sociology final exam review

How is a dictatorship a form of authoritarianism?

A dictatorship is a type of authoritarianism where the leader typically seizes power rather than being selected or elected. (does not include representation of ordinary citizens) it is a strict rule obeying way of governing.

Give an example of one form that gender socialization can take in schools.

An example of gender socialization that can take place in schools is textbooks. Textbooks often still contain sexist language and gender stereotypes.

why do some argue that civil unions do not offer same-sex couples the same rights and protections as marriage

Civil unions do not allow for tax benefits, life insurance, immigration benefits, medical benefits, social security, and they are not recognized in all states. Marriages have tax benefits, life insurance, immigration benefits, medical benefits, social security, and are recognized in all states.

What is cultural imperialism? Give a real-life example of how it occurs

Cultural imperialism of the imposition of one's culture's beliefs and practices on another culture through media and consumer products rather than by military force. An example of this is Iran. It officially censors all non-islamic media content on television, radio, film, and the internet.

What does the recent media focus on Bruce Jenner's transition to becoming Caitlin Jenner tell us about the changing representations of LGBTQ lives in the media

I think that it could tell us that either people are starting to become more open and accepting to the idea or it could tell us they are being shown more because it's their right, but that doesn't necessarily mean it has the same acceptance that same-sex couples have.

What is the difference between individual discrimination and institutional discrimination? Give examples.

Individual discrimination occurs when one person treats others unfairly because of their race or ethnicity. An example of this is that a racist teacher might discriminate against a Hispanic student by assigning him a lower grade than he deserves. Institutional discrimination is usually more systematic and widespread and occurs when institutions (such as governments, schools, or banks) practice discriminatory policies that affect whole groups or individuals. An example of this would include laws and decisions that reflect racism, such as the Plessy vs. Ferguson case.

Describe two ways that school environments may have a negative impact on gender-nonconforming students

One way that schools may have a negative impact on gender-nonconforming students is the binary division of restrooms. Another way is putting an emphasis on heterosexual dating (prom king and queen). This could teach them that the only way they will be accepted is if they hide their true identity

What is the definition of social change?

Our culture evolves over time, as do our social institutions- the family, work, religion, education, and political systems. Social change id the transformation of culture over time.

even in the US, there is some degree of socialism. Name three programs that would qualify as socialism in our capitalist society.

SNAP, TANF, and our social security system

how do sociologist define religion? how is this different from the commonsense definition of religion

Sociologist define religion as shaping everyday behavior, giving meaning to our lives, and providing the opportunity to come together with others to share in group activities and identity. The commonsense definition of religion is that it (religion) includes any institutionalized system of shared beliefs and rituals

compare and contrast the approaches to race taken by the functionalist theory and the conflict theory

The functionalist theory believes racial and ethnic differences are a necessary part of society. Even racial inequality has functions that help maintain social order. The conflict theory in racism believes racial and ethnic differences create intergroup conflict. They both have developed ways to understanding race and how it develops

what does sociologist mean when they say the homeless population of the US is often "invisible"

They mean they we don't know exactly how many homeless people live in the US. If we don't know how many there are then we can't help them, making them invisible

List three ways social change occurs

Three ways that social change occurs are a major physical event (earthquakes), demographic factors, and discoveries/innovations

Describe two classes of social dilemmas.

Tragedy of the commons and public good dilemma are two classes of social dilemmas. Tragedy of the commons is an economic problem in which every individual tries to reap the greatest benefit from a given resource. Public goods dilemma refers to a real-world decision where the outcome for any individual depends on the decisions of all involved parties.

How does a person's race affect his or her life chances?

a person's race could affect his or her life chances in many ways. If a person is a certain race, it could affect how they're treated in the educational system, employment, and even medical care.

how does colorblind racism perpetuate inequality? what role can race consciousness play in addressing this problem

colorblind racism perpetuates inequality because it blinds us to the challenges faced by members of nonprivileged groups. Race consciousness can play a role in addressing this problem by making us aware of the importance of race in our everyday lives and in our dealings with social institutions

Why is divorce more burdensome for women than for men?

divorce is more burdensome for women than for men because women are more likely to retain the primary caregiving role after divorce and suffer financially because of it.

how and why does domestic abuse happen

domestic abuse results from the abuser's desire for power over their victim and abusers often blame their victims. Domestic abuse could happen because the abuser may have some psychological issues

how do functionalists and conflict theorist differ in how they approach and understand gender inequality

functionalists generally believe that there are still social roles better suited to one gender than the other, and societies are more stable when norms are fulfilled by the appropriate sex. Conflict theorists believe men have historically had access to most of society's material resources and privileges, and consequently, they generally seek to maintain their dominant status.

why are larger proportions of African American and hispanic men, as compared to whites, in prison

larger proportions of African American and hispanic men, as compared to whites, are in prison because some laws that don't seem race based still create racially differentiated outcomes, unemployment/dropout rates, declining marriage rates, and finally half of the reported hate crimes were attributed to racial discrimination

why is the media often referred to as the fourth estate

media is often referred to as the fourth estate of government because the media render checks and balances on power much like the three government branches

what does it mean that the states of Texas and California are minority-majority states

minority-majority areas are a term used in the US to refer to a jurisdiction in which one or more racial and/or ethnic minorities make up a majority of the local population. Texas and California are minority-majority states because of this and even though there are fewer white than nonwhites, whites are still dominant.

