Thinking Sociologically Midterm Stories

Teenage Wasteland: Suburbia's Dead-End Kids by: Donna Gaines

2 boys and 2 girls killed themselves in a parking garage and nobody knows why Gaines tries to figure out what inspired them to kill themselves and what bond held them closely enough to agree to kill themselves Gaines meets many 'burnouts' to try to get to the root of this issue, and finds that they are not really accepted in society and give up on themselves and do drugs and shit Burnouts could become burnouts by not having anything to occupy themselves while their parents are at work. They had suicidal and destructive adult role models

Working at Bazooms: The Intersection of Power, Gender, and Sexuality, by: Meika Loe

A study conducted to examine how gender and sexuality affect the workplace culture Quote from an employee: "The management has no respect for any of us waitresses. No respect." There were a set of "appearance rules" required for each shift The waitresses were subject to a lot of sexual harassment from the customers without repercussions for the customers Different women did shape their own experience at Bazooms, but they only could to a certain extent

Making it by Faking it (Robert Granfield)

A study looking at the ways working class students experience law school Majority of students were white and middle class at the time Working class students entered with lots of pride because they were a minority in law schools Soon after this feeling disappears as their background become a burden and they feel "different" Feeling "small powerless and dumb" was quite common among working class student Working class students would fake as though they were a part of the elite to fit in If one does not "fake it" then they are marginalized within the law school community Created ambivalence within their identity Sought to solve this ambivalence by remaining ideologically different from the upper class Socialization aren't instinctual can be learned and re-learned

The Power Elite (C. Wright Mills)

America's important decisions are made by the Power Elite: Corporate elite: executives from large companies (most powerful of these three) Military elite: senior officers Small political elite: president and top officials in executive and legislative branches The power elite are extraordinary -- others look up to them a lot Families, churches, and schools adapt to modern life while governments, armies, and corporations shape modern life --> these last three (which are bigger institutionalized bureaucracies) are not as malleable as the first three This triangle of power is all the structure you really need Class structure - bourgeoisie and proletariat --> bourgeoisie makes all the decisions Middle level is there but doesn't really have any say on the people above or below them in class

Finding Out How the Social World Works, by: Michael Schwalbe

An article on how to perform sociological research Explains the advantages and means of using systematic research If our premises of research are wrong, our conclusions will also be wrong Types of questions: empirical (measurable), aesthetic, moral, interpretation "Mindful Skepticism" is important, ignorance is not.

United States Health Care Reform: Progress to Date and Next Steps (Barack Obama)

Before the ACA (Affordable Care Act), American healthcare was not doing well; it had potential but didn't live up to it (in 2008, more than 1 in 7 people didn't have health insurance) With Medicaid, people also have better financial security of newly insured; there are also no negative effects on the labor market Individual health care spending is much less than was expected Divide between bourgeoisie and proletariat is shrinking?

Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia (Penelope A. McLorg and Diane E. Taub)

Conformity and deviance (or over-conformity) Conform to society by being thin Over-conform (deviant) by becoming too thin Also conforming to achievement, compliance, and parental attachment Primary and secondary deviance Stigmas Discreditable and discredited stigmas Labeling theory

Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology by: Chris Hunter and Kent McClelland

Covers Symbolic interactionism, Functionalism, and Conflict theory Goes into details about other current theories including: Feminism, rational choice theory, exchange theory, phenomenology, ethnomethodology, social construction theory, feminist standpoint theory, poststructuralism, postmodernism, discourse analysis, and cultural studies.

Culture: A Sociological View

Culture = the shared ways of a human social group Thinking, understanding, and feeling that have been gained through common experience in social groups and are passed on from one generation to another Culture reflects social patterns of thought, emotions, and practices that come from social interactions within a given society The concept of culture is used by sociologist to explain concerted activities (People in a culture have similar ideas and understand things in similar ways) Culture is good for problem solving (ex. those involved in the culture fill rolls needed to complete tasks) High Culture is work recognized as belonging to an honored category of cultural understandings by the people who have the power to make that determination and have it accepted by others

The Promise by: C. Wright Mills

Discusses the impact of change on men and women living in the 20th century society The lack of understanding cultural changes by both men and women contributes directly to a social order that promotes the growth of vast bureaucracies, which places a lot of power in the hands of a small group of elites 5 main problems of American society; Alienation, moral insensibility, threats to democracy, threats to human freedom, and conflict between bureaucratic rationality and human reason

On Being Sane in Insane Places, by: David L. Rosenhan

Discusses the social construction of mental illness An important representation of symbolic interactionism and the labelling theory An experiment performed by Rosenhan where 8 "pseudo patients" (normal, healthy people) gained access to several mental hospitals throughout the US They each claimed that they were hearing voices, and took notes during their mental health exams All of the patients were labelled as having "schizophrenia in remission" even though they were healthy These false diagnoses outside of an experiment can have depersonalizing effects on people and cause them to believe they really are sick

Shopping as Symbolic Interaction (Christine L. Williams)

Emphasizes on symbolic interaction theory About the social relationships and social interaction between clerks and customers Focuses on secondary relationships These secondary relationships reproduce social inequalities based on race, gender, and social class Workers were told to treat women different Middle-class white women got whatever they wanted- developed a sense of entitlement because of this White workers were treated better than the other workers Reflected race and class dynamics Men were the worst customers Herbert Blumer "people act towards things on the basis of the meanings that they give to them, and further that those meanings arise in the course of interactions."

