Soc 101

What is a good working definition of sociology that I suggest in lecture? "frames of reference, variables, and explanatory models" that include "personal interaction, groups, social structures (institutions), and social controls (sanctions, norms, and values)". "A study of social relations that takes society to be the primary unit of analysis". "An approach to discovering anomalous patterns of social interaction." "A body of research focusing upon the detection of social norms."

"frames of reference, variables, and explanatory models" that include "personal interaction, groups, social structures (institutions), and social controls (sanctions, norms, and values)".

What concept does Simmel suggest instead of "causal laws" as a way of describing social regularities? "trends", which are thought of as distinctive patterns of action "trends", which are thought of as useful assumptions about the world "rules", which are thought of as necessary truths within the world "rules", which are thought of as useful assumptions about the world

"rules", which are thought of as useful assumptions about the world

(Supplementary Video) What are the two theories of the relations between public and private sector (You can just name them...2:42 - 4:00)? Which of these do you think most closely relates to Domhoff? Is Domhoff's theory the one supported (4:22 - 5:00)?

***Example Answer: The two theories of the relation between public and private sectors from the video were (i) the 'expertise view' and (ii) the 'personal connections view'. The personal connections view most closely relates to Domhoff because of his emphasis on networks of relations among the economic elite -- networks that span across corporate, political, and social domains. The personal connections view is also the one that the video describes as most supported by the evidence.

Blumenstock et al. use call logs to estimate the wealth of how many people? 100,000 1,500,000 70,000 700

1,500,000

What is the best definition of "family" from a sociological perspective? A classification of a relationship that based upon affection or esteem A classification of a relationship that comes with mutual obligations and confers rights, statuses, and duties. A group of individuals that share a common ancestry and cultural beliefs A group of biologically related individuals

A classification of a relationship that comes with mutual obligations and confers rights, statuses, and duties.

The average wage among female workers in the automotive industry summarizes variation in female wages in that industry. This makes it... A hypothesis A descriptive statistic A variable A population

A descriptive statistic

What is qualitative methodology? A general research approach that focuses on the logical reduction of a wide range of social phenomena to a small set of mathematically relatable variables. A general research approach that focuses on the meaning of people's own written or spoken words and their observable behavior A method of data collection based on participant observation. A method of data collection based on administering interviews and surveys.

A general research approach that focuses on the meaning of people's own written or spoken words and their observable behavior

What is "solidarity"? A form of protest against totalitarian forms of government. A state in which social processes have solidified or are less likely to change. A situtation in which social groups create unnecessary suffering. A sense of belonging/closeness/community among people based upon mutually shared values or beliefs.

A sense of belonging/closeness/community among people based upon mutually shared values or beliefs.

How did the homeless African-American's studied understand panhandling? African Americans saw it as a primary source of income African Americans saw it as an unfortunate but necessary practice, so participated as a minor source of income African Americans outright rejected panhandling out of a natural sense of dignity. African Americans participated in panhanding in order to keep busy and active during the day

African Americans outright rejected panhandling out of a natural sense of dignity.

How do you contact me? Correspond with me via email ([email protected]). Email me to set up a meeting ([email protected]). Ask a question on the D2L discussion page. All of the above!

All of the above!

What is "collective action"? Any goal-directed activity engaged in jointly by two or more individuals. Any behaviors displayed by any collection of individuals When a single individual's action is directed towards two or more individuals The setting of agendas for protest movement and anti-government action

Any goal-directed activity engaged in jointly by two or more individuals.

(Supplementary) This article claims that "groups who feel less favorable towards law enforcement [black and Hispanic Americans] are less certain they would report a crime they witnessed". Think through some of the implications of this for on or two of the following: statistical data on crime (much of which is gathered through arrest), crime reduction, the impact of high-crime environments on personal development.

Areas like The Swats or Harlem are considered to be high crime areas. These communities are heavily populated with African American individuals who don't have trust or faith in law enforcement, so a lot of crimes go unreported due tot the ramifications that may affect the community as a whole, only increasing nefarious activity as delinquents now become untouchable by the law. These crime ridden environments sky rocket with crime as individuals take the law into their own hands and consider themselves the protects of the community while still participating in their drug activities and such, promoting further violence and a sky rocket in drug activities. (alternative forms of social organization)

What example does Gage provide of a demonstration whose significance is difficult to judge? G-20 summit protests Arizona's RedForEd teacher's revolt Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) movement Occupy Wall-Street movement

Arizona's RedForEd teacher's revolt

According to Bauman, sociology is distinguished from other disciplines... By its subject matter, or what subjects are appropriate for study (e.g. politics, religion). According to divisions in how people experience the world. In its focus on the present as opposed to the past. As a cognitive perspective for understanding or explaining action.

As a cognitive perspective for understanding or explaining action.

In terms of their organization, qualitative studies are best characterized... As anarchic, where there are no organizing principles and researchers float freely from observation to observation. As a contract with fellow scholars in one's discipline, where breaking the contract could lead to a bad reputation in the field. As a blueprint, where all aspects of research are articulated beforehand and researchers cooperate to produce the desired result. As a craft, where there may be practical guidelines for how to proceed but these are flexible and can be adapted as needed.

As a craft, where there may be practical guidelines for how to proceed but these are flexible and can be adapted as needed.

The French Positivists (especially Saint Simon) were "utopian," meaning that they thought a perfectly ideal state of society could be obtained. Why might they think this? Because they had optimistic personalities. As a political campaign, in order to gain control of government. Because for them, French political history revealed close approximations to a perfect society Because if they could understand the laws of society, they could create the best social order.

Because if they could understand the laws of society, they could create the best social order.

According to Simmel, why is society so much more complex than the individual? Merely because societies contain more than one individual in number. Because social groups lead to heirarchical structures and bureaucratic forms. Because the many parts of society are so interrelated, and society is always changing. Because societies have to deal with economic and political issues.

Because the many parts of society are so interrelated, and society is always changing.

According to Snow et al., what is a "social movement"? Collectivities acting with some degree of organization and continuity outside of institutional or organizational channels for the purpose of challenging or defending extant authority. A means of political expression used exclusively by liberal-minded youths in the U.S.A. to effect political agendas When groups exhibit high levels of change, such as high turnover rate of their members or changes in group behavior A form of human migration that is distinguished by the movement of some social groups more than others

Collectivities acting with some degree of organization and continuity outside of institutional or organizational channels for the purpose of challenging or defending extant authority.

