Review 1 SOCY105 Exam#1
1. Social problem: a condition that at least some people in a community view as being undesirable.
a. b. c. d. poverty inequality hunger homelessness
result from how society operates are not caused by bad people are not abnormal n require change to solve are seen differently by different people are defined differently at different times involve values as well as facts sometimes cannot be solved, as much as we would like are often interrelated solving one sometimes causes a different social problem
A social problem is a social condition that a segment of society views as harmful to members of society and in need of remedy. (Mooney).
a. Public issues: structural sources of problem b. Personal problems: sources of problems reside in the characteristics of individual **Underemployment: structural problem--underpaid, overqualified, need more hours 2. Conflict Theory: theorists-the issue of poverty/crime they see the primary causes as systemic in nature; poverty and underclass as an inevitable outcome of economic system that emphasizes profit. a. Conflict perspective sees conflict as POSITIVE--since it is the source of social change; tend to locate the source of social problems w/in the system rather than individual (System Blame)
competition for scarce resources control of resources by a few allows for >accumulation of wealth control of ideology (control-production, dissemination of ideas).
3. Ideology: a belief, value system that seeks to explain/justify human behavior. Dominant ideology (belief system) w/in a society is the ideology of those in power. When one does not share in power support of dominant ideology, the corresponding policies that emerge from it. -False consciousness- individuals, groups supporting policies that is not in their best interest. 4. Reading #1- Sociological imagination: understanding intersection of history and biography.
Behaviors/policies/beliefs embedded in larger social structure (culture, norms, values). C. Wright Mills- seeing connections betw. one's private troubles and public issues created by social, historical patterns and trends.
5. Symbolic Interactionism (micro level): a theoretical perspective based on the assumption that society as the
product of everyday interaction of individuals; acknowledges role of macro level structure in shaping our behavior, also takes in account the role of individual in changing structure. a. we must understand a setting from the point of view of ppl who are in it Verstchen (MaxWeber) (Boo Radley's shoe) b. use of symbolic forms of verbal, non-verbal communication in conveying meaning (Chomsky)
c. we become members of society (social beings) as we come to be able to interpret, respond to these interactions (Mead). **Cooley's Looking glass self:
How do others see me? Is the reaction I receive positive/negative? How do I value response? Did I get what I want?
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6. Propaganda: info used to support an ideology; divert public mind/attention from the real problem.
Ex: Support your troops the real issue was do you support our policy? *Chomsky: Propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state. *The media are a corporate monopoly. In a well-functioning propaganda system, public has no idea.
7. Structural Functionalism: sees society as a system of interrelated parts similar to human body, each parts contributes to functioning of the body as a whole. - this perspective assumes the Natural State of society is one of order and equilibrium, balance reflects
agreement w/in society. Social problems such as crimes are thought to be the result of poor socialization/weak values- the offending parties have failed to conform to social norms.
Ex: welfare dependency (and poverty) can be eliminated by making ppl get jobs. - this perspective is more conservative since it tends to focus on maintenance of the status quo, is more likely to assess the causes and solns of social problems as residing w/in individuals, groups rather than focusing on need for systemic change (Victim or person Blame). -attributing the misfortunes of subordinate groups to their own presumed traits, attitudes, actions. Ex: tendency to blame rape on women under the guise that women ask for it - Functionalist emphasizes the importance of balance, equilibrium. *Cultural lag: when social system does not keep pace with other part of social system, most likely become out of balance.
*Master status: how ppl think/talk about us, what stand out about us, less power but dominating our character/appearance -Manifest functions: recognized, intended, acknowledged functions of particular social pattern -Latent functions: social patterns with consequences that is unacknowledged, or unrecognized. 8. Dramaturgy: we shape the reality that others perceive (Erving Goffman); use metaphor of theatre (front stage--
what we show the public), (back stage--illusion is gone, the real you) -Props-books, decorations, clothes (using materialistic things to show what you what others to think).