Lovely Hula Hands: Corporates Tourism and the Prostitution of Hawaiian Culture

Exploration occurs when aspects of a subculture (beliefs, rituals, social customs) are commodified and marketed without the cultural group's permission Hawaiian cultures, language, dress and dance forms, have been marketed as products for the mass consumption of tourist Hawaii was colonized due to America's post war imperialism Prostitution (degraded and victimized sexual value for use and exchange through the medium of money) The pimp= The resort owners and tourist Hawaii is the prostitute to the tourism economy (hotels buying beaches, having luaus, etc) Thirty years ago Hawaiian residents outnumbered tourists by more than 2 to 1. Today, tourists outnumber residents by 6 to 1 and native Hawaiians by 30 to 1 Ethnography "Do not come to Hawaii"

Racializing the Glass Escalator: Reconsidering Men's Experiences with Womens Work (Adia Harvey Wingfield)

Feminine jobs are thought to be easier, caring, nurturing positions. "These assumptions facilitate men's entry into better paying, higher status positions, creating what Williams (1995) labels a "glass escalator" effect" White men who work in the medical field are looked at as superior to their women coworkers. These white male nurses are seen as more intelligent, more, competent and are basically pushed into Charge nurse or supervisor roles. It is easier for white men to move up faster due to the relationships that develop between male supervisors, etc. White male nurses are often confused by patients as doctors or higher-ups in the medical profession. As stated in the essay, many of these white men are asked The experience for black men in the nursing field is completely different. Stereotyping black males follows them into the medical field. "Gendered racist stereotypes of Black men in particular emphasize the dangerous, threatening attributes associated with Black men and Black masculinity, framing Black men as threats to white women, prone to criminal behavior, and especially violent" These stereotypes affect relationships between black men and their coworkers, supervisors, patients, and all other individuals encountered at the workplace. Black men are subject to being thought of as the janitor or housekeeper instead of as a nurse. Black men are less likely to be promoted, as they are seen as incompetent and less skilled than the white male nurse

The birth of the Intravidual (Dalton Conley)

Fundamental line is between the "self" and the "other" Before the intravidual was the individual Individual identifies with occupations and religions etc Intravidual has to be created when these things conflict Intravidual is the things you choose to identify with over other possible things Make a complete self Is only complicated as you make more connections through social media

Gender as a structure (Barbara Risman)

Gender stratification: social systems in which socioeconomic resources and political power are distributed on the basis of one's sex and gender Theory 1: Gendered Selves Assume that maleness and femaleness are, or become, properties of individuals Focus on whether sex differences are biological or social in origin, and the development of sex differences and their relative importance of behavior Sex-role Theory: = early childhood socialization (family) is an influential determinant of later behavior = assume men and women behave differently because gender resides primarily in personality = —: it presume behavioral continuity throughout the life course —: the oversocialized conception of human behavior - once know how an individual has been raised, this status/training is contained primarily in his/her head —: depoliticization of gender inequality: theory legitimates a dualistic conception of gender that relies on a reified male/female dichotomy Reinforcement Theory:gender is developed through reinforcement of their gendered roles. E.g. girls develop nurturant personalities because they are given praise and attention for their interest in dolls and babies. Nancy Chodorow's psychoanalytic perspective: gendered personalities develop as a result of exclusively female mothering. E.g. mothers relate to their boy and girls infants differently, fusing identities with their daughters while relating to their sons as seperate and distinct Ruddick "maternal thinking": the constant nature of mothering creates a certain kind of thinking Above theories focus more on individual personalities

Superstorm Sandy: Restoring Security at the Shore (Bates)

Human-made and natural disasters are increasing, and they will have far-reaching effects on the environment and structure of societies. We don't often think about the social organization that makes our day to day routines possible, but storms highlight these structures' importance. Ontological Security: most of the time, the systems on which we depend will function as we expect them to function. Many communities remained depopulated post hurricane for weeks and months. Increased mental health conditions for those displaced. Price gouging: ppl. charged ridiculous prices for gas, hotels, etc. in order to profit off disaster. Disruption of social systems-"collective trauma" contributed to sense of loss. We trust in "abstract institutions", and when they collapse for extended period, psycholigically difficult. The environment is the manifestation of our social world, we have economic, emotional, social, political ties to environment. So ppl. are moving back to Jersey Shore.

Anybody's Son will do (Gwynne Dyer)

If culture is learned it can be unlearned(total institutions strip people of their identities) Soldiers ideology must be transformed before they can go to war Most citizens wouldn't be prepared to kill someone Soldiers are "brainwashed" to be able to fight Sergeants motivation to make a soldier do what he is told The purpose of the initial training is to make the cadet think they're completing an incredulous feat while in reality it is kept within their limits. Creates a "brotherhood" Cadets now feel as though they belong No longer think as an individual so they will work just to be useful to the unit

Over the Counter; McDonald's (Robin Leidner)

In service providing organizations upper-level management concerns itself with behavior of customers and workers, and what is the most effect work, and what is the most costly. Usually by limiting choices. Those at mcdonalds are not given a choice on how to do something. Computers now make all the decisions for them, they just flip the burgers There's a mcdonalds way to handle everything, there's also a Hamburger university to become a manger. Even though it's highly repetitive, it's often demanding and stressful, as the company has limited commitment to its workers, shown by wage and benefits. Socialization of the workers get them to conform to the mcdonalds way, along with social control.

An intersection of Biography and History: My Intellectual Journey by: Mary Romero

Latina woman Juanita crossed from mexico every week to work and was mistreated as a worker living in a house she cleaned Kids refused to see the cleaning lady and when they did they were disrespectful Romero helped her mother clean when she was young and experienced the same disrespect Romero conducted a study on the women cleaning houses and found that the chicanas were in shitty working conditions and worked for low wages for the white people but also had to go home and do more work around their own homes without being payed.

Manifesto of the Communist Party by: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

Marx and Engels accurately described exploitive industrial conditions Their theory of class struggle and revolution is still relevant and was a source for worldwide change Discusses the revolutionary role of the bourgeoisie in an industrialized society. Compares the bourgeoisie to the proletariat (each class relies on the other)

Sand Castles and Snake Pits (Lillian B. Rubin)

Mentally ill people used to be in mental hospitals/insane asylums --> then the government decided to tear those down SO THAT they could rebuild nicer places for people to live --> but they never did this second step Deinstitutionalization without any reinstitutionalization after So many mentally ill people were forced to live on the streets, and they're still there Feedback loop: people are mentally ill, and get kicked out of their homes --> forced to live on the streets --> can't get any help --> stay mentally ill Iron cage? People with these illnesses need medications to get better, but they either can't get them in the first place or as soon as they do and are better, they leave and stop taking them (and are back at square 1)

This is for the Brown Kids: Racialization and the Formation of "Muslim" Punk Rock