What is Salganik's recommendation for social research? Use computer programming languages like R and Python for data analysis We should use call logs for studying wealth and poverty in U.S. cities. Leave traditional methods behind and move on to the shiny new innovative ones Combine traditional methods of the past with new innovations in computational methods

Combine traditional methods of the past with new innovations in computational methods

Which of the following is not a device/mechanism of occupational closure? Certification Credentialism Competition Licensing

Competition

How popular were the different conceptualizations of race among undergrads that Morning studied? (From most popular to least popular...) Sociological > Biological > Anthropological Culture > Biological > Constructed Biology > Constructed > Culture Constructed > Biological > Sociological

Culture > Biological > Constructed

What are the economic conditions under which the homeless studied lost their jobs? Economic boom and technological change that made manual labor obsolete The cutting off of federal subsidies to small businesses in which they were employed Racial discrimination of employers and potential employers Deindustrialization, i.e. the loss of heavy manufacturing jobs and shift to service industries

Deindustrialization, i.e. the loss of heavy manufacturing jobs and shift to service industries

In this course, which of the following is completed on "End-of-unit Recap" days Discussion post Essay Exam Nothing

Discussion post

The story of Bruce and Al illustrates which of the following ideas (Choose all that apply)? Drug addicts are perceived as solely responsible for their addictions and poverty. The homeless are vulnerable to abusive and illegal working conditions. Drug addicts are mentally incompetent. Drug addicts are perceived as incapable of change.

Drug addicts are perceived as solely responsible for their addictions and poverty. The homeless are vulnerable to abusive and illegal working conditions. Drug addicts are perceived as incapable of change.

What is a theoretical argument that undocumented immigrants would be less prone to commit crimes than U.S. citizens? Consider implications arrest would have given their legal status.

Due to their already illegal status in the US, undocumented immigrants may be less likely to take risks than other young males their age in risk of deportation. Petty delinquent acts like petty theft may not have the same net worth to an undocumented immigrant as it would someone who lives in this country and is under less police scrutiny.

Which of the following notions from the readings illustrates the closeness of physiology and sociology among the French Positivists? Choose all that apply. Durkheim's characterization of a good society as one that is morally healthy. Comte's theory of the progression of the sciences (Astrology -> Physics -> Chemistry -> Physiology -> Sociology) Comte's first use of the term 'sociology'. Saint-Simon's relation of organizations to organisms.

Durkheim's characterization of a good society as one that is morally healthy. Comte's theory of the progression of the sciences (Astrology -> Physics -> Chemistry -> Physiology -> Sociology) Saint-Simon's relation of organizations to organisms.

Who are some classical theorists that help unite the discipline of sociology? Watson, Freud, and Maslow Durkheim, Simmel, and Weber Wittgenstein, Quine, and Davidson Dahl, Arrow, and Laski

Durkheim, Simmel, and Weber

Which of the following best describes the relationship among the four main statistical tasks in social research (describing, inferring, testing, and predicting): Researchers select whichever suits their project independently of the others. Each of the four main tasks builds on the previous one. Each of the four main tasks depends upon prediction. Researchers that test hypotheses rarely make inferences about populations.

Each of the four main tasks builds on the previous one.

Edin and Kafalis claim that the poor of West Kensington bear children earlier than the affluent. What reason do they give for this? Family-development is a better understood path and the rewards are more realizable than career-development. The affluent of West Kensington delay having children so that they can save for their education. The poor of West Kensington have no career aspirations or goals for the future Residents do not receive proper education in birth control, or have limited access to birth control pills.

Family-development is a better understood path and the rewards are more realizable than career-development.

African Americans are still not fully enfranchised. According to Valelly, what are some ways political participation of African Americans has been prevented (Choose all that apply)? Felons are disenfranchised Racial differences in voter education Intimidation and physical threats at polling places Ballots are rejected or not counted

Felons are disenfranchised Ballots are rejected or not counted

Which of the following are examples of sex segregation in the workplace? Female restaurant staff are expected to do work that is similar to domestic work. Female assistant professors are expected to do their most crucial academic work during the most popular childbearing years. Men appear more frequently in social media photos on Facebook than women do. Gender-based marketing of children's toys, and its influence on their socialization

Female assistant professors are expected to do their most crucial academic work during the most popular childbearing years.

Which of the following are ways in which age and sex are related to demographic processes (Choose all that apply)? Females have lower death rates than males Men are able to produce children longer than women More males are born than females Females have healthier dietary lifestyles

Females have lower death rates than males Men are able to produce children longer than women More males are born than females

What are the three "demographic processes"? Ritualization, socialization, inculcation Speeding up, slowing down, and transforming Production, ownership, and exchange Fertility, mortality, and migration

Fertility, mortality, and migration

What is your impression of the German historicists? Just describe one or two of their main ideas and tell me what you like or dislike about it.

German historicists challenge the positivist thought by bringing in the idea of the conscious mind into the discussion. Simmel argues that thoughts don't directly cause actions, that all psychological laws are prone to antimonies and that there is no perfect way to explain why people do what they do. I really enjoy this idea, and the fact that he points out that no social situation will ever be the same since they are so complex, so it becomes are to isolate variable scientifically to prove that blank will be the result of blank all the time. Weber was a bit more confusing. Intention of social actions are held in the psyche and formed in social groups, providing that a subjective meaning made intentionally can not always play out as so intentionally. ***I'm glad that you found something worthwhile in Simmel! You're right that Weber's theory is more challenging to comprehend. I appreciate your attempt. You have all the important parts of Weber's theory fragmented throughout your answer; you just need to relate them in a clearer statement. So, you seem to indicate that when one intends to do something, their intention depends on what that something means to them ('subjective meaning); you also indicate that intentionality is just the internalization of meanings formed outside of the individual in social groups. This is the gist of Weber! It's a great first step to articulating his theory.

(Supplementary) Take any one "snapshot"/excerpt from the Vogel reading and show how demographic characteristics of a country are used to explain individual-level outcomes.

Growing pains I think in an area like Uganda, women tend to want to have large families because infant mortality is such a real concern. However, with a growing rate of child to adult, Uganda is still considered to be fast growing rural community. Since the government has such limited resources for such a growing community, work in village, water, and health is limited. As well, the government does not have the money to supply all these children with adequate schooling. The average primary teacher in Uganda is responsible for around 50 students, where three or more share a single desk and six or more share a single text book; most do not have the access nor funds to go on to secondary school. Such a high rate of fertility, there is no way resources can keep up in this rural area.

