Untitled Flashcards Set

• Assimilation: The process of minority groups adopting the dominant culture, either voluntarily or through coercion.

• Sociological Imagination: C. Wright Mills' concept of linking personal experiences to broader social structures.

• Ethnocentrism: Judging other cultures by the standards of one’s own, often leading to bias.

• The ‘Other’: A marginalized group defined in contrast to dominant society (e.g., women in patriarchy).

• Cultural Genocide: The systematic destruction of a group's cultural identity (e.g., Indigenous boarding schools).

• Scientific Method: A structured research approach based on observation and analysis.

• Systemic Oppression: Institutionalized discrimination embedded in laws and social norms.

• Cultural Appropriation: The dominant culture adopting elements from a marginalized group without respect or understanding.

• Social Inequality: Unequal access to resources based on factors like race, gender, and wealth.

• Commodification: Turning cultural elements into products for sale, often stripping them of meaning.

• Social Stratification: The hierarchical ranking of individuals based on wealth, power, and prestige.

• Social Structures: Organized patterns of relationships and institutions that shape society.

• Feminine Beauty Ideal: Culturally constructed standards of female attractiveness, often unrealistic.

• Culture: Shared beliefs, values, and practices of a group, passed through generations.

• Society: A community of individuals sharing a culture and institutions.

• Reference Group: A social group used as a standard for self-evaluation and behavior.

1. What is Sociology?

Sociology is the scientific study of human social life, groups, and societies, focusing on social interactions and institutions.

2. Describe in your own words what C. Wright Mills means by the “sociological imagination”.

The ability to link personal experiences to larger social structures.

3. Explain in your own words, the distinction (according to Mills) between ‘personal troubles’ and ‘public issues’(give an example).

Personal troubles affect individuals (e.g., losing a job), while public issues are societal problems (e.g., high unemployment rates).

4. Peter Berger says the “first experience of sociological discovery can be described as a culture shock.” What does he mean by this?

The realization that society is constructed and things are not as they seem.

5. What is a society (define)? Society consists of two components what are they?

Society consists of social structures (relationships, institutions) and culture (beliefs, norms).

6. What is the Sociological Perspective? Name the three assumptions of the Sociological Perspective

1. Individuals are social beings.

2. Individuals are shaped by society.

3. Individuals have the power to change society

7. How would sociologists differ from psychologists in studying human behavior?

Sociologists focus on social structures and external influences; psychologists focus on internal mental processes.

8. What do sociologists mean by a “beginner’s mind”? Why is this important?

A mindset that approaches the world without preconceptions to gain a new perspective.

9. Who was Auguste Comte?

The founder of sociology who promoted positivism (scientific study of society).

10. According to Marx (and Engels) who are the bourgeoisie and the proletariats? What is the relationship between the two like and why does he find this relationship problematic?

The bourgeoisie (capitalist class) exploits the proletariats (working class), leading to class conflict.

11. What is capitalism?

An economic system where private entities own production means for profit.

12. What is the difference between minimum wage and a living wage?

Minimum wage is legally set, while a living wage is what is needed to maintain a decent standard of living.

13. In Chapter One of The Souls of Black Folk, W.E.B. DuBois described his experience grappling with the question, “How does it feel to be a problem”, what kind of problem is he referring to?

He refers to racial discrimination and oppression faced by Black Americans.

14. In another section of The Souls of Black Folk, DuBois asserted, "Herein lie buried many things which if read with patience may show the strange meaning of being black here in the dawning of the Twentieth Century. This meaning is not without interest to you, Gentle Reader; for the problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color-line." What does DuBois mean by this (the color line)?

The racial divide that enforces segregation and inequality.

15. Simone de Beauvoir discusses women as ‘other’ in this society. What does she mean by this, and why is this a problem on her view?

Women are seen in relation to men, which prevents them from being fully autonomous.

16. Anna Julia Cooper argues that the “colored woman occupies a unique position in this country.” Describe this unique position (think about her experience on the train and the bathroom).