Muslims are understood on racial not religious grounds, thus this leads to those who are not muslims being subjugated to islamophobia Reflexive racialisation= Highlights how racially and ethnically marginalized individuals learn about their common struggles as "Others" and develop shared understandings of social inequality through self generated/policed media Taqwacore take this a step further by talking about who they are not (not white and mainstream) Taqwacore punks create a racial identity as "brown kids" that is panethnic and opposed to the major racial frames used to vilify Muslims and brown-bodied others They use punk rock attitudes to call out whiteness and keep it out of their punk This shows how marginalized youth are using popular culture to create new racial identities against whiteness

A Slow, Toxic Decline (Keith Wailoo)

New Orleans/Louisiana were pretty unhealthy to begin with --> they're in the "stroke belt" of America High population of black people --> and there's a correlation between being black and having diabetes and kidney disease --> comes from a connection between health and income --> when people have less money, they are more likely to have kidney disease and/or diabetes When they were hit by Hurricane Katrina, the people couldn't reach the dialysis centers, and therefore couldn't get the treatment they needed for kidney disease (also didn't have access to other medical things that were needed, but the article focused on kidney disease) People couldn't leave --> lower class people didn't have cars to just escape the city in Lower-class people get stuck (little $, so eat unhealthy food, end up getting diseases, can't pay for treatment, stay sick, have little $) Also on hurricanes: a "natural disaster" isn't a disaster until you put humans there, and then it's an issue

Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture (A. Ayres Boswell and Joan Z. Spade)

Shows privileged attempt to socially construct deviance and crime to their advantage Social interactions Deviance Social experiment Observed two different frats at one school to note the differences between those with a high vs low risk of generating the sexually assaultive behavior by watching interactions between males and females Conclusion: The group norms promoted certain behaviors and reinforced rape culture In low risk environments, the co-ed groups conversed and were equal in number, interacted with each other in a polite, friendly, and respectful way In high risk environments, females and males in numbers were unproportioned, environment was less friendly, there was less respect/chivalry, rape is not an individual act (characteristics of the settings that promote the behaviors that reinforce a rape culture) What is rape culture? Set of values and beliefs that provide an environment conductive to rape Gender relations Relationships between males and females are shaped by the contexts in which they meet and interact Males and females have different ideas of hooking up The Greek system sets the dating standard for dating Brothers are in competition with their brother's girls for attention Treatment of women Some treat women with respect but not when a group of men are around

Invisible Inequality: Social Class and Childrearing in Black Families and White Families

Social class not only has an effect on adults, but also on the way those adults raise their children The study was done to determine how class affects the parenting styles of families. The researcher found that in the middle class family, the parents were more involved with their children; this ranged from conversation to filling up the child's schedule with activities. This mother encouraged her son to be direct with a health professional, which may be a sign of entitlement. As for the poor family, the mother still saw herself as a capable mother. She cared for her children but did not force them or plan for them to do anything besides eat and bathe. In terms of the health professional, the mother did most of the speaking while the child sat in silence; a sign of constraint. -Concerted cultivation- A style in parenting in which the parents are overly involved in the child's life. Whether the effects are positive or negative are all opinions. Parenting is not affected by class or their parents' education, but rather it is affected by the parent's previous experiences, resources, as well as conditions.

"No Way My Boys Are Going To Be Like That!" Parents' Responses to Children's Gender Nonconformity

Socialization= the process through which an individual becomes integrated into a social group by learning the group's culture and his or her roles in that group Heterosexual parents would allow their daughters to do more male activities but not their sons These beliefs are across all races/ economic classes Mothers, gay fathers and lesbian mothers were more accepting of gender non-conformity, but were worried of how their children would be judged by others Fathers believed if their sons was not masculine they had failed as fathers but did not mind if their daughter was masculine Single mothers, gay fathers and lesbian mothers cared about what others thought about their children but still allowed them to act that way Parents associate gender with things such as household chores and other activities/ communicate gender through modeling masculinity and femininity Fathers are more likely to push their children outside of comfort zones Masculinity= tough/ Femininity= soft and pretty

Who rules America?: The corporate Community and the upper class (William Domhoff)

Socioeconomic status is calculated by income, education, occupation - subjective indicators of class = attitudes/values, class identification, consumption patterns - upper class consists of interrelated social institutions - upper class people have a distinctive education to create upper class subculture. Private schools are "total institutions" to build "character" → sense of separatedness and superiority - upper class adults have social clubs (requires nominations, applications, interviews) - upper class rituals of debutante balls; common value of charity to feel better about lavish spending - marriage between upper class members continues institution of upper class

Understanding the dynamics of $2-a-day poverty in the United States

Structural programs such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) has limited cash assistance and imposes work requirements on recipients - rise in extreme poverty was caused by welfare reform - cycle of poverty exemplified in Monique case study - drug addict mother and uncle → abusive husband → homeless shelter and motel → jail and lost custody → job finding in North Carolina to uproot family - children are trained in a working class lifestyle to value jobs over education; no value of self-development - poverty caused by structural issues in Great Recession, decrease of cash; welfare reforms

Peer Power (Patricia A. Adler and Peter Adler)

Study of cliques among children Leaders derived power from popularity Potential members are brought in only by established members who liked them Timing is key, beginning of the year is best Then the cliques are once again set Application by kissing ass of someone in the click Those who are closest to the leaders are more popular Can do favors to someone in the group to get in Exclusion Exclusion and rejection to outside members: out group subjugation In group subjugation: picking on those in the clique Compliance to the higher status kids would make another kid seem cooler Insiders were often stigmatized by being ignored or picked on Expulsion: Kids could be outcast from the group for too many infractions or for standing up to leaders of the group Social roles and statuses

Because She Looks Like a Child (By Kevin Bales)

