiving than sons. These expectations can limit educational, career, and personal opportunities while increasing responsibilities and stress.