Sociology Final Review: Paradigms & Family, Religion, Education (Spring 2011) - Prof. Glor, Study notes of Introduction to Sociology

Download Sociology Final Review: Paradigms & Family, Religion, Education (Spring 2011) - Prof. Glor and more Study notes Introduction to Sociology in PDF only on Docsity! Sociology Final Review Spring 2011 Sociological Paradigms: 1) Structural Functionalism: a) Macro-level- large scale social problems. b) Complex system whose parts work together c) Neglects conflict and social change 2) Conflict theory: a) Marxism= subset focusing on class struggle. b) Inequality, unequal distribution of power and resources. 3) Symbolic interaction: a) Micro-level- face to face social problems b) Dramaturgy, exchange, and ethnomethodology Family: - Structural functional analysis- the family performs important tasks that contribute to society’s basic needs and help perpetuate social order. - Conflict theory analysis- the family’s inequality amongst the mother’s role and the father’s. - Symbolic interaction analysis- - Social institutions: a) Deal with basic needs of individuals b) Slow to change c) Family, education, religion= cultural universals - Family unit- a group of ppl directly linked by kin connections, the adult members of which take care of the children. - Nuclear family- two adults living together in a household with their own or adopted children. - Family of orientation- the family which a person born. - Family of procreation- family in which one enters as an adult and within which a new generation of children is brought up. - Extended family- family into which relatives such as grandparents, aunts, or uncles, live in the same home as parents and their children. - How the family reproduces social inequality a) Property and inheritance b) Patriarchy- the dominance of men over women. c) Endogamous marriages- when you marry within your own class. - Nuclear family is most frequent type - Family structure changes with technological development - Romantic love and its patterns- romantic love increases the more industrialized society is. - Impact of individualization on children- more kids -- more financial responsibility. - What amounts for high divorce rates?- romantic love tends to fade away. - “The family is a heaven in a heartless world”- myth because violence and abuse exist in families. - What kind of families make up contemporary American society?- nuclear (most frequent), single parent, and step family. - Family problems arise from: a) Internal and external crisis b) Major role changes of family members - Family as backbone of society - Single parent families and divorce rates are correlated. - Is violence a US family problem? YES! - Cohabitation- a couple lives together in a sexual relationship outside of marriage. (common in industrialized countries) - How to change gender roles? You start with the family. - In family research has it been found that opposites attract? Opposites do not attract. Religion: - Sociological analysis of religion- religion brings people together, not concerned with whether a religion is true or false, but with how it operates as an organization and its relationship to the larger society. - Weber said that Protestantism forced development of capitalism - Is atheism commonly accepted in US? Not accepted, the majority do have a religion. - Durkheim on religion: togetherness, no requirement of a deity, religion without society would not exist. - Marx on religion: inequality in power, differences promotes false consciousness among workers, opiate of the masses. Religion is a reflection of the inequality in society. - Weber on religion: promoted social change - Religion= cultural universal - How did Christianity start? It started as a cult. - Do majority of Americans identify with a religion? YES! - What is the appeal of cults? world rejecting movements, which withdraw from and criticize the outside world. Education: - Credentialism- having a diploma, if you have one you will move along. - Hidden curriculum- idea that students from different social class backgrounds are provided with different types of education, both in terms of curricular materials and the kinds of interactions n which they are engaged by their teachers. Brought about needs for certain personality characteristics. (self-discipline, dependability, punctuality, obedience) - Tracking in schools- separated students based on assumed similarities in ability or attainment. (honors, AP, etc.) - If weber is associated with bureaucracy… what would he say about creativity in schools?- bureaucracy keeps kids from being creative. Standardized tests. - What class benefits the most from a college education?- middle class