Thailand's economic boom with increased demand for tempting consumer goods + Social acceptance of prostitution = the sale of (girl) children Income of poor economic migrants from the rice fields who now working on the building sites goes up, so their purchasing power increases → go to a brothel ↑ supports a growing business of prostitution Ways to get girls: = purchase from parents = deceived families dispatch their girls with the agent = kidnapped by gangs and then sell the girls Siri: bought from her parents Sisters of the sold girls put up little opposition to being sent away as they found the city and the backed girls with money and clothes appealing Why the large scale of prostitution = Historical: polygamy - having mistress or minor wives continue to enhance men's social standing = economic: economic growth make vast numbers of men have now been raised to a financial position from which they can regularly buy sex = gov system are defective and unreliable Slaveholders = any consumers with a little capital to invest = pimps, madams, brothel keepers are just employees who appear to own the enslaved prostitutes = the brokers and agents who buy & sell the girls are just short-term slaveholders = real slaveholders are the middle-aged businessmen who are admired as successful, diversified capitalists There is little or no racial or ethnic difference between them and the slaves they own They feel no need to rationalize their slaveholding on racial ground They're not really interested in their slaves at all, just in the bottom line on their investment Social norm: owning a lot of money is good enough reason for anything Sex slavery are expected to decrease = jobs for women go up = education and training are expanding rapidly across Thailand = HOWEVER, the demand for prostitution (local+tourism) is going up Thai women are illegally sent to Japan and working in prostitution, and debt bonds are significantly large Thailand's current situation: significant part of the economy dependent on slavery, religious and cultural leaders are ready to explain why this is all for the best

Descent into Madness (Mark Colvin)

The New Mexico State prison riot Deviance New prison administration had just begun dismantling prison programs and reducing inmates' privileges Took away basic rights 1976 a strike happened Violent inmate cliques Inmate control The "snitch system" was created Would undermine inmate solidarity As this disintegrated, young prisoners began entering a social situation that elicited violence from a growing number of inmates If administrators needed info, they would inmate Used intimidation, would wear snitch jacket Labeled as a snitch (stigma) Cause fear and danger Administration used intimidation tactics, coercion and violence, turned other inmates against each other Would place inmates in a hole for unclarified reasons Social structure and subcultures Total lack of organization of inmates and the inmate-to-inmate violence are two big characteristics in this

The Time bind: When work becomes home and home becomes work (Arlei Russell Hochschild)

The passage is about how families are neglecting their families in order to work more in the office. They push their kids off to either their significant other or to a day care place. It mainly focuses on mothers, who despite having to work 7 days a week still have to come home to screaming kids and a dirty house because their spouse didn't help out while they were away. This demonstrates an inequality that is forced upon working mothers. Then to get away from their chaotic household they try to work more, or they prefer work more because they don't have to deal with the stress of running their household.

Diversity in the Power Elite (Richard L. Zweigenhaft and G. William Domhoff)

The power elite is still mostly white, Christian men, but now it also has Jews, women, black people, Latinos, and Asian Americans We say we believe in the American Dream, but really the diversity we see in the power elite and in the media shows us the unchanging nature of class structure A few people usually control a lot of others --> and they usually grow up knowing this is what they'll do (bourgeoisie and proletariat!! Iron cage!! No social mobility!!) In order for individuals in minorities to make it to the power elite, they've got to be super educated (much more so than the white men who are already in those positions) Elite schools help students network --> so the students make big connections and make big business and then they become alums and it keeps going Racial segregation is still super apparent --> many different past circumstances shouldn't exist but still do, and greatly impact many people BUT now there are more corporate-sponsored programs to educate black students and "groom them" for elite universities and potentially into spots in the Power Elite Even with more diversity in the power elite, nothing is really changing in the system (top 20% still owns 84% of the wealth)

The Rise of the New Global Elite (Chrystia Freeland)

There are two different americas, the one that belongs to the rich consumers ( plutonomy) and the rest of the people belong in the other. The rich look down on the people that didn't achieve as much as them, and so as a result of that that they now spread out across the globe making more connections with each other than they do with people that live in their own country. With advancements in tech and globalization people are able to share ideas more freely and the world has been able to prosper from that, however the distribution of this has been unequal Lead to the winner-take-most economy, the super elite now are able to make even more money, while everyone else don't get the pay out that they do. Leading to a huge wage gap The elite no longer meet in small gathers, they now take part n large global meetings. These business are now looking for workers in other countries, because that is where things can be made cheaper, and where the market is at. America needs these elites however, do to the harsh economy, even though they themselves aren't getting the jobs The schools need them so that they can get funding for better systems so that the middle class can navigate the new global economy The plutocrats don't like this and feel singled out and refuse to do things like pay higher taxes. But they need to worry about the rage that they'll get from the lower classes, who eventually will just wish to change the way of the economy

Controlling the Media in Iraq

Thesis- The embedded programs funded by the Pentagon limited embedded reporters' social locations and their focus in war mostly on soldiers. Thus, these programs successfully influenced the embedded reporters to only portrait the positive aspect of the Iraqi War and put the army in less objective light. Structure- The military institution of U.S. uses their embedded programs to incorporate most reporters into the military camp. In this way, the institution successfully produces mostly positively images about its performance in the war. It combines the uses of re-socialization and potential sanctions to achieve the goal for the embedded reporters. Cultural- The embedded program produced positive images which keep the many Americans' beliefs that Iraqi War is a moral and righteous war against evilness. Agency- Independent reporters roamed in the Iraq and produced objective reports of the Iraqi War. They used their personal powers trying to change peoples' ignorant faith in this war. SI- The embedded reporters lived in the military camps and were accompanied by soldiers all the time thus through their interactions they, in some extent, narrated the war through soldiers' perspectives despite these were not everything in the war. Functionalism-the reports of these embedded reporters sustain the solidarity in the U.S about the Iraqi War. Conflict- struggles between the military and the medias about reports on war The military officers are trying every method to incorporate reporters whose goals and values are quite different with them.