What reason does Domhoff give for why the economic elite are so important in American politics? The economic elite understand economics and finance better than others, can run government like a business, and can improve the economy better than other groups. Historically, no other groups predominated in U.S. society, e.g. neither religion, big government, nor military The general population understands wealth as the best indicator of success, and so grants the wealthy authority Economic elite are likable and knowledgeable of other countries and so can make good diplomatic relations and foreign policy.

Historically, no other groups predominated in U.S. society, e.g. neither religion, big government, nor military

What is the relative importance of individual choice vs. structural conditions/economic opportunity in explaining poverty and ways of dealing with poverty?

Homeless individuals try to make money, whether it be stealing, panhandling, or looking for work. However, because of their economic status, race, and drug addiction, homeless individuals opportunities and choices are limited in terms of gaining income. With a drug problem that is deemed as a never changing choice, many homeless are exploited in their work opportunities with below legal pay to which a majority of the income goes to preventing withdrawal symptoms. Neither helping solve their drug addiction nor helping them escape from poverty in any way. African Americans say that it is their personal decision not to pan handle as a sense of dignity, but if they try they are more heavily scrutinized by the police and not giving nearly the same income as white individuals, leaving them to steel. I believe it is the conditions of our society that creates homelessness, it is the loss of jobs that force individuals into a state that doesn't let up grip and takes advantage only to decrease their economic opportunities more. Yes, no one is holding a gun to a persons head and saying shoot up, but there body and withdrawal symptoms are, only to be denied of fair pay, opportunity to get help and do better, and fair wage and punishment across all races.

What do I claim is the "main theme" or problem of quantitative methodology? How to structure the social world analytically How to divide the social world logically How to abstract from the social world creatively How to reduce the social world numerically

How to reduce the social world numerically

How did social relations and society influence individual outcomes in the video? Do you think that social relations are more or less important than an individual's interests/motivations in explaining such outcomes?

I don't believes it comes down to whether social relations are more or less important than individual interests, as in the case of two of the males featured in the video. The man in the upper class and the man in the lower class appeared to be so influenced by their families needs/wants, that they are what shaped their personal interests. Take the case of the low SES male, he went straight off to find a job because he wanted to help support his family but that was only fueled by the fact that his father and mother needed the help which was fueled by there economic standing. Its like dominoes, and the first domino to fall is that of our social constructs in the broadest sense of the word. I enjoyed that the video pointed out that we are all inherently equal yet so unequal in examination of our social standings. Many of us will follow the two men I mentioned earlier and stay in our SES for the rest of our lives, a predetermined cycle. The middle class male's story was interesting to me because we can clearly see the how psychology and sociology being to compete and he struggles with seeing his rich class mate reach success and his action to then break away from his social constructs to his individual desires. Although he experiences lateral mobility as desired, it is purely based on his horizontal mobility to which he comes home to find the same class mate now married to his ex. He spends his life trying to become something to only realize he will be stuck in his social class in the eyes of his town forever, that's a huge societal influence.

How democratic do you think that America is (i.e. how much do you feel its policy reflects the support of its residents or citizens)? In making your argument, please discuss a point or two from lecture/readings.

I think America is very good at making its public believe they are very involved in their government. I would agree voting is very important and having your voice be heard and political protests, ect. However, I'd argue that we aren't as democratic as we seem. Even when we vote, we are voting for representatives not decisions, we are voting for people that are easily persuaded by lobbyists that are paid off by the US power elite. That's also brings the issue of who gets to vote. The government is very good at making it difficult for the poor and lower educated individuals to vote, making the off ice and therefor legislature sway toward the US power elite. Yet somehow we're all "equally" represented.

How do you understand race? Specifically, do you think that it is "socially constructed" — merely based on social conventions of how people apply words/labels like "black", "white", "Hispanic", "Asian," etc.? Make sure to provide reasons/argument for your position.

I think as humans we immediately judge with our eyes. We take what society has taught us about general stereotypes to determine whether people fit into certain labels by their appearance. Everything from gender to race to what "type of person" someone is immediately comes from how we perceive them visually. So, its near impossible to ignore biologically factors of skin color, to ignore cultural factors values like the way people dress or do their hair or what meals they may be eating. However, the idea of race itself is a complete construction of society because it is society who puts everyday factors of skin color, of clothing choices, of food someone chooses to eat into a labeled box of race. We are not seen as a human race but a check box of either black, white, or ect because of social constructs that we can't avoid.

We read about how it is sometimes difficult to judge the significance of demonstrations or movements. Do you think that this would help or hurt movements in gaining participants? Or you may take some intermediary position (e.g. it helps in the beginning but hurts later on in the life of the movement). Please explain.

I think everyone has a position in many of the hot topics that have been circulating. Everyone seems super passionate to pick a side and want to protest and support it, yet there is little concrete participants or much traction in the movements. I'm not sure if its because the participants are so idealistic or if the government is so strong headed, but it seems like all these movements everyone is so passionate about don't really go anywhere in the end. I'd argue that this further causes the wavering of participants. I think in the past this would have given people more of an excuse to fight harder, but in today's society (especially within the youth population) if we don't have a simple fix right now, we loose interest and grit in the movement. Good. You could've done a better job of relating this to the question asked, but I think that you were getting there in your answer. Your position is that in situations where we can't judge the significance of a movement, people lose interest. People need "simple fixes". ***

What are your initial thoughts on whether there can be as science of social groups? If you're stuck, take a look at the syllabus and use specific examples of groups. For example, can there be a science of race-, or gender-, or family- relations?

I think people are so accustom to looking at science as a finite knowledge. Giving the example of physics, individuals are able to validate that a black hole exists because there is concrete evidence of such. I think psychology and sociology alike lack this concreteness to the public eye which can often times lead to the idea that they are some quackery of science. Sociology especially can appear more opinion based rather than scientifically proven, because as humans we all see things a different way and can argue one situation a million different ways; but that's the fact that people seem to not understand, that that phenomenon in itself is sociology. There is the idea of nature vs nurture, where I believe sociology is nurture. We are shaped by our cultural environment and take on positions, actions, and reactions of our social groupings like race, gender, and family. If you're continuously instilled with certain values, they begin to manifest themselves in the individual to which trends can be taken and analyzed. I wouldn't call it an exact science the way we look at physics and physiology, but I'd say there is a science behind social groupings

(Supplementary) Suppose I make the following (cynical) claim: the reason why most protests participants are young is because they are over-idealistic, or naive, in thinking that protest would ever be effective for government change. Use material from the supplementary video to challenge or counter-argue this claim by offering (i) an alternative explanation for youth involvement, and (ii) a historical counterexample of an effective youth social movement (e.g. Civil rights movement).