Explain two ways in which belonging to a particular social class has a profound effect on almost every aspect of a person's life

one way that belonging to a particular social class has a profound effect on almost every aspect in a person's life is their education. If a person is in the upper class they will most likely have a better education than someone in the underclass. Another way is where a person lives and their home.

What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?

prejudice is an inflexible attitude about a particular group of people and is rooted in generalizations or stereotypes. Discrimination is an action or behavior that results in the unequal treatment of individuals because of their membership in a certain racial or ethnic group.

What is racial passing? Why would someone try to pass?

racial passing is when a member of one race can be accepted as another race. For example, someone during the civil rights movement might pass due to fear of being discriminated against.

residential segregation is the geographical isolation of the poor from the rest of a city's population. explain how residential segregation is able to flourish in the US and what characterizes a neighborhood that is segregated in this manner.

residential segregation is able to flourish in the US because of "redlining" and public housing projects managed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Impoverished areas with high-density apartment complexes in urban areas characterizes a neighborhood that is segregated in this manner.

homogamy is the practice of choosing a romantic partner based on similarities in background and group membership. why do so many people choose life partners with racial, religious, and class backgrounds similar to their own

so many people choose life partners with racial, religious, and class backgrounds similar to their own because we have relatively few opportunities to meet people of different socioeconomic background during the course of our everyday lives and most people are comfortable choosing something that they know

explain why sociologists find it important to differentiate between sex and gender

sociologists find it important to differentiate between sex and gender because sex is viewed as biological and gender is viewed as social or cultural. Even though a person is usually the same sex and gender, this isn't always the case. Our gender identity and gender expression may differ from the sex we assigned at birth.

what factors contribute to what sociologists call the feminization of poverty

some factors that contribute to this are the gendered gap in wages, the higher proportion of single mothers compared to single fathers, and the increasing cost of childcare

what factors might explain low voter turnout in the US

some factors that could explain low voter turnout in the US are age, race, gender, education, and whether they are a citizen and eligable to vote or not

what are the consequences of gendered occupations on women's lives

some of the consequences of gendered occupations on women's lives are getting paid less, not getting a male-dominated job, and not being seen as having the same value as men.

why do some people live their lives unmarried

some people live their lives unmarried because there are other options such as cohabitation. Marriage is also no longer a prerequisite for having children. Some people may just prefer to remain unmarried because they are afraid of divorce

What are some ways that families teach their children behaviors and expectations that are associated with gender?

some ways that families teach their children the behaviors and expectations that are associated with gender are the clothes we are dressed in, the different chores given to boys vs girls, and in the toys they are given to play with.

how does the US census bureau define family? how would sociologist define family

the US census bureau defines family as two or more individuals related by blood, marriage, or adoption living in the same household. Sociologist define family as a social group whose members are bound by some type of tie-legal, biological, emotional, or a combination of all three

In what ways does the digital divide contribute to social inequality

the digital divide contributes to social inequality in many ways. Those with the funds to gain access to the internet and a computer are more likely to do better in the areas of education and the job market. Those that don't have access or the money are getting left behind leading to a divide and inequality

what is the hidden curriculum? what nonacademic functions does it fulfill

the hidden curriculum is a set of values or behaviors that students learn indirectly over the course of their schooling. it fulfills are the training of future workers and reinforce and reproduce conditions of inequality

In two or three sentences, explain the system of stratification that currently exists in the US.

the system of stratification that currently exists in the US is social class or socioeconomic status. This is the social standing or class of an individual/ group and ranks people according to their wealth, property, power, and prestige. The social classes in the US are the upper class, the upper-middle class, the middle class, the working (lower-middle) class, and the working/poor underclass.

According to Max Weber, what are three components of class? Explain each of them in your own words

the three components of class, according to Max Weber, are wealth, power, and prestige. Wealth could consist of income and property. Power is the ability to impose one's will on others. Their influence could be used to gain support. Finally, prestige is like a ranking or social honor granted to someone due to their belonging to a certain group.

describe how sociologists view leisure time

they view leisure time as time that can be spent doing whatever you want or nothing at all. it can include any activity that is satisfying or amusing, experienced as refreshing for body and mind

with pluralism or multiculturalism, why is the traditional image of the melting pot replaced with the image of the salad bowl

with pluralism or multiculturalism, the traditional image of the melting pot is replaced with the image of the salad bowl because with the "salad bowl" all the different ingredients maintain their distinct qualities, even as they are tossed together. In the last few decades, the US has seen more and more groups celebrating their racial or ethnic roots, developing a strong common consciousness, and expressing pride in their unique identity. At the core of pluralism, also referred to as multiculturalism, is the tolerance of racial and ethnic differences