Religion and Society—Of Gods and Demons by Steven P. Dandaneau

Thesis: Both history and biography are significant in understanding the import not religion in society today. Structural analysis: systematic thinking about how patterns of life and belief are reproduced across time and spaces such that social institutions are created and maintained, thereby building and rebuilding the society. Factionalism: Durkheim's explanation or theory of all religions—Religion is not merely social institution; it is the "eminently social" social institution. Durkheim believes the religions are at base the same. The religious ideas are actually the abstract form of the concept of society. This explain why some aspects of social life contain strong elements of ritual and sacred attention while the purposes are not religious at all. Conflict theory: The rising of Christianity is largely depend on the conflicts between the ruling class and peasants. Social interactionism: The continuous of religions also depend on people's construction on their religious beliefs. The religions that survived not only produce cohesion among the founding groups, but also provide the believers and potential believers to construct their religious beliefs. Thus the religious reproduce the followers. The people who belonged to religious group tend to behave and construct more religious beliefs and values due to their experience. Triangle: Structure: The development of religious is the process of institutionalization. The religions are composed by religious ideas that collectively followed by believers. Then, the religions reproduce the believers through time by sharing the collective values and ideas with others. It is no longer a combination of collective values and beliefs. It become social institution. Culture: To sociologists, religious idea is very important both to the religions themselves and the society. Many sociologists admit that the religions are extremely important, like Durkheim, Weber and Marx. For example, Marx regard the religious ideas as opium of the poor people. The elites sends out religious idea to distract people from recognizing their poor conditions. Agents: Although individuals could become believers of religions easily, in fact many sociologists who study religions do not practice religious behavior. The rising of new science of nature and society offered the agents the ability to systematically and sociologically study the different religions.

Convergence: News Production in a Digital Age

Thesis: Huge corporations and companies' presence in the news industry, they imported corporate managerial methods and high-tech to facilitate changes such as synergistic mode of production, stratification, target marketing and media segmentation to make news production more efficient and profitable. These strategies had created conflicts between reporters, journalists with the managements out of the concern that news production will be more commercialized, they are facing more pressure and news validity will decrease. However, this pattern is still going to continue if internet news industry does not find a business model for journalism. -Rapid technological and commercial changes since 1970s gave new directions to the news production -Synergistic mode of production: different branches of the company share and cross-promote each other's resources and services. -Interdepartmental cooperation give reporters more tasks and pressure to incorporate their own products into other medias. -new system of stratification in the newsroom, elite reporters have plenty of time to do major reports whiles others taking cares of daily reports. -concerns for efficiency cause reporters to find easily accessible sources online, which may be faulty. - "Most efficient way to report is to cover big institutions with beats." -Target marketing directed on affluent readers in suburban areas. (economic and regional inequality thus delivered) -news production is more and more localized, since it's known that people use the news to gain a world of info about their own interests, hometowns and themselves. Agency: news reporters and journalists complain and resent about the commercialization of the news production and the following huge pressure putting on them to suit into this pattern. Their frequent interactions with teams from other departments illustrate to them the transformation which occurred inside news production industry. Culture: efficiency valued in corporate culture produce conflicts with media culture of seriousness and truth. Individualism in American culture promote "localization" of news production, help corporation to further infiltrate into news production industries. Structure: institutions like corporations and publicly traded companies use their capital to impose changes in structure and mode of production in news production industry. When they impose changes, these changes led to more rapid division in the society (target marketing and media segmentation divide audiences, rich and poor) Also, the changes include social stratification inside news production industry. Conflicts theory: news reporters and journalists are the new proletariats in the "class system" created by the managements of huge corporations. These corporal managers and elite figures in journalism thus become the new bourgeoisies who have very different values and goals from the news reporters and journalists. There will be many conflicts between these groups of conflicting interests.

Adoption and (Un)Desirable Children (Katherine M. Flower Kim)

Thesis: Individual choices and preferences are linked and embedded in broader social, cultural, and historical contexts. The preference in adoption is influenced by factors out of individual concerns. Adopters put "healthy infant" as the most important characteristic. However, racial factor was more significant. White infants are most preferred due to race matching (having a baby that looks similar) Race (for Hispanics and Blacks) becomes a master status of children waiting to be adopted. Black infants are least preferred as parents view African American cultural practices were oppositional with white cultural practices. Parents think racial culture is so powerful that family socialisation could not impact the child. Parents had negative racial stereotypes towards African Americans. Asian infants especially Korean are preferred when adopting white infants were impossible due to the long waiting time. Asians are seem more compatible with white, middle class culture (Honorary Whites). Also, Asian babies are physically more attractive. Asian infants are preferred over black infants because parents want their child not look too different. Black and white are polar opposite, while Asians are in the middle.

The Cosmopolitan Canopy (Anderson)

Thesis: Not all interracial interactions are negative; in fact, some public urban spaces-- "cosmopolitan canopies"--dramatically alter the social distance and potential racial tensions between people. These positive racial spaces might potentially be a model for social change. In cities, ppl tend to be wary towards strangers, often associated w/ race. Avoid eye contact. Blacks associated w/ danger, whites with civility/respect BUT, there are some public spaces that allow ppl to let down their guard/behave casually. EX: The Philadelphia Reading Terminal Market: Strangers talk, are relaxed, and gain trust across ethnicities/race An institution in Philadelphia where all can expect civility Diverse ppl eating one another's food--ppl become more human Neutral setting--special tolerance for others. Other examples: train station, hospital waiting room, jazz club. These spaces allow for folk ethnography. Strangers become humanized. END RESULT: a growing social sophistication that allows diverse urban ppl to get along.

What is Racial Discrimination? (Matthew Desmond and Mustafa Emirbayer)

Thesis: Race and racism are still a part of contemporary social life. Race is based on phenotype or ancestry. Racial categories are place-specific and time-specific. Naturalization: something created by human is mistaken as something dictated by nature. Race is a social fabrication. Racial categories are naturalised —> people do not doubt enough Ethnicity: shared lifestyle informed by cultural, historical, religious, and national affiliations. Nationality: equated with citizenship, membership in a specific politically delineated territory controlled by a government. Race, ethnicity, and nationality cannot be separated from one another, neither ca they be collapsed into one. Race and ethnicity are both ascribed and achieved. Five fallacies about racism: 1. Individualistic fallacy: racism is only the collection of nasty thoughts that a racist individual has about another group. 2. Legalistic fallacy: abolishing racist laws automatically leads to the abolition of racism in practice 3. Tokenistic fallacy: presence of people of colour in influential positions is evidence of the eradication of racial obstacles. 4. Ahistorical fallacy: most US history is inconsequential today 5. Fixed fallacy: the nature racism is fixed, define racism as the most heinous form —racial violence (thinks racism got better now) Institutional racism: symbolic power, political power, social power, economic power Interpersonal racism: manifest in everyday interactions and practices, may be unconscious Racial domination intersects with other forms of domination— gender, class, sexuality, religion, nationhood, ability. Racial essentialism: the notion that there is a monolithic racial experience e.g. Asian experience Intersectionality: different dimensions play together in a person's life— class, gender, race, sexuality

