continuity and change

kurzwell’s theory of acceleration

the pace of technological progress speeds up exponentially over time e.g. AI programs used to create better AI

communication technologies and social change

• 70% of young people believe social media is a force for positive change

• Gezi park protests in Istanbul were censored by news but social media spread awareness

evolutionary change

• slow, gradual, progressive

• process, not event

• e.g. slow population growth decline in australia due to increasing acceptance of childless marriage

transformative change

• faster

• catalysed by technology, movements, rebellions

• caused by long term social discontent

• e.g. Black Lives Matter movement 2021-2022

reasons people resist change

• assets invested in current status quo

• fear of eroding tradition

• threat to existing SVRs

• doesn’t agree with core beliefs and values

conflict theory

• karl marx

• society will eventually reach a point where inequalities become barrier to growth, conflict brings about revolutionary transformation

• conflict in society is primary means for change

limitations of conflict theory

downplays role of peaceful change

evolutionary theory

• august conte and herbert spencer

• all change is progress, all human societies move from simple to complex

limitations for evolutionary theory

assumes all societies follow same path, only describes social change not how and why

functionalist theory

• macro level

• emile durkheim

• society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability

• people work towards common interests

limitations of functionalist theory

assumes all change is progress, doesn’t account for rapid social upheaval

interactionist theory

• micro level

• george mead

• people create realities and perspectives of the world based on interaction

• humans are the only symbol manipulating animal and thus transmit culture

limitations of interactionist theory

neglects importance of social and historical forces on individuals, narrow focus

westernisation in india

• 1954 issue of the atlantic refers to food clothing, entertainment as “recognisably imitative of western culture”

• 750 mcdonalds in india, but fusion of cultural foods

• 35 million use dating apps in india, ‘love marriages’ reduction in arranged marriages

sex selective abortions in india

• 2022 pew research study shows 40% believe sex selective abortions are acceptable

• pre conception and pre natal diagnostic testing act 1994 which banned testing for sex of fetus

gender inequality in labour force india

• women contribute 18% of GDP, 25% of labour force is women

• India’s parliament only has 13.7% of the 545 seats taken up by women

• as of 2023, 33% of seats reserved for women

marriage stats in india

• 78% of marriages had unequal and strict gift giving from bride’s to groom’s family

• dowry illegal since 1961 but paid in 95% of marriages in 2021

examples of subverting marriage traditions in india

• chaudhari 35 in her 2019 wedding hired four hindu priestesses, kolkata based collective who have been revising the gendered hegemony of hindu weddings for 10 years

• hindu marriage act 1995 legal marriage for women 18 and men 21

• UNICEF 3000 religious leaders mobilised and educated on child marriage during pandemic

what is caste system based on

4000 year old laws of Manu, four broad social orders each based on creator’s body part

caste system breakdown

brahmins are highest, sudras lowest, 3000 sub castes, dalits even lower, 180 million in india

examples of caste discrimination

in a survey of 22 villages in tamil nadu, 16 practice two glass system and 14 practice chappal system, in 17 dalits couldnt enter village temples

dalits stats

• 1 third live in extreme poverty

• 36% of supreme court judges are of higher caste even though they’re only 5% of population

women in india case studies

1. in 2019 3 million women made ‘women’s wall’ to protest assaults on women entering sabarimala temple after supreme court said theyre allowed

2. 2023 selfie with daughter sunil jaglan, haryana now celebrates birth of girl child, 923 girls per 1000 boys

3. 2023 womens reservation bill, women must occupy at least 33% of seats in both houses of parliament, UN women’s India representative said “achieving a critical mass of at least 30% representation by women in parliament is known to yield positive outcomes for womens empowerment” change not enacted yet

quantitative data

very specific data from relevant sample, collected through counting, visualised through tables and graphs, researchers dont interact closely with those being questioned, relies on researchers ability to make non biased research questions

qualitative data

studies at individual or small group level, subjective experiences, relies on researchers interpretive skills

observation

quantitative, counting specific actions

participant observation

immersed in action being observed, role as researcher not obvious, draws meaning from what is being observed, not just counting

case study

in depth study of a cultural group, combines two or more research methods

globalisation example

41,000 mcdonalds worldwide in 100 countries