9. Chomsky's 2 conceptions of Democracy: we are a class society 1. a democratic society is one in which the public has the means to participate in some meaningful way in the management of their own affairs, and means of info are open, free. 2. public must be barred from managing of their own affairs and the means of info must be kept narrowly and rigidly controlled. 2 functions of democracy a. Bewildered herd: the majority of ppl who live their life without opinions of their own; specialized class use
propaganda to divert bewilder herd from the real conflict in society.
b. Specialized class: The elite groups, who run things, have the power, money, connections. to control the
public mind, tame the bewildered,
10. Feminist Theory: assumptions
the politics of dominations- we are defined by are subordinate group status the experience of women(or any other subordinate group) is diff. from dominant group. Personal is political- power relationships that other interactions are subject to (once successful>change it)--Hard -don't want to lose position/power gained Double vision of reality: women need to be successful in the current system while working to change it. Why is this so difficult?
a. Emphasizes: Understanding biases inherent in all research importance of practical applications of research (praxis-knowledge must be applied) b. Standpoint theory: truth = fact + interpretation (what we see, our interpretations of it) 11. The Martian Journalist: Why do we fail to see some of similarities (patterns) he sees in social behavior?
Personal/institution bias Often we don't see what we're not looking for (the value of concepts)
3 We may not see what we are told isn't there How might this pattern be similar to the failure to notice racism, classism, sexism, homophobia? Why must a sociological perspective step outside? Can you think of more personal/individual examples of this type? If the journalist wasn't from Mars, why might be a sociologist? What are the signs? His interest in: -history of war on terrorism -conflicting interest-who wins/loses -dominant institution-military industrial complex -consistency-does our foreign policy do what it says -social construction of terrorism **Distortion of information: when a true story like Columbus finding America is being told over and over again. Most likely some info. will be forgotten and some will add more to the story to make it more interested.
Manufacture of consent- (Marx- false consciousness) a revolution in democracy (how we are all persuaded to
agree or see the world in the same way. -Propaganda -Public relations -Advertising -Empty slogans to confuse/distract -News as entertainment -Keeping groups from organizing -Plato's golden lie -Falsification of history- the Vietnam Syndrome -The Doctrine of Discover (Columbus) -Disinformation-no info
*Resistance to Manufacture of consent -Dissident movement -The Church -Unions **Media Bias: conservative/liberal? Source of bias/beneficiaries of bias. right wing echo chamber 12. Globalization: the transition from local/domestic economies to global economies--what's good for GM is no longer what's good for the U.S
Manufacturing to info/service--based econ. Capital flight Technology--more machines, less workers Contingency workers 24/7 economy What about U.S. workers? Unemployment increased, more foreign supply *Meritocracy: where we are rewarded according to our effort, skills, and contributions to the larger society, assume that access to education is based on hard work, intellectual ability.
13. Dual Labor Market
Primary -full time/year round -benefits-imp! -few entry jobs, career ladder -Grievance structure -salary Secondary -part time/seasonal -no benefits -many entries, no mobility -No grievance structure -wages
*U.S. worked more overtime than other industrial countries, we are encourage to work more, less vacation time, deep impact on family relationships, structures.
14. SOCIAL CLASS
a. Economic: class as a statistical unit Socio-economic (SES): groupings of ppl who share similar levels of:
Income/Wealth Occupational prestige Education
b. Behavioral
Lifestyle- leisure, home dcor, sports, entertainment (movies) Class based norms and values Wealthy- preservation of system Middle- moving up Working poor- survival
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c. Consequences of class location- Life chances (Mills)
Health/longevity Education Exposure to violence Why/how is class consciousness discouraged? Is class consciousness more consistent w/ functionalism/conflict theory? How political, economic, social interests of diff classes conflict - Distribution of resources - Taxation policies - Owners/workers (profit) - Access to social institution determine by resources
d. Class Consciousness: an understanding of how social class impacts our lives:
15. Income: $$$ earned from salary/wages; what the income distribution doesn't tell us.
16. Wealth: Value of one's property (assets)--debts (stocks, bonds, real estate) 17. Gini Index: statistical measure indicate the actual income distribution and equal distribution
0 = equal Higher = higher inequality
*US have the highest index than other industrial countries* 18. Poverty: a situation in which an individual/ a family cannot maintain an adequate level of living by standards of their society. 19. Relative Poverty: significantly less income and wealth than average person in society 20. Absolute Poverty: not having sufficient resources to pay for essentials of life--food, shelter, Medicare (life threatened). a. Visible Indicators: Homeless
Hunger--food insecurity Health (e.g. infant mortality rate) b. Theories of Poverty: Biological- innate inferior Cultural- the poor have diff. values, lifestyles Structural- forces outside individual control
short term unemployment long term unemployment lack of available childcare (not counted as unemployed) Underemployment (full time jobs that pay below poverty level inability of fulltime work)
c. Poverty is not randomly distributed: Who are the poor? Women, Racial, Ethnic minorities Immigrants, Children d. How poverty is measured? Poverty index has not kept in pace with inflation. e. Underestimating poverty? Why don't we change the way we measure poverty? Why do want we to call attention to something we don't want to be acknowledged? It all takes time, esp. $$$$
21. Shipler: there are a lot of things to address about poverty American myth: poverty is individual's fault. Political, cultural reason.