I wouldn't call youth naive, I'd call them blissfully passionate. Youth have the time, in comparison to older generations, to donate to a cause and generate greater change. They have the stamina to take risks, put themselves out of the line, a greater can-do attitude. Youth also have greater knowledge and access to social networks from media to school to extra circulars which not only stir up movements, but have the unity to give a movement traction and mobilization. The Dakota access pipeline protest featured a large amount of youth fighting for clean water at Standing Rock, resulted in real, tangible change with a clean water reform due to the large amount of social media coverage and risky actions of the protesting youth. Although with no tangible success yet, I'd argue that the fight for gun regulation wouldn't have near as much traction if it wasn't for youth standing up and speaking on the trauma that had occurred in their school's shooting.

For the purpose of this question, let's make some crude assumptions: psychology is about understanding individual emotions; economics is about explaining transactions in a market; linguistics is about cultural differences in use of language, and political science is about explaining voting and governance. Pick one of these disciplines and try to come up with a topic or question in that discipline where social interaction or social groups might matter for explanation. Simply say why it might matter. We haven't seen any examples of sociological work at this point of the semester, so it is okay to speculate! For example, "political scientists are interested in voting, and people's social interactions with friends and family and their demographic characteristics (e.g. race, economic status) influence their voting behavior. So sociologists might be interested in voting as well".

I'm very interested in the question why people behave the way they do/ think the way they do/ feel the way they do. It fuels a lot of my social interactions from who I get to know, how I approach them, and what conversations I can carry out and in the matter I do so. I believe there is a huge link between a persons social interactions and the way they psychologically handle themselves. Social groupings from race and gender to family structures heavily influence human emotions on their most basic level as far as what topics one might be more sensitive to, but also broader pictures like psychoses that an individual can pick up from their social environment. A sociologist would be able to navigate the connections between social environment being a causation for psychological actions.

Which of the following is not one of the four main tasks of quantitative research: Inferring to a population Describing variation and covariation Identifying causal orderings Testing hypotheses

Identifying causal orderings

[Supplementary Video] The Pew Research study reported in this video was "computational" because (1) it drew upon a lot of digital data — 53,000+ photos, and (2) researchers did not manually look at all these photos to identify men and women — they used computational alogrithms and processing to detect gender. Imagine that the same computational methods were used to process media images only this time to detect race instead of gender. What would you expect the findings to be? Why might the media representation of different gender or racial groups be of sociological importance (i.e. what does it reflect about "society")?

If the study were to look at race instead of gender, it would probably find similar inequalities of minorities to that of white individuals. Race is a bit more tricky, especially since Facebook argued that men were more represented in society and that's why there are more pictures of them, I'm sure they would attempt to use data to say that white populations are more heavily represented in the population causing the increase in photos. However, this is sociologically important because it represents the inequalities that still strive in society today, despite the work toward equality. If something as simple as a Facebook picture shows such outrageous inequalities in representation, imagine how low representation may be in other social aspects like job recruitment. This also impacts the way we treat one another. If we're primed with images of white men compared to that of black women, it only makes sense that we think white men "belong" compared to other social minorities.

Pause to consider all the digital information that is available — both online (social media, news, shopping, entertainment, and other websites), and offline (fitness trackers, call logs, home assistants, smart appliances, etc.). Choose some source of digital information and describe how it might be used to understand a social group (family, racical group, gender group, political group, occupational group). EXAMPLE: "If we had access to Facebook data, we could compare what kind of posts that fathers make to what kind of posts that mothers make, and use this to understand parental roles. I might hypothesize that mothers use Facebook more for connecting with family than fathers do. I might argue that this reflects something about their role in the family."

If we had access to online news accounts along with data of who receives paper news copies, we could analyzed the data of age groups with who view which new source. I predict that an older audience would receive paper copies, while middle aged individuals look online more often, and youth do not play much of a role in either. I might argue that this reflects something about youths interest in news or how elder individuals still care about the news, but don't have the understanding to access it online. ***Good. I'll add that many computational researchers address the question of how the format of information can influence people attitudes and beliefs. You mention hard copy v. online news. Others might focus on the default settings of news feeds (by popular v. recent), which can have profound impacts on information consumption for highly trafficked websites. This question is of sociological importance.

Which of the following are cited as contemporary issues that generate social movement activity (Choose all that apply)? Immigration World poverty Family values Religious freedom

Immigration World poverty Family values Religious freedom

The video today is from the Economist. In line with what we've read about the economic perspective, the video argues the primary factor holding women back is their choice to be mothers because of a motherhood penalty. And that the primary solution is for female "children to choose non-traditional careers, and [for] men [to] do more childcare." What do you imagine the sociological response to this video would be?

In contrast, the sociological approach would argue on behalf of societal organization and level system. Women and men are sorted into different occupations and pay structures under sexual segregation within the labor market. Women are hired in more maternal/caring work positions at only part time producing a reduced income compared to their male counterpart who are offered full time positions at more senior jobs. It is the fact that female and male work is labeled as such, so much so that equipment and work processes in occupation are geared to one sex or the other. In addition, it is not simply that a females choice to have a baby is what is holding her back, it is the establishment that is punishing her for having a baby in the example of academic tenure opportunities.

[Supplementary material - YouTube Video] How does Nikki Jones describe having to negotiate relationships in different neighborhoods that she studied?

In studying a neighborhood that has already been subject to studies, there is a sense of hostility against the researcher. Nikki Jones says you must negotiate the relationship by building trust, being honest, and giving back in the ways you are allotted. I think it builds this sense of equality, rather than just using the community for their research.

According to the Slate article, it's common knowledge that America has inequality, but it is not well known how bad that inequality is. Meanwhile, sociologists find that people tend to associate with others in the same socio-economic class as themselves. For our purposes, we can think of "classes" in basic terms of an "upper," "middle," and "working" class. How might this sociological insight that people tend to associate with others within their same class help us to understand why they don't see inequality as bad as it is?