At a Slaughterhouse, Some Things Never Die (Charlie LeDuff)

Thesis: Racism occurs on many levels in this slaughterhouse. Employers use racist strategies to maintain an economic advantage and social control over their employers Whites get the best-pay and cleanest jobs such as mechanics or supervisors, Indians are supervisors, black and Mexican get dirty jobs Competition in skin tone. Factory is self-segregated. Language is a divider (English and Spanish). High turnover rate due to intense work load. Inmates on the bottom rung with Mexicans Noise in the factory cuts people off from one another, cannot communicate The Kill Floor which requires strong men and pay a top wage are occupied by blacks but a few Mexicans. Stereotype on Mexicans as being physically weak. Mexicans dare not to fight back. Many are illegal immigrants who own debts to the smugglers and have to repay for the authentic-looking documents used for getting a job. Frightened about being singled out —> do not tell others their real name. Their wish is to earn enough money and grow old in Mexico. Do not want their kids to integrate into American society. A lot of scuffling between black and Mexican. About having a union: Americans support (Mexicans drag down the pay, root out illegal workers) Refuse to show preference (refuse to take a stand on illegal labourers, intimidation as being called ****** Love) Mexicans oppose (place their illegal status under scrutiny and force them out) Factories replace blacks with Latinos because they do not complain

Yearning for Lightness: Transnational Circuits in the Marketing and Consumption of Skin Lighteners (Evelyn Nakano Glenn)

Thesis: Skin-lightening are prevalent among women around the world as they are deeply influenced by the idea that "white is right". Women conform to the racialized beauty norms of western culture. Structural In African countries, people with "mixed" race have fewer legislative restrictions that those classified as "native". Privilege attached to light skin Giant multinationals utilize their network in countries and diverse their product varieties Cultural Light skin constitutes valuable symbolic capital in the marriage market in Asian countries. Mexicans uphold the a official national ideal that Mexico would gradually be people by a white "cosmic race" that surpassed its initial ingredients. Upper class people have lighter skin tone, shaping the idea that skin tone relates to socio-economic status. Advertisement promotes the benefits of having light skin Agency Women who hope to move upward in the social ladder choose to perform skin lightening. They think this will land them better job opportunities and more ideal partners. Functionalism The national ideal of Mexicans in lightening their skin tone builds solidarity among the countries as they share the same target. Whites or people with lighter skin tone distance themselves with blacks or people with darker skin tone. Solidarity is developed among the group. Example: After the American Civil War, light-skinned mulattos (a person with one black and one white parent) formed their own cultural organisations as a means to separate from the blacks. Conflict theory Lighter skin upper class VS darker skin lower class Proletariat and bourgeoisie in giant multinationals Symbolic interaction People's first impression often associates with the skin tone.

Revolutions and Regime Change (Goodwin and Rojas)

Thesis: Social revolutions occur under repressive regimes and with a complete overthrow of the existing government. Fundamental changes in economy, politics, or culture occur. These are much rarer than political revolutions. Most social movements try to reform societies by changing laws, public policies, or cultural norms. But some try to bring about revolutionary change, usually through changes in the political regime (which is harder to accomplish). Revolution: May refer to overthrow or fundamental transformation of a political regime or state by a social movement or rebellion, whether by violent or nonviolent means. Called political revolution. Change in political regime but little change in econ. institutions and class structures. CAN morph into a social revolution. Different from a coup d'etat, which is the overthrow of a gov. by elites with little popular support. Or, revolution may refer to a rare historical episode in which the overthrow of a regime or state is accomplished by fundamental changes in a society's econ. institutions/ class structure. Called a social revolution or great revolution to distinguish it from political revolutions. Marxists: Claim that revos must include redistribution of property or creation of new modes of production. Others argue that revos can fundamentally change ppl.'s lives w/out economic changes, but by changing politics or culture. French Revo=first social revolution Revolutionary situation: when social movements have substantial popular support and political loyalties are divided between gov. and revolutionaries. Class conflict = principal factor driving revolutionary situations. Three main "symptoms" of revolutionary situations: A crisis is dividing the upper class Suffering of the oppressed is too extreme to bear As a consequence, there's increased activity of the masses. Revolutionary situations most likely to develop in repressive political contexts than democratic ones. However, democratic regimes just as often breed poverty, inequality, etc. It's just that social justice movements in democracies see the state as an instrument to be influenced, whereas revolutionary movements form under states that provide no way for reform other than completely rebuilding the state from ground zero. Violent regimes can also create revolutionary situation

Muslims in America by Jen'nan Ghazal Read

Thesis: The demographic overview of the 2 to 8 million Muslims living in America. Whereas Muslim Americans tend to be highly educated, fluent in English and politically conscious, they are very diverse in terms of their social nd political views. Functionalism: Most Muslim Americans are immigrants who come from different region and different religious background. Conflict theory: The Muslims are always regarded as threat to American society. Their socioeconomic status and education level are not matter. Symbolic interactionism: The notion that Muslims privilege their Muslim identity over their other interests and affiliations has been projected onto the group rather than emerged from the beliefs and practice of the group itself. Triangle: Structure: Muslim Americans are considered not important in American political system. It is true that their immigrant composition and voter eligibility block them from registering to vote. However, Muslim Americans are actually highly diverse and politically integrated. Culture: Muslim Americans are pretty diverse. They practice their religions differently according to their devout degrees. Because their different backgrounds, they shared different values and cultures internally. Agents: Although Americans are pretty religious, it does not mean their religious beliefs deeply influence their political views. To Muslim Americans, their political views are also influenced by the things that influence Americans political views. They actually look like other Americans on social and domestic politics. They are more like Americans than Muslims.