Black women experience both racial and gender oppression.

17. What is social inequality? What do we mean when we say social inequality is structured?

Systematic disparities in wealth, power, and status reinforced by social structures.

18. What is Social Stratification?

The ranking of individuals into hierarchical groups based on social and economic status.

19. What is the difference between micro-sociology and macro-sociology?

Micro focuses on individual interactions; macro examines large-scale social structures.

20. Explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative research.

Quantitative uses numerical data; qualitative explores meanings and experiences.

21. What is a scientific method and how does it differ from common sense?

The scientific method relies on systematic observation; common sense is based on assumptions.

22. What are theories?

Frameworks that explain social phenomena

23. (Miner) Who are the Nacirema? What point do you think Miner was trying to make in this article? How does this demonstrate some of the challenges of conducting social research?

The Nacirema are a satire version of Americans. They do normal things but it is described in a way that makes them like very odd things. I think Miner was trying to go against ethnocentrism and show how cultural practices can look very different and be misunderstood from an outsider's perspective. It shows how there can be bias and a misinterpretation of cultural norms.

24. Explain the Tuskegee Study. What are some of the moral and ethical issues this experiment has raised for social research?

The Tuskegee Study was an unethical experiment where African American men with syphilis were untreated on purpose to observe how the disease progressed. There was no informed consent, the participants were denied effective treatment which in turn harmed them, and they exploited Black people and used them for this just because of their race.

25. What is culture? What are the four characteristics of culture?

Culture is a way of life for a group of people

Characteristics of Culture

• 1. Culture is an emergent process

  • It is not something human beings absorb at one time

  • We develop our understanding of culture over sustained interactions with others over time

• 2. Culture is learned

  • We learn our culture from other human beings 

  • We do this through a process of socialization

• 3. Culture channels human behavior

  • Culture operates outside of individuals, also inside of them

  • We internalize our culture (norms, values, etc) and they in turn shape our behavior

• 4. Culture maintains boundaries

  • Culture helps establish a sense of membership to one group as opposed to another

26. What is Ethnocentrism?

 a belief, attitude or a mindset that holds one's own ethnic group as superior to others / creates a hierarchy / doesn’t allow for cultural diversity

27. What is the difference between material and nonmaterial/symbolic culture?

Material culture includes physical objects; nonmaterial culture consists of values and beliefs.

28. What do we mean when we say culture is learned?

We learn our culture from other human beings / We do this through a process of socialization

29. What are values and norms (describe three types of norms discussed in text)? How are norms enforced?

Values are the shared beliefs or ideas about what’s good, important, or desirable in society. For example, valuing freedom or equality

• Shared beliefs about what a group considers worthwhile or desirable; these guide the creation of norms

Norms are the specific rules or behaviors that society expects. Norms guide how we act in different situations. 

• Formal and informal rules regarding what behavior are acceptable and appropriate within a culture

• Specific to a culture, time period, and situation

• Can be formal (law or rules for playing a sport), informal (not written down and unspoken)

• Types of norms can be distinguished by the strictness with which they are enforced

There are three types of norms:

• Folkways: Everyday norms for routine or casual interaction

  • Loosely enforced norm; breaches not severely punished

    • Covering mouth when you sneeze

    • Waiting in line in cafeteria

    • Burping aloud in a crowded elevator

• Mores: Norms with a moral significance, like not stealing or committing murder.