Individuals tend to find solace with those they can connect to, connections based on similar traits. These similar traits that bring along solidarity become the social groups we looked at in the previous question. Not only to they shape our positions, actions, and reactions, social groups tend to put blinders on when it comes to groups we do not see ourselves in. An example would be that it is hard for a cisgender individual to understand the struggles of a transgender individual as they are not in their shoes nor does their common sense broaden out naturally to issues that don't start and stop with them, as most individuals. I believe similarly, we are so fixated in our own financial status, do we rarely concern ourselves with others. We become so immersed in our own lives, jobs, come up/struggle for money, that we don't look at society as a whole (as the difference between common sense and sociology), which is truly unfortunate because a ratio of 354:1 of CEOs to factory workers is absolutely ridiculous. The rich and getting richer and the poor, poorer and we can't even see it.

Why does Ms. Jackson teach her daughter to fight? In other words, what was her intention in doing this? Why does social context matter for understanding Ms. Jackson's intention?

Inner-city girls are racially segregated, in poverty, witnessing drug trade, and consumed in a chaotic environment, making being able to fight mean so much more than women who live in a safe, stable community. For the inner city women, being able to fight means you're tough and a survivor, it is a means of protection which is why Ms. Jackson would teach her daughter to fight. Fighting is strength, not deviance or irresponsibility for Ms. Jackson and women in her position. ***Good, though I'd say that being able to fight doesn't necessarily mean "more" than it does in stable neighborhoods, it just means something very different. I see my own description a lot in your answer, so I hope that the lecture helped you to understand these main points.

What are the two main opportunities that digitalization has opened up for research? It allowed for cheaper advertisement of research materials and a wider readership. It allowed for easier experimentation and more ways to communicate with research subjects and other scholars. It allowed for easier persuasion of audiences based on their social media likes, and answered longstanding ethical dilemmas. It allowed for easier access to news and more ways to criticize media bias.

It allowed for easier experimentation and more ways to communicate with research subjects and other scholars.

According to Gage, how has the digital age influenced social movement organization (Choose all that apply)? It has made it more difficult to gain public respect and make concrete changes It has made it more difficult to judge the significance of any given demonstration It has made payment of organization membership fees more easy It has made organizing the movement much easier

It has made it more difficult to gain public respect and make concrete changes It has made it more difficult to judge the significance of any given demonstration It has made organizing the movement much easier

Why is the French Revolution important for the French Positivists? It illustrated political power, which the French positivists sought after. It illustrated the increasing relevance of globalization and transmission of religious values. It illustrated social disintegration or disfunction, and so encouraged them to understand social integration and function (or "solidarity"). It illustrated French moral degeneracy as an inherent part of the individual psyche.

It illustrated social disintegration or disfunction, and so encouraged them to understand social integration and function (or "solidarity").

In the social context of West Kensington, what does it mean to express to a partner that one wants children (Choose all that apply)? It is a compromise made for relationship security It is a high tribute to physical attraction It is a commitment to being with them forever It is a deep expression of trust

It is a high tribute to physical attraction It is a deep expression of trust

['Class consciousness' article] Which ideas or concepts of the German historicists seemed to resurface in the theory of Karl Marx?

Karl Mark seemed very positivist in my eyes under the fact that he was trying to create this Utopian society under communism. However, by validating the fact that class consciousness plays a vital role in the progression of law, it is clear he validates the German historicists ideas. In order to want change, individuals have to consciously see inequality and band to form a social class opposed of it.

Marx's 'Historical Materialism' video] Which ideas of the French positivists seemed to resurface in the theory of Karl Marx?

Karl Marx validated the idea of historical determinism, similar to the French positivists. History is not determined by chance but rather it is subjected to laws, specifically the laws of economics that determine every aspects of our lives. The production and division of wealth, similar to the thought of Durkheim's division of labor, determines societies inner workings and the class struggle. Another parallel would be that of the idea of this Utopian society introduced by Saint-Simon. Marx believed that as capitalism will finally fall apart, socialism run by the lower class workers will create bounty enough for everyone. This will finally give way to communism, or Marx' utopia.

(Supplementary video) The video describes some of the effects of parental incarceration on children (Video 1:30 - 1:55). What are some of these effects? What does the commentator mean when he says "there's a real risk here that incarceration becomes an inherited trait"? How might this further influence racial disparities/inequalities?

Kids who go through parental incarceration experience a diminished academic performance, behavioral problems, depression, and tend to act out more, especially among males. These are all factors that increase the probability of an individual dropping out of school and participating in juvenile delinquency, ultimately increasing their probability of becoming incarcerated in their life time. Imprisonment, although with the intent of reform, causes social backlash among not only the individual's rights but among their children's well-being, creating this endless cycle of incarceration. This endless cycle is what the commentator is referring to when he says "there's a real risk here that incarceration becomes an inherited trait," further depriving liberty for generations from a group whose liberty in the US was never firmly established to begin with.

Why was mass incarceration effective as a modern system of segregation? Mass incarceration received popular bipartisan political support from after Jim Crow until today. Mass incarceration is the most economically cost-effective method of segregation; it as a way of improving the economy by removing non-productive workers from the job market. Mass incarceration effectively bypassed U.S. government attempts to enact and enforce anti-discrimination policy that was intended to prevent segregation. Mass incaraceration allowed legal forms of discrimination in employment, housing, and education; it denied blacks the right to vote; and it did all of this in non-racial terms.

Mass incaraceration allowed legal forms of discrimination in employment, housing, and education; it denied blacks the right to vote; and it did all of this in non-racial terms.

Which of the following are gender differences in career outcomes (Choose all that apply)? Men outearn women Men are more likely to work, i.e. participate in the labor force, than women Men are more likely to work part time jobs Men and women work in different industries, firms, and jobs

Men outearn women Men are more likely to work, i.e. participate in the labor force, than women Men and women work in different industries, firms, and jobs

What is the main argument made by Hagan and Polloni? Mistaken perceptions linking Mexican immigration and criminal behavior are perpetuated by government reports. The government's responsibility to gather and accurately interpret statistics on crime conflicts with the politicians goal to gain and maintain political office The statistics linking Mexican immigration to crime are clear to government and criminologists alike, and form the basis for valid policy-making Mexican immigrants do not commit crimes, and all their crimes purported by government are fabricated

Mistaken perceptions linking Mexican immigration and criminal behavior are perpetuated by government reports.