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism by Max Weber

Thesis: The early Protestant worldview of Calvinism and Puritanism were the primary factors in influencing the development of a capitalism economic system. Functionalism: The spirt of capitalism in the modern time inherent the content of the Puritan worldly asceticism, only without the religious basis. Religious ideas influence people's working attitude in the past, since working and work hard is blessed by the God. Conflict Theory: The rationalization of the religious idea behind working turned the religious ideas into modern capitalist spirt. The capitalist spirits do not depend on religious ideas anymore. It reset on mechanical foundation. However, Weber points out that those spirits may not go away easily, since no one knows there will be new religious movement in the future. Symbolic interactionism: The Puritanism ideas favored the development of a rational bourgeois economic life. The small bourgeois and farmers construct their beliefs of hard working and accumulating wealth are the main adherent of Puritanism ideas, while the rich people tend to believe the old ideas. Triangle: Structure: The ways people produce changed. More and more people working as workers instead of farmers since the Medieval time to modern time. Culture: The new religious movement changed the way people think about working and producing. The Puritan ideas are favored and rationalized by the rising middle class bourgeois. Agency: In the past, people are working for the God and under the will of God. However, the Puritan ideas justified people's right to work for others and themselves.

Doing Gender, Determining Gender: Transgender People, Gender Panics, and the Maintenance of the Sex/Gender/Sexuality System (By Laurel Westbrook & Kristen Schilt)

Thesis: access to gender-integrated social spaces is determined by identity while access to gender-segregated spaces is mostly determined by biology. People create gender, so challenges to gender system only modify and the binary system remains unquestioned. Gender panics: situations where people react to disruptions to biology-based gender idology by frantically reasserting the naturalness of a male-female binary In face-to-face interactions, determining gender is the response to doing gender One presents one's gender → others interpret this info → place one in gender categories → determine the gender Method: textual/content analysis of newspaper coverage Sport = modern athletic competition rests on and reproduces the idea of opposite genders = for transgender to be accepted, have to do surgical anatomical changes, and hormonal therapy to maintain the hormone level for male/female (need to be week for female) Gov. document (NY birth certificate) = proposed legislation that validated identity-based determination of gender, not required to remove genital for change the sex marker on birth certificate = worries: threat to gender binary, create a genderless society... Genitalia becomes the primary determiner of gender in all cases Deep cultural belief that a person with a penis cannot be a woman Male anatomies are framed as sexual threats toward women in gender-segregated spaces People with penis enter into women's space turn the space into a dangerous, sexual situation by the entrance of an "improper body". This fear relies on and reproduce gender binarism, specifically the assumption of strong/weak difference in male/female bodies, as opponents assume that people with penis are inherently stronger than cis-women and easily able to overpower them In gender-segregated place, gender difference is a source of discomfort and potential sexual threat and danger in the liberal moment of gender, access to gender-segregated spaces is not determined by unchangeable measures like chromosomes but, instead, by genitals - a move that suggests a greater acceptance of an identity-based determination of gender. By using changeable bodily aspects to determine gender, the basic premises of the sex/gender/sexuality system are maintained, as the system repatriates those whose existence potentially calls it into question, thereby naturalizing gender difference and gender inequality.

Promises I Can Keep: Why Poor Women Put Motherhood Before Marriage, by Kathryn Edin and Maria Kefalas

Thesis: examining biographies and social contexts of poor women who become single mothers This story about: Poor women are less likely to marry and make promises they aren't sure they can keep. Lack of trust Functionalism: Specialization of women being the ones usually who must take care of children Conflict Theory: Men usually dictate over women (and use violence and abuse in some cases) that result in women revolting by choosing not to marry since they can't trust their partners Social Interactionism: Mother's finding that their children save them and give them purpose Some lack of respect from men to women Triange Structuralism Programs such as WIC(Women Infants Children) that provide ways of taking care of children without needing husbands Link to Evicted: Nuisance reports (for domestic violence) can result in evictions Culturalism The culture that these poor women live in inhibits them from feeling safe in relationships and marrying partners Agency Mothers choosing to keep children and raise them without marrying Searching for more stable and providing male figures

A School in a Garden, by Mitchell L. Stevens

Thesis: factors influence college choice among students, and what factors influenced a college's decision to admit a student. This story about: The special preferences and discrimination is college admissions Functionalism: Specialization of applicants The more specializations you have ('the more well-rounded' you appear Conflict Theory: Power of admission officers over applicants. Increased power to students with connections, wealth, and exemplar education Social Interactionism: Impacts whether a student will even apply or not How much attention that applicant receives Triange Structuralism Reproduction- powerful groups inevitably create social and cultural systems that legitimate their own class advantage. Favoring lineage Favoring full pay students Transformation Hope that if traditional social hierarchies are replaced with educational ones, society will progress to modernity. Credential society Credentials bring about success. These results in racism/classism/genderism since those in minority groups have less opportunities to gain more credentials than their white rich male counterparts. Culturalism Of the schools: Tautology: the more people want to be admitted, the more elite that diploma is worth Favoritism of sports Importance of physical appearance of the school Of the students: Rich white males have greater advantage Agency Attempt to build an excellent resume/application since that is all you are really judged on

Civilize Them With a Stick, by Mary Crow Dog and Richard Erdoes

Thesis: how the separation of education can be an agent of social control whose purpose is to assimilate racial-ethnic populations, such as Native Americans, into the dominant culture. This story about: Indian children separated from home to be 'civilized' into American society Functionalism: solidarity initially among other Native Americans Loss of solidarity as the nuns show favoritism to whiter children Conflict Theory: Bourgeoisie: nuns: power enforced by wippings Proletarians: Native American children Revolution: if resistance occurred among it was not conducted on a major scale. Also, if a small group ran away, they would usually be found and severely punished. In the end, the narrator shows that once you reach a certain age you can successfully demand releasement. Social Interactionism: Verbal resistance would lead to whippings The nuns grew to be hated and feared while the Native American children were viewed as dirty. Treated as animals. (whippings, eating scraps, etc.) Triange Structuralism Gov. laws enforcing the practically kidnapping of Native American children to places to undergo socialization Iron Cage of Rationalization Intention: to give Native Americans to ability to become 'civilized' and integrate into society. Actual result: reproduction of racism. They end up being treated less than human rather than becoming 'civilized' Culturalism Cultural destruction: nuns trying to strip the children of their culture. Children are taken so young that when they do return to their homes, they are rejected by both Native Americans as well as whites. Agency Individuals choosing to fight with the nuns (more common the older the Native Americans became) Choosing to stay silent when whipped while the nuns are wanting you to cry in pain Running away Telling others (through article like these) what is happening/happened in these places