Cost of living varies from area to area. Where are the poor located? Poverty is concentrated- spatial apartheid - central cities, highest concentration in rural areas: Appalachia, Rio Grande Valley, SW Reservation, Cotton Belt (Carolina's Louisiana). Highest rate of child poverty Fewer supports (subsidies) that eliminate poverty Lower exit rate (fewer move out of poverty each year)
- How does US compare to other industrialized countries?
**US govt spent most money on non-poor, goes to interest, on homeowners. 22. Housing/Homelessness- estimates of problem
637,000 adults homeless in a given week (842,000 including children)
5 2.1M adults are homeless in a year (3.5 including children) Approx. 10% homeless up to 2 months Homeless is primarily in urban problem--increasing # of homeless in suburbs. 6M households-physically substandard Over 5M households in US (incomes below local media) who pay more than 50% of income for rent (affordility) Poverty Increased cost of living/ real estate Slumlording- refers to landlords who don't fix property Redlining- raising cost of mortages Federal housing policies- declining $$ for low cost housing Declining real wages Shift in resources allocation Govt support for non-poor Urban renewable Health problems Interrupted schooling Family disintegration 20% of homeless families have @ least 1 fulltime worker
House conditions: Causes of homelessness
Consequences of homelessness
Problem of Hunger/Food insecurity 33M ppl in US experience food insecurity Poverty has risen for last 4 yrs Given inflation in other areas households no longer have 1/3 of income to spend on food. Reduction in federal funded food program Devolution of responsibility- increased reliance on private/locally funded food banks, soup kitchens, volunteerism Emergency food provider are serving >23M ppl/year 1/3 children in DC are poorly nourished Conflict of interest betw food bank leaders (vested interest in maintain structures (jobs) v. pressure for federal
funding) Ppl perceiving the max. allocation of food stamps >$40 short each month for min. food expectations Military families requiring food stamps (qualifying what does this mean?)
7 Deadly INS of Emergency Food (Janet Poppendieck)
1. Insuffiency- limited portions/availability not need 2. Inappropriate- Items are random- no choice 3. Inadequate nutritionally- surplus foods, overstocks- supply driven not need driven 4. Instability- donations may be irregulars, seasonal variations (summer, no school, thanksgiving) 5. Inaccessibility- system is haphazard, erratic-power areas (where need is greatest) often fewer resources. 6. Inefficiency- volunteer time often costs more than better organized delivery of food. 7. Indignity- it is better to give than to receive
Why should we be concerned?
the effects of inadequate nutrition Health Cognitive functioning/ learning
23. Minimum wage v. living wage: Minimum wage is the min. amount that one gets paid, but it is not enough for someone to provide for their family; they most likely live check by check. Living wage is the amount someone should be making in order to live with all necessities, and can save some money for other things like children's education. 24. Soft Money/campaign financing: when rich ppl donate money to candidate so that there will have a good change of winning and when the candidate wins, their interests will be kept by the candidate.
25. Working Poor- Shipler
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-examines the "forgotten America" where "millions live in the shadow of prosperity, in the twilight
between poverty and well-being." These are citizens for whom the American Dream is out of reach despite their willingness to work hard. Struggling to simply survive, they live so close to the edge of poverty that a minor obstacle, such as a car breakdown or a temporary illness, can lead to a downward financial spiral that can prove impossible to reverse. -current assistance programs could be more effective and rational, he does not believe that government alone, nor any other single variable, can solve the problem. -Instead, a combination of things are required, beginning with the political will needed to create a relief system "that recognizes both the society's obligation through government and business, and the individual's obligation through labor and family." -He proposed some specific steps in the right direction such as altering the current wage structure, creating more vocational programs (in both public/private sectors), developing a fairer way to distribute school funding, and implementing basic national health care.
Reading #2 Sociology as a passion to understand- Peter Berger
working with ppl sociologist leaves something to be desired, even though it may serve to describe at least the initial impulse as a result of which some ppl turn to the study of sociology- is not a practice, but an attempt to understand. Sociologist will normally have many values as citizens--one fundamental value only, that of scientific integrity, where he try to understand, eliminate biases. Statistical data do not make sociology--only when they are sociologically interpreted, put w/in theoretical frame of reference that is sociological. He tries to be objective, control personal preferences and prejudices.
