Sociology Culture And Sociolisation: CULTURE Flashcards
(35 cards)
What do consensus theories argue about socialisation?
• Socialisation teaches norms and values
• Acceptance of these norms makes society stable and predictable
• Institutions work together to maintain consensus for everyone’s benefit
What do conflict theories argue about society?
• Norms and values are forced upon people to exploit the majority
• Society benefits those in power
• Conflict exists between groups with different levels of power and wealth
• Forms of conflict include political protests and campaigns
What are the main types of conflict analysed by conflict theories?
• Social class: ruling class vs. working class
• Gender: women vs. male-controlled institutions
• Ethnicity: minority groups vs. majority-controlled institutions
What are meta-narratives in traditional and modern societies?
• Traditional societies: Magic or religion offered explanations (meta-narratives) providing guidance and hope.
• Modern societies: Science and rational thought became the meta-narrative.
What did major sociological theories propose as solutions for a better society?
• Functionalism: Society needs shared values.
• Marxism: Class differences must be removed.
• Feminism: Society should be free of patriarchy; gender equality.
What do Postmodernists say about absolute truth and theories?
• No absolute truth; all knowledge and beliefs are relative.
• Theories are pointless; they all have weaknesses.
Modernism vs Postmodernism: View of society and sociology?
• Modernism: Society creates order; sociology seeks to understand and improve it.
• Postmodernism: Society is made up by people as they go; it can’t truly be “known”.
Front: Modernism vs Postmodernism: Truth and knowledge?
• Modernism: Science produces truth.
• Postmodernism: Truth is just another opinion.
Modernism vs Postmodernism: Belief systems?
• Modernism: People belong to one belief system (e.g. Marxism, Christianity).
• Postmodernism: People “pick and mix” ideas from various belief systems.
Modernism vs Postmodernism: Satisfaction and identity?
• Modernism: Satisfaction from making things.
• Postmodernism: Satisfaction from buying things (consumerism), identity through consumption.
Modernism vs Postmodernism: Social groups and identity?
• Modernism: Belong to fixed social groups (gender, class).
• Postmodernism: Social groups are fragmented, identity is fluid and changeable.
Characteristics of Postmodern societies?
• Flexible morals, more life choices
• Globalisation: awareness of other cultures
• Consumerism: buying into identity
• Individualism: desire to be “different”
• Influenced by media and technology
• Learn meanings shared by others
• Form groups based on shared understandings
What is culture?
• A way of life of a group of people
• Includes how people act, what they believe, and how they think
What is material culture?
• Physical things people make or use
• Example: football, clothing, food, housing
• These things have special meaning to people
What is non-material culture? And eg.
• Ideas, beliefs, rules, traditions, and languages people share
• Helps people understand their world and how to act
Eg.
• Morris dancing in England and Wales
• Traditions like dancing, music, and costumes passed down over time
What are norms?
Why are norms important?
Example of different norms?
• Unwritten rules about how to act in social situations
• Example: Queuing at a bus stop, knocking before entering a room
• Help keep order in society • Make life predictable and fair • In North Africa, people may burp after eating to show thanks • In the West, burping is seen as bad manners
What are values?
Why are values important?
Example of different values?
• Ideas about what is right or wrong (morals)
• Example: Protecting human life, believing in fairness
• They show what people feel is important • Lead to norms, like laws against murder or voting for leaders • In the West: people value money and things • Cheyenne people: valued giving away things for honor, not keeping them
What is status?
• A position a person has in society
• Can be a job (like teacher) or family role (like parent, friend)
• People have many statuses at the same time
What is ascribed status?
What is achieved status?
What is a master status?
• A status you are born with
• Cannot change easily (e.g. gender, ethnicity)
• A status you earn by effort and choice • Example: getting a job, passing exams • A very important status that affects how others see you • Examples: disability, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation • Can lead to discrimination, no matter other statuses you have
What is a role?
Type of roles?
What is role expectation?
What is role conflict?
• The expected behaviour for a certain status
• Example: students act differently than teachers
• Family roles (father, son) • Work roles (teacher, nurse) • Social roles (friend, football fan) • Knowing how to act with others in certain roles • Example: how a teacher should act with students, doctor with patient • When your different roles clash • Example: being a student, having a job, and trying to spend time with friends all at once
Are cultures the same everywhere?
• No, cultures are very different
• Things like marriage, food, language, and religion change from culture to culture
How is marriage/ diet different in cultures?
• Some cultures allow men to have many wives (polygyny)
• Some allow women to have many husbands (polyandry)
• Some cultures have arranged marriages (common in Africa, Middle East, South Asia)
• In South Korea and Hawaii, dogs were once raised for food • In Europe, dogs are pets or help herd sheep
What is the status of children in different cultures?
• In some cultures, children help the family by working
• They may have more responsibilities than in other places
Who are the Na of China/ San of South Africa?
• A group in China with different family and marriage traditions
• A group in South Africa with their own way of life and traditions