The Deinstitutionalization of American Marriage

Thesis: structure and social norms of family are changing and resulting in a deinstitutionalization of marriage causing instability in the family This story about: How the new social norms for positions in marriage have brought about confusion of how husband and wife should act Functionalism: Deinstitutionalization of gender specializations in a home Women can do more than housework Men are capable of housework Conflict Theory: Initially men superior to women, now equality is making initial roles complicated and if men attempt to oppress, women have the freedom to divorce(rebellion) Social Interactionism: Difficult conversations between couples Family frown upon divorce Triange Structuralism Laws that favor married couples Child custody laws Divorce is expensive Cohabitation is beginning to be favored Culturalism Monogamy for marriage is viewed more highly socially Initial marriage provided enforceable trust that is lost in today's freedom to divorce culture New laws permitting same-sex marriage Brings about questions for roles at home Agency Cohabitation over marriage to protect oneself Individualized marriage - my needs first, not my partners Less intimacy and trust Engaging in difficult conversations about roles with partner

"Dude, You're a Fag": Adolescent Masculinity and the Fag Discourse (By C.J. Pascoe)

Thesis: the adolescent male homophobia is less about sexuality and more about maintaining gender inequality and the boundaries of masculinity Fag = falling at the masculine tasks of competence, heterosexual prowess, strength of in any way revealing weakness or femininity e.g. being stupid, dancing, crying, caring about clothing Fag is a position outside masculinity that actually constitutes masculinity Fag is not a static but rather a fluid identity that boys constantly struggled to avoid Gay is a legitimate, or at least biological identity, to these boys Lesbian is accepted Girls rarely use "fag", mostly boys say it African American boys don't deploy "fag" with the same frequency as white boys. As African American men are so hyper-sexualized in the U.S., white men are feminized African American boys' status is not lowered but enhanced by paying attention to clothing or dancing as it is central to a hip-pop identity to them Boys police their behaviors out of fear of having the fag identity permanently adhere and definitive enough so that boys recognize a fag behavior and strive to avoid it Best way to move out of a fag position is to thrust another boy into that position, so sometimes boys force others into the fag position Term can be invested with different meanings in different social spaces

Bad Boys: Public Schools in the Making of Black Masculinity

Thesis: the social reproduction of gender and race in American public schools This story about: African American boys labeled as troublemakers more than other gender and racial-ethnic groups Functionalism: Solidarity among the African American students - friendships potentially forming into gangs Conflict Theory: Teacher/administration over children (oppression specifically toward African American students) Social Interactionism: Labeling: given by teachers that impacts how many opportunities the children will have to succeed Profiling from police Triange Structuralism Tracking: some children for successful jobs, and others (predominantly african american children) toward prison Unequal distribution of resources across school systems Access to full academic resources is denied to some students(mainly African American students) who have been suspended/expelled Culturalism If to be successful: one must reject the language (Ebonics) thus distancing them from family. Supremacy of English perpetuates racism Agency Students reinforce stereotyping from teachers by taking on the role they are assigned Pursuit of athletics to compensate the education discrimination

"It's Dude Time!": A Quarter Century of Excluding Women's Sports in Televised News and Highlight Shows

This study tracked televised news and highlight shows to discover the gender inequality in news reporting. These researchers found out there were some improvements in less verbal insult and sexualized jokes as well as higher quality with coverage on women's sports. However, these improvements were accompanied by decline in the total amount of women's sports' coverages and different attitudes treating men and women's sports. -Cultural: the different roles of men and women's sports represent social expectations for two genders and values of "male supremacy" even pervaded into sports. -Agency: men anchors are more enthusiastic when they report men's sports but much less passionate with women's sports. Their behaviors in some extents encourage the mainstream ignoring and downplaying women's sports. -Structure: institutions such as TV sports news broadcasts companies did more coverages on men's sports, especially the Big Three than those of women's sports. Since medias have huge influence on their audiences, this institutional discrimination will cause considerable audience to focus less on women's sports. Passing of Title IX did not change the inequality in news reporting which illustrate the fact that sometimes forceful institutions are less effective than culturally pervasive institutions such as tv broadcasts companies. -Conflict theory: men and the institutions they control exploit women in sports. Because they are in power, they can use sports medias to reproduce gender inequality in sports.

Using Racial and Ethnic Concepts The Critical Case of Very Young Children

Young children engage in interaction involving clear and often sophisticated understandings of racial and ethnic concepts and meanings Children had already learned to use racial and ethnic concepts to exclude, include, define oneself and others, control

Interpersonal Dynamics in a Simulated Prison, by: Craig Haney, W. Curtis Banks, Philip G. Zimbardo

an experiment performed at Stanford University by Zimbardo A random selection of people played prisoners or guards Everyone started out psychologically healthy At some point, ALL guards participated in sadistic treatment of prisoners The experiment was cut a week short because of the psychological damage and depersonalization the prisoners faced. The aim of the experiment was to prove the sociological effects on prisoners and guards, and the innate negative effects of a prison on ANY individual, not just criminal

Race, Homeownership, and Wealth (Thomas M. Shapiro)

examines racial-ethnic differences in indicators of socioeconomic status - analyzes racial ethnic gaps in assets and wealth - argues that home ownership is a strategy to attack racial wealth gap - wealth = total value of family's financial resources; represents ownership and control of resources - problem of sociologists using occupation, education, income inequality to measure social inequality - need to analyze economic resources, opportunities, and distribution of power; wealth is special kind of property (inheritance, programs, practices) - home ownership has always kept residential segregation

Some principles of stratification (Kingsley Davis and Wilbert E. Moore)

investigates social inequality from social class - Davis and Moore argue that stratification is a functional necessity; stratification occurs because some positions are more important to social systems than others - Tumin's response is that social stratification is dysfunctional - Davis and Moore argue that stratification is necessary to place and motivate individuals in the social structure; individuals must desire to fill positions and have a desire to perform the duties; rewards are built into positions - Tumin argues that society distributes goods and services unequally - "survival value" of a social structure = minimum/maximum survival - Tumin says that the upperclass need to undergo training to get to their positions and talent is "sacrificed"