Which of the following are benefits of digital information? (Choose all that apply) More observation can be made (e.g. more people observed) More precise data More ethical More exclusive

More observation can be made (e.g. more people observed) More precise data

What is the rate of Mexican immigrant imprisonment after adjusting for age, sex, and pre-trial detainment? Criminologists are unable to adjust for age, sex, and pre-trial detainment Significantly lower than that of U.S. citizens Not significantly different from U.S. citizens Still significantly greater than that of U.S. citizens

Not significantly different from U.S. citizens

Hoschild studies flight attendants. If you were to study emotional labor, what occupation would you study? Describe the type of emotional labor done in that occupation. (Bonus awarded if you think of an occupation that requires emotions other than positive emotions such as happiness/cheerfulness, or emotional displays other than smiling — Professional acting does not count!).

Occupations in a hospital forum require emotional labor to a large extent. From the receptionist at the front desk to the nurse in the emergency room, individuals are required to keep a soft, friendly demeanor in order not to upset the patients and cause any more aliments than they already might be going through. If one is seen as rude or harsh its a big issue and cause for complaint. I think this dynamic is super interesting and how someones emotional labor is so vital, and if they aren't seeming genuine, its an even bigger issue. It must be absolutely exhausting, an examination of the mental wear would be interesting. The only occupation i thing would want a less than positive emotional labor would be jobs meant to motivate. Like a personal trainer or maybe a big wig boss type that use negative exteriors to get people to work harder in order to receive their praise.

What were some structural conditions limiting the success of African Americans in panhandling (Choose all that apply)? Police enforced public nuisance and panhandling laws more rigorously against blacks. African Americans were too aggressive with strangers for them to give Passerbys rarely gave money to even the feeblest African Americans. All passerbys held explicitly racist attitudes and were vocally opposed to giving to African Americans

Police enforced public nuisance and panhandling laws more rigorously against blacks. Passerbys rarely gave money to even the feeblest African Americans.

(Supplementary Video) Describe what "family" is like in the prisons. If it's not biological, what is it based on or what function does it serve?

Prison family follows the same lines as fictive kin seen in the African American culture. The pseudo family creates close relationships that are a key to inmate survival. Vulnerable inmates become daughters and niece while the dominate, aggressive inmates assume roles of father and uncle. Protection is offered to the vulnerable in turn for obedience to authority. They give the example of buying food for those whose biological family doesn't send them money, in trade for the individual preparing the food and washing up after, as you would see in traditional father, mother, child family roles outside of prison.

Which of the following research methods best characterizes the account of Edin and Kafalis? Quantitative research method using surveys Qualitative research method using regression analysis Computational research method using experiments Qualitative research method using in-depth conversations

Qualitative research method using in-depth conversations

How does Jones describe the social context of inner-city girls? Check all that apply. Racially segregated and empoverished Trusting of and reliant upon social institutions and relationships Violent and exposed to drug trade Chaotic

Racially segregated and empoverished Violent and exposed to drug trade Chaotic

[Supplementary Material - 'Methods 101: Random Sampling' YouTube video] What is random sampling? Describe one of its benefits.

Random sampling is a representative sample size of a larger population. Everyone in a random sampling has an equal chance of participation and the data is weighted to adjust for possible differences of the sample to the population. Random sampling is beneficial because it offers a good picture of the population without going through the time, resources, and possible failure of obtaining data of the whole population; you wouldn't eat the whole soup to know if it needed salt, but just a spoon full.

Qualitative methods tend to be "inductive". Which of the following best describes what this means... Multiple observations are made and data is collected over wide time frame. Research findings are intended to induce people into collective political action. Researchers use data to develop theories (i.e. concepts, insights, understandings...) rather than to test preconceived theories. They intend to uncover latent or hidden variables using advanced statistical methods.

Researchers use data to develop theories (i.e. concepts, insights, understandings...) rather than to test preconceived theories.

In explaining relations between gender and career outcomes, economists focus on the characteristics and preferences of individual workers. What do sociologists focus on? Aggregation of choices Physical capacity to work Work experience Sex segregation

Sex segregation

What is 'sex segregation'? Do you think that it is a conscious part of the organization of the workplace? In other words, do you think that women and men are intentionally separated into different industries, firms, and jobs? Be sure to give reasons/argument.

Sex segregation is a sociological term that refers to the sexual division of labor within market work, or the difference in which sexes are distributed to different tasks. I do not believe that this is done as a conscious part of the organization of the work place, but rather that these ideas our society has on gender is so engraved in us that it comes natural to thing men are meant to provide and women are meant to nurture. Masculine and feminine roles have been assigned to a gender by society to which roles in the workplace naturally follow. Little girls are given dolls and nurse sets when they are little, showing them this is where there intent should be going when they grow up. So yes, a young female makes the choice to become a nurse, as said by the economist, but it was society that told her you can become a nurse not a construction worker when she was a child.

Which of the following is NOT a way in which sociology is distinguished from common knowledge. Sociology is more deliberate/careful in its language than common knowledge. Sociological knowledge reflects a broader spectrum of experience and ways of life. Sociological knowledge is expressed only through behavior; common knowledge is expressed only in writing. Sociological knowledge is organized while common knowledge is disorganized.

Sociological knowledge is expressed only through behavior; common knowledge is expressed only in writing.

Which of the following is characteristic of sociology? (Choose all that apply) Sociology can make us more aware of the experiences of people outside of our own social groups. Sociology goes beyond individual-based explanation to consider social contexts. Sociology can allow us to identify mental illnesses. Sociology can create solidarity.

Sociology can make us more aware of the experiences of people outside of our own social groups. Sociology goes beyond individual-based explanation to consider social contexts. Sociology can create solidarity.

What is the "myth" or "folk belief" that Alexander's sociology hopes to dispel? That systems of segregation receded and no longer exist after slavery and after Jim Crow. The stereotype of the "inner city" as predominately black. That most people have anti-racist attitudes today. The stereotype of the single-parent African American household.

That systems of segregation receded and no longer exist after slavery and after Jim Crow.

What is the "myth" or "folk belief" from which Jones's study proceeds? That black women are often struggling single mothers. That women do not earn as much as men. That women and girls are not as productive as boys or men. That women and girls do not fight like boys or men.

