EMA1313 - Sociology Flashcards
(38 cards)
What is Bauman’s view on the shift in society?
Bauman describes the shift from a modern, industrial producer society to a post-modern, post-industrial consumer society.
Values have moved from a work ethic to an aesthetic of consumption.
How does consumption define personal identity in post-modern society?
In post-modern society, consumption defines personal identity through what we buy, how we look, and where we live, replacing work as the replacing wok as the primary source of personal identity and social status.
What are the 2 types of consumption?
- Simple consumption - goods consumed to satisfy basic needs like food, water and hygiene.
- Complex consumption - goods consumed for non-essential needs like luxury items and leisure, often. These are often more meaningful and satisfying than work.
Why is complex consumption important for economic growth?
Simple consumption reaches a threshold that doesn’t support growth, whereas complex consumption drives the economy by encouraging the purchase of non-essential goods and services, contributing to continuous economic development.
This may stem from the fact that such goods, are more expensive, and highly addictive, therefore, consumers will buy more of them.
How does the ‘consumer ethic’ contrast with the ‘work ethic’?
The consumer ethic emphasises self-expression and pleasure, while the work ethic values duty, self-discipline, and sacrifice.
Despite this, work remains essential as a source of income to support a consumer lifestyle.
How has the relationship between income, spending, and saving changed in modern society?
In industrial societies, income was split between consumption and saving. Today, people often spend their income and take loans if more money is needed.
How was the family structured in the agrarian context?
The agrarian family was typically extended and numerous, organised around agriculture. All family members contributed to economic activities at home, and the family was the basic economic unit.
What are the characteristics of the family in the industrial context?
The industrial family is nuclear (typically 4 members) and children cannot contribute economically. Adults work outside the home, separating the breadwinners from their family during work hours.
How has economic organisation impacted family life in industrial societies?
Economic organisation separates family members during the day for work and school, creating social insecurities as children rely more on friends than siblings, unlike the agrarian family structure.
What defines the post-industrial family?
There is no typical post-industrial family, but nuclear families remain common. Other family structures, like single-parent or blended families, are on the rise, with fewer children due to the economic burden and impact on career advancement.
What does the post-industrial labour market demand from adults?
It demands great flexibility to remain competitive and and avoid social exclusion, as standards set by the market are expensive to maintain.
What role did gender play in the industrial period’s ideal worker model?
The ideal worker was gendered, with men working long hours while women handled domestic and caring responsibilities and caring responsibilities, reinforcing traditional gender roles.
What is ‘overwork culture’?
A culture characterised by long working hours, reliance on technology, and blurred work-life boundaries, leading to exhaustion and negative effects on home life.
What is globalisation?
A process involving multidirectional flows of goods, people, and information across the planet, merging political, social, cultural, and economic factors.
What is neoliberalism in relation to globalisation?
Neoliberalism seeks to free markets from political interference, prompting maximum profits at the lowest costs, sometimes at the expense of social well-being
What are Transnational Corporations (TNCs)?
Companies that produce goods and services across multiple countries, often exploiting cheap labour and resources in developing nations for profit maximisation.
What is the Gini Coefficient?
A measure of income inequality where 0% indicates perfect equality and 100% indicates the highest inequality.
What is the poverty line?
A minimum income level necessary to meet basic needs, with poverty being defined as falling below this level.
What is relative poverty?
Living below the standards of living in a particular society, varying according to time, culture and social norms.
What is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
A theory that divides needs into primary needs (e.g. food and water) and secondary needs (e.g. money, technology), with primary needs being essential to human existence.
What is the difference between internal and external migration?
Internal migration occurs within the same country, usually from rural to urban areas, while external migration involves moving to a different country.
What are the environmental impacts of industrialisation?
Industrialisation leads to pollution, waste production, and the depletion of natural resources, negatively affecting biodiversity and contributing to global warming.
What is consumerism’s role in environmental change?
Overconsumption damages environmental resources and contributes to inequality, as affluent groups can avoid its negative effects, leaving the poor to suffer the consequences.
