Exam Review Flashcards
(39 cards)
Agents of socialization
- Family(Primary)
- School/peers(secondary)
- Media(secondary)
- Religion(secondary)
Demography
Demography s the statistical study of a population.
- Used for public policy and marketing purposes
- Tell us important details about topics such as, ethnicity, age, gender
- You can study past demographic information
Social Stratification
refers to structured systems of inequality that ranks people according to a hierarchy.
Closed System
allow for very little change in social position. The boundaries between levels are rigid, and peoples positions are set by ascribed status. Ex. slavery, the caste system in India etc.
Open Systems
permit considerable flexibility and may be influenced by achieved status. Ex. the class system
The glass ceiling effect
Men have higher average incomes than women, even in cases where they perform the same jobs- this is part of the glass ceiling effect
An invisible but very real barrier through which the next stage or level of advancement can be seen, but cannot be reached by a section of qualified and deserving employees
First Nations people and inequality
Indigenous people in Canada have been affected by the forced introduction of European culture and values to their societies, the dispossession of their lands, and the imposition of new methods of governance.
This all began a cycle of social, physical and spiritual destruction
effects include poverty, poor health, and substance abuse. Underlying these problems is the feeling that their rights are ignored.
The Cycle of Destruction
Poverty, ill health, educational failure, and family violence reinforce one another—breaking the cycle requires tackling all issues together.
Roots of Indigenous Poverty
- Began with the Reserve system: no planning, infrastructure, or economy.
- Traditional lifestyles destroyed; poor setup led to mass impoverishment.
- Many died from lack of shelter, food, healthcare, and government-imposed relief limits.
- Urban migration exposed many to racism; Indigenous people 2x more likely to live in poverty than non-Indigenous.
- Housing crisis: in 1999/00, only 56.9% of homes on reserves were adequate.
- Many reserves still lack resources to escape third-world conditions.
Inequality in Canadian society and factors that influence inequality
Ethnicity/Race: Less likely to be hired, 3× higher poverty rates, lower education and income.
Social Background: Lower income limits education; working-class jobs often deprioritize schooling.
Gender: Men earn more, hold higher-ranking jobs 2–3× more often; women’s careers impacted by family roles.
Age: 26–34% of seniors live below the poverty line.
Disability: Face discrimination, social exclusion, and limited opportunities.
The class system in Canada
Upper Class (3–5%): Own major wealth; attend elite schools.
Middle Class (40–50%): Largest group; professionals (e.g. doctors, lawyers), managers. Secure, well-paying “white collar” jobs with benefits.
Working Class (≈30%): “Blue collar” jobs (e.g. factory workers, technicians). Lower pay than middle class.
Lower Class (15–20%): Low/no income. May rely on part-time work or welfare. Limited access to goods/services.
Crime- age, gender, social class, race and ethnicity
Violent Crimes- an act against a person in which death or physical injury occurs. (homicide, assault, rape, robbery)
Property Crimes- an act that threatens property owned by individuals or by the government.(theft, larceny, shoplifting, embezzlement, amd burglary)
Victimless Crimes- An illegal act which there are no readily apparent victims (prostitution, gambling, and illicit drug use)
LICO- low income cutoff
LICO stands for low income cut off. Canada does not have a poverty line, but we use LICO as it uses the amount a household spends on the basics - food, shelter and clothing- to define who is poor
Absolute poverty: the deprivation of resources that are considered essential - enough food and fresh water and safe place to live
Relative poverty: measuring the deprivation of some people against those who have more
The justice system in Canada (all issues- restorative justice, circles, capital punishment)
society’s formal response to crime. It is made up of the institutions and processes responsible for enforcing criminal statutes. It includes the police, courts, and correctional system.
Restorative justice:
Focuses on repairing harm, not just punishment.
- Involves victim, offender, and community working together.
- Offender must admit wrongdoing and make amends.
- Aims to rebuild trust and restore relationships.
Circles
- Offender, victim, judge, families, elders, and community come together to resolve conflict.
- Focus on equality, healing, and restoring harmony.
- Aims to address root causes of crime and reduce repeat offenses.
- Judge hears all sides before sentencing.
- Outcomes: prison, probation, community service, counseling, etc.
- Circle members support both victim and offender.
The media
- Social media influencers have the ability to promote or recommend the items
- Gramsci believed that society is dominated by a ruling class, which sets the standards and norms
- A lot of attention is given to media figures
Riots
- An episode of largely random destruction and violence carried out by a crowd.