That women and girls do not fight like boys or men.

What is your impression of the French positivists? Just describe one or two of their main ideas and tell me what you like or dislike about it.

The French positivists explained society through the thought of cause and effect. By analyzing societal history, the positivists believed the were capable of explaining the fundamental causes of historical change and therefor intervene to produce the most desirable outcomes. They compared a healthy society to that of a healthy physiological body to which society needs to integrate to produce the most healthy society. I really enjoyed the French positivist as they focused on the unity of society and used historical patterns to learn about society and make it better, rather than just looking at it as something that happened in the past.

Edin and Kafalis describe career-development as a "mystery" to many of the South Kensington poor. Why might this be the case (i.e. what kind of support might affluent youths in Philadelphia for career-development that the poor do not get)? And how is it related to "family"?

The Puerto Rican youth in South Kensington are often ambitious in setting goals but don't have a clear understanding on the skills of how to obtain such a career nor do they have the financial means/ know how to overcome their financial barrier to obtain such career. However, family development is extremely clear made by their surrounds (seeing their mothers and friends care for babies or even taking care of siblings themselves). They know what to expect caring for a child, creating a relationship, and having the male take up easy work to care for the child. Family development is a clear cut path in comparison to career development.

Use the space below to think through some implications of demographic processes on the size of a social group (racial, gender, occupational, etc.). It may help to think about in- versus out- migration and its impact on specific neighborhoods or occupations. You should also consider the overall impact of the process that you describe on segregation or inequality. EXAMPLE: (i) the migration of medical professionals from developing countries to developed countries leads to a shortage doctors in developing countries. (Such shortage of professionals due to migration is known as "brain drain"). (ii) This contributes to inequalities in health care between developing and developed countries.

The forced segregation of the Native Americans that took place during the Trail of Tears bound this population into rural areas. Many of these people still today lack things as simple as running water, but most importantly formal hospitals and medical care dude to their rural setting. Many reservations are pushed so far from cities, limiting their choices of food and healthcare a like, limiting their access to a healthy life style. This social and economic segregation contributes to Native American inequalities on a variety of levels.

According to Bauman, what does the sociological perspective tend to focus on? The agenda-setting of social movement organizations. The relationship between organizational form and outcomes. The mutual dependence of actors, or how social relations influence action. The rational adaptation of individuals to organizational contexts

The mutual dependence of actors, or how social relations influence action.

According to Domhoff, who has most political influence in America? The corporate elite because corporations are the greatest vehicle for wealth in capitalst America The social elite (e.g. celebrities) because they have the most influence on the general population The political elite because politicians are the only ones that influence political policy The power elite, an intersection of corporate, social, and political elite that set the terms under which other groups must operate.

The power elite, an intersection of corporate, social, and political elite that set the terms under which other groups must operate.

What is "demography"? The scientific study of the polis, and how citizens or voters are dispersed geographically The scientific study of the size, composition, and distribution of human populations. The scientific study of social change, with a focus on poverty and inequality A set of individual characteristics such as race, gender, and age.

The scientific study of the size, composition, and distribution of human populations.

What is "big data"? A dataset that requires a large team of researchers for coding and analysis. The level of computing power required for data analysis in the natural sciences. The storage and use of large (and increasing) amounts of digital information. Data outliers extreme enough to influence research findings.

The storage and use of large (and increasing) amounts of digital information.

What is "criminology"? The study of crime concentrating on criminal characteristics and profiles The study of all aspects of violent crime and its role within society The study of all aspects of law making, law breaking, and reactions to law breaking The study of crime concentrating on arrest behaviors, and strategies of prosecution and defense

The study of all aspects of law making, law breaking, and reactions to law breaking

At the time of deindustrialization, most of the Edgewater homeless were in their late teens and early 20s. What is the significance of this? These were crucial ages for cognitive development, so this helps to explain risk of mental illness They were nearly drinking age, so this helps to explain their substance abuse These were crucial ages for career development and integration into the manual labor workforce. These were crucial ages for making friends and building relationships that would effectively prevent financial struggles

These were crucial ages for career development and integration into the manual labor workforce.

Which of the following is not a benefit of kinship (i.e. family) designations from the readings? They expand one's social network They give one a sense of identity and personal meaning They give support to people during personal crises, e.g. poverty, injury, illness, or death They are an important resource for personal lending and financial resources

They are an important resource for personal lending and financial resources

Government reports linking Mexican immigration to crime are biased in which of the following ways (Choose all that apply)? They fail to account for the fact that immigrants are disproportionately of ages and sex that are crime-prone, regardless of immigrant status. They fail to account for greater risks of immigrant detainment prior to trial, which often results in higher rates of conviction and imprisonment. They fail to account for the education of the immigrant, and so may be biased against against uneducated immigrants. They fail to account for the political party affiliation of the immigrant, and may be biased against Mexicans with negative attitudes towards the U.S.A.

They fail to account for the fact that immigrants are disproportionately of ages and sex that are crime-prone, regardless of immigrant status. They fail to account for greater risks of immigrant detainment prior to trial, which often results in higher rates of conviction and imprisonment.

What is the significance of the three demographic processes? They represent the pace of social, political, and cultural changes of a population They represent the three basic political rights -- right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness They represent how social groups are formed, such as racial and gender groups They represent the only ways population size can change — birth, death, or migration.

They represent the only ways population size can change — birth, death, or migration.

Come up with some hypothesis that relates at least two of the following variables: race, age, marital status, religion, number of children, education, voting habits, protest participation, sport preference, health, occupation, wealth, number of friends, socimal media usage. Then say which variable is the dependent variable and which is the independent variable in your hypothesis (Gordon pp. 15-16).

Those who are of higher education have higher voter participation. Where education is the independent variable and voting habits is the dependent variable.

What does 'disenfranchise" mean? To give one the right to vote or hold office To remove one's right to vote or hold office To remove one's right to legal representation To remove one's access to economic resources

To remove one's right to vote or hold office

(Supplementary) Sociologist Matthew Desmond claims that eviction is not only a condition of poverty, it is also a cause of poverty. What are some reasons that he gives for this in the video? In other words, what are some ways that being evicted could prevent someone from improving their economic position?

Today poor renting households are costing those in poverty over 50% of their income. As the poverty population is so large, 75% of these individuals receive no government aid and are unable to make renter payments, which force an eviction. Once you are evicted, the eviction records become public information so future landlords can reject occupancy. This forces previously evicted individuals to the bottom of the housing market into poor living arrangements in bad neighbors at inflated prices, further disadvantaging the poor and draining them of even more money.