Reading #4 Columbus and Doctrine of Discovery- Howard Zinn Reading #5 America's Ignorant Voters- Michael Schudson
informed citizen is the foundation of effective democracy Americans have so much difficulty grasping the political facts of life is that their political system is the world's most complex-overlapping govt jurisdiction. America's political and cultural superpower status naturally limits citizens' political awareness America political environment- its geographic isolation, superpower status, complex political system, weak parties. Ppl can and do get by with relatively little political information. *How do voters make their decision in the absence of detailed info? How is it possible to maintain a democracy given this lack of knowledge? Cognitive clues (party affiliation, endorsements, celebrity, political and professional groups) Retention of impression w/o detail (Nixon's beard) Is voting citizenship?? **The Am. Political (democratic) character: Universal civility, willingness to object to blatant inequality (are we aware of it?)
Reading # 6 Dominance and Subordination
Social stratification-societies are divided into strata (layers) with respect to economic, social resources. Class- economic dimension of social stratification: income, occupation, education, wealth- major indicators of class. Mainstream culture: largely shaped by beliefs, expectations, and values that support interests of dominant group(s). (What we define as normal) Symbolic Annihilation: non-dominate group cannot control media. Subcultures of subordinate groups lack the degree of articulation, media expression, and legitimacy of dominant culture. Dominant culure: share a common culture of values, expectations, beliefs. Subordinate groups must know dominant culture in order to survive, but not dominant group who do not need to know the subcultures of subordinate group. Subordinates often know more about the dominant group than they do about themselves. Internalized oppression: dominant defines what normal, desirable is; those who differ are perceive as deviant, inferior. Symptoms: low self-esteem, low expectations. Forms of internalizsed oppression include internalized racism, sexism, homophobia.
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Identification w/ oppressor: sometimes members of subordinate groups identify w/ dominant group and its culture to point of associating primarily with members of dominant group, distancing themselves from their own group. Operator role: even tho subordinates are powerless, they are passive; use various forms of indirect power involving strategies for getting around the system/ exploiting dominant group beliefs about subordinates. Ex: a woman takes advantage of her supervisor's assumption that she doesn't know how to do a task to avoid an assignment she doesn't want. Stereotypes: dominant cultural beliefs about subordinate groups tend to be stereotypes; generalizations that are exaggerated, demeaning, simplistics. Ex: all black males are violent (exaggeration), true for some but not all black males are like that; there are no evidence to prove that. Prejudice: negative expectations we have for members of subordinate group based on stereotypes. Discrimination: the differential treatment of dominant and subordinate groups. Individual discrimination is conscious, intentional, and results from prejudice. Institutional discrimination results from well-established rules, practices, and policies that have consequences, tho not explicit intent, of disadvantaging subordinate impact. Self-fulfilling stereotypes: ex-studies show that teachers who believe their students have low ability, expect less of them, give them less challenging assignments. As a result, students learn less. **This help to perpetuate the cycle of dominance and subordination. Double binds: no-win, lose-lose situations. Ex: when nonwhite are not employed, they are seen as freeloaders. When employed, they are resented for taking jobs away from whites. Dominant group privilege: all the advantages enjoyed by the dominant groups as a consequence of their greater power, resources, prestige, credibility; dominant group often are not aware of many ways in which they are advantaged such as institutions, laws, policies, practices protect and support them. Ex: men will not have difficulty finding a doctor of their gender or lawyers, or find extensive coverage of the activities of their gender in the news. Forms of dominant group privilege: white, male, heterosexual Resistance: subordinate groups use creative strategies to promote their interests w/in oppressive systems; also engage in resistance to those systems. Ex: movements of Ghandi, MLK- nonviolent crusades for change. Cage of oppression: Marilyn Frye uses image of bird cage to characterize dominance or oppression. We tend to observe the wires one at a time, not the oppression. Ex: opening doors for women may seem like harmless, in context of complex chivalry in a male-dominant society, ->women are passive, dependent on men. Moreover, chivalry is used to protect selected women from sexual terrorism such as rape, this protection in exchange for conformity to limited roles assigned to women by men. Matrix of domination: includes classism, racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, heterosexism. Racism, sexism tend to be more pronounced among white men of lower class status, as if a sense of racial, gender superiority is a form of compensation for feelings of class inferiority. Ex: black males was justified by claims (mostly false) of raping white woman. Stereotypes about black men-naturally aggressive, oversexed made the charges easy trump up. White men created the need for chivalry to protect white women.