  • Norm that carries greater moral significance; breaches are treated seriously

  • More strict than folkways; they structure the difference between right and wrong

    • Stealing / lying / cheating / murder / drug abuse

• Taboo: very strong negative norms. Prohibits certain behaviors

  • Violating taboos result in extreme disgust and even expulsion from the group or society

    • Incest / Cannibalism / Some culture (eating pork)

How to enforce

• Sanctions:

  • A way to enforce rules through rewards for positive behavior and punishments for negative behaviors

  • Formal sanctions: laws

  • Informal sanctions: shushing someone for talking loud in movie theater

  • Negative sanction: punishment for breaking norm

  • Positive sanction: reward for breaking norm

30. Explain the following concepts: cultural appropriation, commodification, stereotypes, prejudice.

• Cultural appropriation is when elements of one culture are taken or used by members of another culture, often without understanding or respecting the original context or significance. This often leads to misrepresentation or trivialization of that culture. (mascots and logos) (wearing feathers on head)(dressing up as an indigenous person for halloween)

• Commodification refers to turning something that is sacred or valuable into a commodity that can be bought or sold, often stripping it of its deeper meaning.

• Stereotypes are oversimplified and generalized beliefs about a group of people, often leading to misconceptions.

• Oversimplified generalizations about group of people / could be positive or negative

• Prejudice is a preconceived, typically negative, judgment or opinion about a group or individual based on their perceived characteristics, often without knowing them personally.

• Refers to beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and attitudes someone holds about a group

31. In what ways are the representations of Native Americans an example of ethnocentrism?

Ethnocentrism is when someone judges another culture based on the standards of their own. The representations of Native Americans often fall into this category because mainstream cultures (especially in the U.S.) tend to see Native Americans through a distorted lens of their own values and historical perspective, rather than understanding Native American cultures on their own terms. This often results in the portrayal of Native Americans as “primitive” or “other,” which fails to appreciate their rich, diverse cultural histories.

32. What is Patriarchy? What do scholars mean by the ‘male gaze’? how are women viewed through the male gaze?

Patriarchy is a male-dominated system; the male gaze objectifies women.

33. Based on Frith’s research on beauty magazines, how are U.S. women portrayed in U.S. magazine ads in comparison with portrayals of women in Singapore and Taiwan? How are Caucasian women portrayed in these ads?

US women in magazine ads are often shown in a more sexualized way, highlighting their confidence and independence. In contrast, women in Singapore and Taiwan are typically portrayed as more reserved, youthful, and dependent, reflecting traditional cultural values. Caucasian women are frequently used as the beauty standard in ads across all three regions, reinforcing Western ideals of attractiveness.

34. Frith argues, “if beauty is in the eye of the beholder; it is a cultural construct” pg. 66. What does she mean by this?

Beauty is not a fixed concept but is shaped by cultural influences and social expectations. Each society has its own ideas of what is attractive, shaped by history, media, and tradition. This means that what is considered beautiful in one culture may not be the same in another, proving that beauty is largely a cultural creation.

35. What do scholars mean by ‘Human Agency’?

People have the power to make their own choices and take actions that can shape their lives and the world around them. Instead of just following society’s rules, people can challenge unfair systems, create change, and influence others through their decisions and actions.

36. Sociologists believe that “humanness” is a social product. How so?

a social product; forms through social interactions with other humans (learn meanings, actions)

37. What is socialization? What are the two GOALS of the socialization process? Why is this process important to society?

process of learning and internalizing the values, beliefs, norms of our social group / Two goals:

• Helps us to learn to be human beings (teaches us what it means to be human); satisfy basic human needs

• Learn the norms, values, and beliefs of our group and this can help maintain the stability of the group

38. Name the two important COMPONENTS of socialization.

Social Interaction and Language

39. Describe 4 agents of socialization

Family / schools / peers / mass media

40. What do sociologists mean by the “Self’? Why do they argue that the self is largely a social product?

The self is who you are—your thoughts, feelings, and personality. Sociologists say that we become who we are by interacting with other people. Imagine you're like a mirror, and the way people treat you helps shape how you see yourself. If people smile and say nice things, you might feel confident. If they ignore you, you might feel unimportant. Over time, all these experiences help you understand yourself and how to act in the world.

41. Explain Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic perspective of the self (especially the relationship between the Id, Ego and Superego).

