Sociology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for key sociological concepts from lecture notes.

Affordable Care Act

US legislation aimed at increasing health insurance coverage and controlling healthcare costs.

HIV/AIDS - Africa

The disproportionate impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on the African continent.

Health insurance

Primarily obtained through their employers.

Hispanic Health Paradox

The observation that Hispanic individuals in the US tend to have better health outcomes than expected despite facing socioeconomic disadvantages.

Luker - Teen Pregnancy

Sociological research exploring the social and economic factors influencing teen pregnancy, often highlighting the limited opportunities available to young women.

Mass Media, Gender, and Smoking

The ways in which media portrayals of gender can influence smoking behaviors and norms.

Medicaid

A joint federal and state program providing healthcare coverage to low- income individuals and families.

Medicare

A federal program providing health insurance to people aged 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease.

Obesity - Conflict theory

Examining how social inequalities and power structures contribute to the prevalence of obesity, often focusing on access to healthy food and safe environments.

Obesogenic environment

An environment that promotes high energy intake and discourages physical activity, thus contributing to increased rates of obesity.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

A US government agency responsible for ensuring workplace safety and health standards.

Pandemic

An outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population.

Pollution

The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.

Preventative Medicine

Medical care focused on preventing diseases and promoting good health.

Public Health

The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities, and individuals.

Risk Society

A society increasingly concerned with and organized around managing potential risks, often those created by technological and social changes.

Sociology of the Body

A subfield of sociology that examines how social forces shape our understanding and experiences of the human body, including health, illness, and embodiment.

Sociology of Health

The study of how social factors influence health, illness, healthcare systems, and health disparities.

Sociology of Medicine

The study of the social organization of healthcare, the roles of medical professionals and patients, and the social construction of medical knowledge.

The Sick Role

A concept describing the social expectations and behaviors associated with being ill, including being exempt from normal social roles and the obligation to seek medical help

City

A relatively large and dense settlement with a concentration of diverse populations and economic activities.

2nd Demographic Transition

A shift in demographic patterns characterized by declining fertility rates below replacement level, rising divorce rates, increased cohabitation, and delayed marriage.

Demographic Transition

A model describing the historical shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates in industrialized societies.

Demography

The statistical study of human populations, including their size, structure, distribution, and changes over time.

Function of Global Cities

Serve as major economic, political, and cultural centers that facilitate globalization and the interconnectedness of the world economy.

Future Obsolescence

The idea that technological advancements and changing consumer preferences will render existing technologies, products, or skills outdated.

Gentrification

The process of wealthier residents moving into and renovating deteriorated urban areas, often displacing lower-income residents and changing the character of the neighborhood.

Julian Simon

An economist who argued that population growth is not necessarily a problem and can stimulate innovation and resourcefulness.

Megacities

Urban areas with a population of 10 million or more people.

Overconsumption

The excessive and unsustainable use of resources, often driven by affluent lifestyles and consumer culture.

Rate of Natural Increase

The difference between the birth rate and the death rate of a population, usually expressed as a percentage.

Spatial Mismatch

The situation in which job opportunities are located far away from the residential areas of potential workers, particularly affecting low-income and minority populations.

Suburbanization

The growth of residential areas on the fringes of cities.

The Greenhouse Effect

The process by which certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat, leading to a warming of the planet.

Thomas Malthus

An economist who argued that population growth would inevitably outstrip the food supply, leading to famine and other social problems.

Treadmill of Production

A theory arguing that the capitalist economic system necessitates continuous growth and resource extraction, leading to environmental degradation regardless of individual intentions.

Urban Growth Machine

A concept describing the coalition of actors (e.g., developers, politicians, businesses) who work to promote urban development and economic growth, often prioritizing exchange value over use value.

Urbanization

The process by which an increasing proportion of a population lives in urban areas.

Use Value vs Exchange Value

Use Value: The practical utility or function of a good or service. Exchange Value: The monetary worth of a good or service in the market.

Credential Society

A society in which educational credentials (degrees, diplomas) are increasingly required for social mobility and occupational attainment.

Mass education

The expansion of formal schooling to include large segments of the population.

Durkheim - Functions of Education

Emphasized the social functions of education, including social solidarity (shared values and norms) and the teaching of specialized skills necessary for a complex division of labor.

Manifest and latent functions of education

Manifest functions: Intended and recognized consequences of education (e.g., transmitting knowledge and skills). Latent functions: Unintended and often hidden consequences of education (e.g., social networking, childcare).

Bowles and Gintis - function of education in capitalist societies

Argued that the structure of education mirrors the hierarchical structure of the capitalist workplace, preparing students for their roles as workers by instilling obedience, discipline, and acceptance of inequality.

Hidden Curriculum

The unstated lessons and values that students learn in school through the social environment and the way the school is structured and run.

Rosenthal and Jacobson’s study on teacher expectations

A classic study (often referred to as "Pygmalion in the Classroom") that demonstrated how teacher expectations can influence student performance. Higher expectations can lead to improved student outcomes.

Symbolic interactionism - educational inequality

Focuses on how micro-level interactions and labeling processes within schools can contribute to educational inequality. For example, how students are categorized and treated by teachers and peers can shape their self- concept and academic trajectories.

Word Poverty

A limited vocabulary and understanding of language, often associated with early childhood environments with less verbal interaction, which can negatively impact educational attainment.

Brown v. Board of Education impact on Segregation

The 1954 Supreme Court ruling that declared state-sponsored segregation in public schools unconstitutional, paving the way for desegregation.

School Busing

The practice of transporting students to schools outside their immediate neighborhoods to promote racial integration.

The relationship between higher education, student debt, and employment outcomes

Higher education is often associated with better employment opportunities and higher earnings, but it frequently comes with significant student debt, which can have long-term financial consequences.

Reason Low income students are more likely to drop out of college

Factors include financial constraints, lack of adequate academic preparation, family responsibilities, and less access to support resources.

Impact higher education has on labor participation

Higher levels of educational attainment are generally associated with higher rates of labor force participation. Individuals with college degrees are more likely to be employed.