What is "occupational closure"? When a company has full employment and is no longer hiring new employees. When one's responsibilities within an occupational role have reached there maximum, and new responibilities cannot be added to the position. When an occupation is fully isolated and independent from other occupations in the labor market When occupations construct and defend boundaries that increase rewards for their members.

When occupations construct and defend boundaries that increase rewards for their members.

(Supplementary) What bit of historical evidence that Friedman use to show that occupational closure is not related to quality of service? What argument does Friedman say physicians use to justify their high income? Do consumers demand/lobby for occupational licensing?

Whether it be a physician, barber, or plumber, those who serve on the board of licensing other individuals are individuals that are currently practicing the profession. One might argue that physicians know better than anyone else what the the consumer needs to be protected from in the physician occupation. Yet with more physicians becoming licensed, their individual divided income would decrease which would increase temptation to engage in unethical practices. So instead, the board keeps the number of physicians low, preventing say lower class individuals like refugees from becoming physicians, in order to keep a high average income to protect patients. In fact, they do the lobbying themselves to ensure they protect their consumers and prevent unfair competition. ***You are mixing the physicians perspective with the social scientific perspective. According to the physician, they are protecting consumers. And according to the physician, their high income is warranted to prevent unethical practices. But social scientific research shows that these claims are not validated. It is really all about preventing competition and maximizing rewards.

Suppose I claim that communities with a greater number of single parent households have greater crime. This relation, however, has not yet been proven. This is an example of... an independent variable that I could include in a statistical analysis. a hypothesis that I could test by assessing whether data are consistent with it. a prediction that I could model through a series of equations. a population that I could study.

a hypothesis that I could test by assessing whether data are consistent with it.

What does Hoschild warn is a potential consequence of emotional labor? resignation from one's position increase in profits for both company and worker retaliation against the workplace alienation from one's emotional self

alienation from one's emotional self

What is "positive philosophy" or "positivism" and what is its relation to sociology? an approach that regards all social phenomena as subject to invariable natural laws, laws which sociology is meant to uncover. an approach that regards all social phenomena as good for society; sociology is therefore a way of discovering how to do good for society. an approach that is strictly philosophical and bears no relation to sociology an approach that directly transfers all observations from the natural sciences (e.g. physics, biology, chemistry) to the social sciences; so sociology is nothing more than a redescription of what we already know in those sciences.

an approach that regards all social phenomena as subject to invariable natural laws, laws which sociology is meant to uncover.

According to Morning, how do sociologists typically view racial groups? as biological categories (based on biological traits) as contingent upon both ethnicity and nationality as social constructs (based on social conventions) as contingent upon government classifications

as social constructs (based on social conventions)

Hagan and Polloni predict that increases in legal immigration would lead to... increase in crime because Mexican immigrants commit crime at higher rates than U.S. citizens increase in crime because, now eligible to work in the U.S., legal immigrants will have more money to use for illegal activities decrease in crime because most of the crimes of Mexican immigrants are associated with illegal border crossing decrease in crime because migration would be less concentrated among young males

decrease in crime because migration would be less concentrated among young males

African Americans were enfranchised after the Civil War. Then in the South, African American's were... disenfranchised through zoning laws disenfranchised through special voting laws for African Americans disenfranchised through forced migration disenfranchised through poll taxes and literacy tests.

disenfranchised through poll taxes and literacy tests.

When feeling rules are instituted and imposed on occupational groups, employees often have to do ______. occupational labor distilled labor tactile labor emotional labor

emotional labor

Hoschild focuses on how companies can impose _______ on occupational groups. excessive physical demands unreasonable work hours feeling rules pay penalties

feeling rules

Butler rejects the traditional sex-gender distinction by arguing... gender is an important factor in creating inequalities but sex is not gender plays a role in the production of 'sex' categories, and so sex is not strictly biological there are multiple gender labels but only two genders, so gender is more significant for expression than sex there is no such thing as gender expression, and so feminists need to reframe their arguments

gender plays a role in the production of 'sex' categories, and so sex is not strictly biological

According to Simmel, it is impossible to establish causal laws in sociology as in the natural sciences because... mathematics is not sufficiently advanced, so we cannot calculate why people do what they do. individuals alone are too complex for laws; this implies that groups, which contain many individuals, must be too complex for laws. the natural sciences do not have genuine causal laws, so sociolgy won't either. the theories of the French positivists were prone to logical fallacy.

individuals alone are too complex for laws; this implies that groups, which contain many individuals, must be too complex for laws.

Which new form did racial segregation take after Jim Crow? affordable housing projects: segregation through housing policy ecological inequality: segregation by exposure to ecological risk mass incarceration: segregation through imprisonment racial discrimination in housing: segregation by realtors and landlords

mass incarceration: segregation through imprisonment

For Weber thinking is private and mental, but the meaning of thought and the ability of our thought to motivate us towards certain courses of action rather than others is... mindful and psychological observable and social dialectical and linguistic gendered and patrimonial

observable and social

Developing countries tend to be _____ while developed countries tend to be ______. receiving countries; sending countries low population countries; high population countries high population countries; low population countries sending countries; receiving countries

sending countries; receiving countries

The traditional distinction between sex and gender is that... sex is a biological category whereas gender is a psychological orientation sex is based on social conventions and gender is a biological category sex and gender are both based on social conventions sex is a biological category whereas gender is based on social conventions.

sex is a biological category whereas gender is based on social conventions.

French positivists tend to see sociology as emerging out of physiology. What is physiology? the science of organisms, or physical functions within living systems the science of genetic expressions the science of social groups as they relate to physical being the science of group agency

the science of organisms, or physical functions within living systems

What is the foremost goal of sociology for Weber? to develop an interpretive understanding of social action to apply the methods of the natural sciences to social life to tranfer all observations from individual psychology to characterize group psychology to incite the proletariat to revolt against the bourgeoisie

to develop an interpretive understanding of social action

Sociology is tasked with distinguishing itself from common sense because... unlike the physical sciences, it employs concepts from everyday life. it makes claims about social groups. it is not as complex as the physical sciences, e.g. physics or chemistry. its core claims are based on common sense.

unlike the physical sciences, it employs concepts from everyday life.