Id - composed of biological drives; main goal is to achieve pleasure and to avoid pain (hedonistic); all human beings are born with id; tends to be selfish and unrealistic; no impulse control ; the devil on the shoulder

Ego - realizes the reality of the situation; seeks to control the basic urges of id; tries to negotiate between the id’s wants and the superego’s prohibitions

Superego - moral and ethical part of our subconscious; regulates the id and the ego; develops based on parental guidance; it inhibits the id and encourages the ego to find morally acceptable forms of behavior; keeps us working toward success in socially acceptable ways

• A healthy person has a balance of all three

42. Explain Charles Cooley’s concept of the ‘Looking-glass self’.

• Self emerges from our ability to assume the points of views of others and imagine how others see us

• How we believe others perceive us affects our self-feeling; doesn’t matter what they actually think, only what we believe they think of us

• Sense of self is impacted by others (social product)

43. (Emolu)Explain in your own words, the concept, gender socialization. What do we mean when we say gender socialization begins at birth?

Gender socialization is how we learn what it means to be a boy or a girl. From the moment a baby is born, people treat them differently based on their gender. For example, baby boys often get blue clothes and toy trucks, while baby girls get pink clothes and dolls. As kids grow up, they see and hear messages about how boys and girls are "supposed" to act, like boys being strong and girls being gentle. This learning starts at birth and helps shape how people see themselves and how they behave.

44. What are gender stereotypes (give examples)? In what ways do toys teach and reinforce gender-role stereotypes in children? Give an example?

Gender stereotypes are ideas about how boys and girls are "supposed" to act, based on what society expects. These stereotypes often say that boys should be strong, brave, and like sports, while girls should be gentle, pretty, and like dolls. Examples: "Boys don’t cry." (Expecting boys to hide their emotions.), "Girls should be quiet and polite." (Expecting girls to be less outspoken.), "Boys are good at math, and girls are good at art." (Limiting what skills each gender is expected to have.)

Toys often send messages about what boys and girls should like. For example, toy stores separate "boy toys" and "girl toys." Boys’ toys, like action figures, building sets, and toy cars, encourage strength, problem-solving, and adventure. Girls’ toys, like dolls, kitchen sets, and princess costumes, focus on beauty, caregiving, and home life.

45. What is a status, role, master status?

Status is a social position a person holds in society, like being a student, teacher, or parent.

Role is the behavior expected from someone based on their status. For example, a teacher is expected to educate students, and a student is expected to learn and complete assignments.

Master status is the most important status that defines a person’s identity. It can be based on a job (like being a doctor), a personal characteristic (like a disability), or social recognition (like being a celebrity). This status influences how others see and treat the person.

46. What is the difference between an ascribed status and an achieved status? What is an embodied status?

Ascribed status is a status you are born with or given without choice, like being a son, daughter, or your race and ethnicity.

Achieved status is a status you earn through effort or choice, like becoming a doctor, athlete, or artist.

Embodied status is a status based on physical traits or characteristics, like being tall, having a disability, or being considered attractive.

47. What is a social group? How is it different from an aggregate? Give examples

A social group consists of people who interact regularly and share a common identity. An aggregate is a collection of people in the same place at the same time but without social bonds (e.g., people in an elevator).

48. Describe the main characteristics of a primary and secondary group?

Primary groups: Close, personal, long-term relationships (e.g., family, close friends).

Secondary groups: Larger, goal-oriented, impersonal (e.g., coworkers, classmates).

49. Define ‘social interaction’. Name two types of social interaction and discuss which one sociologists are interested in and why.

Social interaction: The process by which people act and react in relation to others.

Types: Enduring (long-term, stable interactions) and transitory (brief encounters).

Sociologists focus on enduring interactions because they shape society and culture.

50. What are social networks? How does it relate to anomie?

Social networks are webs of relationships connecting individuals. Lack of strong networks can lead to anomie, a state of normlessness and disconnection.