Meritocracy
a society where people are judged on their individual abilities rather than their family connections
Apartheid
In South Africa, the caste system is based on racial classification. Apartheid was an official policy of racial segregation (it is now illegal) formerly practiced in South Africa, involving political, legal and economic discrimination against non-whites.
Deviance and theories of deviance (6 theories)
Deviance: is behaviour that violates standard of conduct or expectations of a group or society. Something that is deviant in one country won’t be deviant in another.
Location: talking loudly at church vs in public
Age: 5 year old crying at store vs a teenager
Social status: celebrities can skip to front of a line vs a normal person
Individual societies: in North America being overweight may be seen as deviant vs other cultures sees being thin as deviant
Labelling Theory
- Deviance is the result of being labelled deviant.
- Primary deviance: initial rule-breaking.
- Secondary deviance: identity shaped by deviant label.
Conflict Perspective (Marxist)
- Justice system protects the powerful.
- Upper class defines laws to benefit themselves.
- Lower class over-policed & punished more.
- Racial & class bias in law enforcement.
Strain Theory (Merton)
- Deviance = gap between cultural goals (e.g. wealth) and means (e.g. education, jobs).
- People turn to deviance when access to goals is blocked.
Control Theory
Strong social bonds = less deviance.
- 4 Bonds: Attachment, Commitment, Involvement, Belief.
- Weak bonds = higher deviance.
Differential Association Theory
Deviance is learned through close association with deviant groups.
- More deviant peers = more likely to deviate.
Merton’s Deviance & Subcultures
Deviance is socially driven; subcultures arise from norm pressure.
- Subculture = alternate values vs. mainstream.
5 Types of Subcultures (Merton’s Typology)
- Conformists – accept goals & means (e.g. working hard).
- Ritualists – follow rules, reject goals (e.g. teacher without ambition).
- Innovators – accept goals, use new/unconventional means (e.g. Elon Musk).
- Retreatists – reject both (e.g. hippies).
- Rebels – reject & seek to change both (e.g. anarchists).
Social Media
Positive- Help kids feel connected, help kids develop their identity, groups find belonging, and learn about health.
Negative- Loss of face to face skills, cyberbullying, impacts on mental health, access to harmful content, influence on body image.
Stigma
A label society uses to devalue members of certain social groups.
Ex. smart people are sometimes called “nerds”
What are 5 advantages and 5 disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
Advantages:
- Reduction in human error: can reduce errors and increase accuracy and precision
- 24/7 availability: AI can work endlessly without breaks
- Zero Risks: humans can use AI in difficult situations with no personal risk
- Unbiased decisions: AI has no emotions and is highly practical and rational in its approach
- Medical Applications: applications ranging from diagnosis and treatment to drug discovery and clinical trials
Disadvantages:
- High Costs: requires time and can cost a huge deal of money
- No creativity: cannot learn to think ‘outside the box’
- Unemployment: can displace occupations and increase unemployment
- Makes Humans Lazy: does all the work for people and makes them lazy to do work
- Emotionless: AI doesn’t have feelings
Adolescence
- Transitional phase from puberty to age 18–21.
- Psychological & social development occurs slowly.
- Characterized by emotional extremes (joy → anger, energy → boredom).
- Contradictions: e.g. vanity hides self-loathing; crave solitude but follow rules well.
- Sorting through emotions = path to maturity.
- Theory focused on males.
- Margaret Mead: Culture, not biology, causes adolescent stress.
External Factors Affecting Change
- Physical Environment
- Climate, weather, vegetation, animals, and humans all impact each other.
- Changes (e.g. droughts, disasters) disrupt agriculture, infrastructure, and society.
- Ex: Hurricane Katrina damaged New Orleans’ infrastructure and economy. - Population Change
- Immigration/emigration shift social systems and cultural makeup.
- Newcomers challenge systems but enrich society through cultural exchange.
- Canada allows high immigration to support population growth and diversity. - Proximity
- Cultures close together change faster due to intellectual contact (trade, war, tourism).
- Isolated societies experience slower change. - Social Environment & Values
- Collectivist societies: value conformity, resist change.
- Individualist societies: value freedom, adapt faster.
- Large societies with better communication embrace innovation; small societies resist change and may be ethnocentric. - Technology
- Drives major changes in social customs, values, and institutions.
- Alters how people interact with each other and the environment.
- Seen as a key driver of progress by many sociologists.
Healthcare in Canada
- Governed by the Canada Health Act and it’s designed to make sure that all eligible people in the country have reasonable access to insured health service. Health care is universal, accessible, generally free from extra charges.