51. What are social structures?

Social structures are the organized patterns of relationships, institutions, and rules that shape how society works. They influence how people interact, what opportunities they have, and what behaviors are considered normal. Examples of social structures include family, education, government, and the economy. These structures create order in society by guiding people’s actions and expectations.

52. What are virtual communities? What are their strengths and weaknesses?

Online social groups that facilitate communication.

Strengths: Connect people globally, provide support.

Weaknesses: Risk of misinformation, lack of face-to-face interaction.

53. Ferris and Stein argue, “The size of a group affects how it operates and the types of relationships that can occur within it”. Explain what they mean (be sure to discuss dyad and triad).

Dyad: A two-person group, intimate but unstable.

Triad: A three-person group, more stable but introduces power dynamics

54. Ferris and Stein argue that almost all members of society are susceptible to what is either real or imagined social pressure to conform. Why? Describe the three types of conformity described by the authors.

Compliance: Outwardly conforming while privately disagreeing.

Identification: Conforming to fit into a group.

Internalization: Fully adopting group norms as personal beliefs.

55. Ashley Crossman argues, “How we relate to reference groups is central to how social groups and society exert social force on us as individuals.” Explain what she means (be sure to describe what is a reference group).

Reference groups influence self-perception and behaviors by setting social norms and expectations.

56. What are Gender norms? Why does Crossman say that gender norms are a clear example of how reference groups shape our thoughts and behaviors? Explain her argument.

Gender norms are societal expectations for behavior based on gender.

They influence identity, opportunities, and self-expression.

57. What is a reference group? How can reference groups affect our behaviors as individuals?

A reference group is a group used as a standard for comparison.

They influence values, aspirations, and self-esteem.

58. What is social media? How can social media be helpful and harmful?

Social media connects people but can also spread misinformation and promote unrealistic beauty standards

59. What are eating disorders? What is Orthorexia Nervosa and how is it similar and different from Anorexia Nervosa?

Eating disorders - a complex mental and physical health condition characterized by disturbances in behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes to food, eating, and body weight or shape

• Affects men and women from all racial / ethnic backgrounds

Orthorexia Nervosa

• Preoccupation with consuming healthy and pure foods

• Obsession about quality of food intake

• Not necessarily concerned about weight but how food impacts health

Anorexia Nervosa

• Preoccupation with weight loss (main goal)

• Obsession about the quality of food intake and how it impacts body appearance

• Poor body image

• Intense fear of fatness

60. Based on their research, what is the relationship between Instagram use and Orthorexia Nervosa. Explain what Turner and Lefevre’s study revealed.

Turner and Lefevre’s study found that the more people use Instagram, especially those who follow health food influencers, the more likely they are to show signs of Orthorexia Nervosa. Instagram’s focus on visuals (like perfectly curated food pics) makes it easy for people to compare their diets to influencers’ and feel pressure to eat “perfectly.” Other social media platforms didn’t have the same effect, which shows how Instagram’s image-heavy format plays a big role in this issue

61. (John) What does the author mean by “body image”?

Body image is how you see and feel about your body. John explains that Instagram made her more self-conscious because it kept showing her unrealistic beauty and fitness standards. She felt pressured to look a certain way, which made her eating disorder worse

62. In sharing her experiences, the author said she felt more connected to her virtual community (the “girls behind the accounts”) than she did her offline/in-person friends, support groups and doctors. Why? How is this an example of the power of virtual communities on individuals?

She felt like the girls on Instagram understood her in a way her offline friends and doctors didn’t. They shared similar struggles, which made her feel less alone. But at the same time, these recovery accounts sometimes made things worse, seeing other people’s experiences with eating disorders could be triggering and made her feel like her own illness wasn’t “bad enough” to need help​

The power of social media

1. Provides a platform for the creation of virtual communities and reference groups

2. Through these virtual communities norms of beauty and attractiveness are created

3. Social media promotes unrealistic ideals of beauty/attractiveness are created

4. These unrealistic ideals can have an impact on the “self”