Sociology Midterm #2
What does it mean to say that sexual identities are socially constructed?
-desires, identities, and acts dont necessarily match up--------homosexual identity wasnt a thing until the 19th century before that it was acts rather than identities------we are not born straight or gay we become that way through social interactions----sexual desire is innate, sexual identity is not
According to Messner, how are sports a key part of gendering boys? What kind of masculinity is constructed through sports?
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What does Gans mean when he argues that poverty leads to a number of functions, both negative and positive? What are these functions?
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How does Coontz characterize the "happily ever after" model of marriage?
"happily ever after" model: values fidelity, spouse main support mechanism, choosing based only on love, parents and in-laws should stay out of it, express affection, discuss problems. More egalitarian, based on emotion.
How does Coontz's research demonstrate that the idea of marrying for love is a radical, modern idea? What are the biggest differences between our modern notions of what makes for a successful marriage and those of other cultures and time periods?
"the radical idea of marrying for love"—love is fragile, fleeting. Incompatible with marriage. Previously considered dangerous, antisocial.
How does Thompson's study illustrate the concept of alienation?
Alienation is defined as the social and psychological consequences of the workers' lack of control over her/his work. The workers in the factory felt powerless and meaningless as a result of performing repetitive work tasks. The four types of alienation exemplified through Thompson's research are: 1. From the product and labor: they are not making it for themselves, not for personal consumption,production does not lead to satisfaction 2. From the process of their labor: meaningless activity, not in control of their labor, repetitive stress injuries 3. From other worker: creates isolation, minimum contact, little sense of community 4. From species being:, what makes one human is taken away from them (combination of previous three)
Why does Marx argue that alienation is inherent to capitalism?
Alienation is inherent to capitalism through the division of labor, because without exploiting people there would not be a turn in profit/it would not be as high. People must be paid less than they are worth.
What is the relationship between the base and the superstructure?
Base (economic order, production relations, class relationships) determine the superstructure: family, state, religion, school—determined by economic order. Capitalism drives the whole of society. not strictly causal (it's cyclical) but it's mostly the base that influences the superstructure, not the other way around.
What is the "transformation of intimacy" according to Anthony Giddens? What has brought about the confluent love model?
Moving from romantic love (permanent, there is one person for you, complimentary gender roles) model to confluent love (pure relationship, only stay in as long as you're both happy) model Brought on by modernization, globalization, individualism. Tradition has less sway.
According to lecture, why has enrollment in the food stamps program increased lately? What does DeParle's investigation (discussed in lecture) into welfare recipients reveal about how they are getting by?
There has been a recent increase in the food stamps program because cash welfare payments have fallen so low. DeParle's investigation revealed that welfare recipients have been forced to cope through: selling food stamps/blood, skipping meals, seeking help from churches/food banks, shoplifting, scavenging for recyclables. Some women have reported going back to abusive and violent boyfriends with them and taking their children with them.
Do the women Edin and Kefalas have different views of marriage than the general public? Why don't they get married once pregnant?
They do not have different views of marriage than the general public, but instead value marriage too much to become married → they want the ideal white-picket fence and the career type of marriage with a nice wedding but also financial independence so they do not have to be controlled by their husbands and can rely on themselves if they need to. Trust is a huge issue that can make or break the decision to get married, and these women believe that marriage is a life-long commitment. They respect this ideal too much to enter a knowingly unsuccessful marriage; the stigma of divorce is greater than the stigma of single motherhood.
symbolic boundaries
conceptual distinctions used to categorize objects, people and practices
What is the difference between indoor and outdoor sex work?
working conditions for street prostitutes more like oppression model but we have to allow for differences in how the workers see themselves. Also street prostitutes independent of pimps are less likely to have these patterns. Indoor:These are better, safe, regulated conditions such as massage parlors, brothels/bars, or escort services. indoor sex workers experience lower rates of abuse, stds, started older, earn more money, more education, feel safer at work, more likely to have made a conscious decision to do sex work, and to have regular, harmless customers, some feel validated and empowered by their work rather than degraded.
Seidman refers to sex as a social fact. What does he mean? Why does Seidman argue that we could all, at one time, be sexual outsiders?
Defining sex as a social fact means that sex is not some internal drive, but rather a force external to us that is also coercive, shaped and regulated by outside forces like laws and social policies. Seidman: Sex as a social fact: shaped and regulated by laws, social norms, media, social policy etc. We could all be sexual outsiders—meaning we can feel the weight of sexuality being a social fact: feel stigma of certain desires/activities—these norms change over time. May lose partner, respect of fam/friends, even be jailed, subject to violence, not allowed to marry, etc.
Drawing on Lorber, what does it mean to say that gender is an institution?
Gender is a system of society, organizing every social institution in society; a system of dividing people between categories. Gender divisions are part of nearly every aspect of our lives (from parenting and marriage to representation and scientific research), not fixed in biology but a social fact. Most of what we understand about gender, how we experience and express gender, cannot be traced to purely sex. Gender is more a social institution, rather than natural, because the expression patterns for gender differ across time and place.
Drawing on lecture, what is the level of income and wealth inequality in the US?
In 2012, the top 10% of earners received more than half the total income of the US. The top 1% took more than 20% of the total income, the highest numbers ever recorded. · about half of households hold stock, richest 10% hold 90% (benefit disproportionately from post-recession boom) and the top 1% have had 95% of the income gains since recovery from the recession However, American's perceptions of wealth inequality are extremely inaccurate -> It was thought that the richest 20% controlled 59% of the wealth, when the actual figure was closer to 84%.
What surprising findings does Rank uncover about poverty and welfare? How does Rank explain why so many Americans will be in poverty?
In his research, rank uncovers that the way we see those in poverty, as "unwed mothers raising several children, homeless, and high school drop-outs", as aliens and undeserving, is a myth. Many of us will experience poverty at some point in our lives, and most of us will turn to governmental assistance at least once in our adult lives. In some ways, poverty is a normal part of life; it is more a matter of "us" than "them". Rank explains that so many Americans will be in poverty because of unexpected life events, such as illness and unemployment. We do not have a strong safety net in America, as there is relatively little help for Americans who face economic adversity.
What groups of people face the most discrimination within the African-American community?
Inner-city black males. Blacks with darker complexions are more likely to report discrimination as well. Those blacks with more education usually report more discrimination. This trend holds true for black immigrants over nonimmigrants, as well as residents of smaller communities over residents of larger communities, and those who are unwed over those who are married. Finally, blacks who are hired through personal contacts report discrimination less often, as do those who work in the manufacturing sector and those who work for larger firms.
Why were las chicas seen as more sexually active than the preps?
Las Chicas were seen as more sexually active because these girls were more likely to keep their babies and were more open about their sexuality (Ex from reading: opening flirtatious with substitute teacher). Preps were more likely to use BC, have abortions, and be secretive about their sexual activity.
According to Gupta, why is love considered a "weak basis for marriage?" Who should be involved in the marriage selection process?
Love is considered a weak basis because it is seen as a fickle, fleeting emotion that seems much less permanent than, for instance, the desire for social advancement. Gupta argues that the family should be involved in the marriage selection process, rather than just the individuals.
How have expectations for intimate partners changed? What does research on young people's preferences show?
Male and female both rank mutual love and attraction as more important today than in the past, and women's financial prospects are more important to men while men's industriousness becoming less important to women. Differences in what males and females are looking for have declined. Also, more likely to be in same-sex/interracial relationships. Romantic love, faithfulness, lifelong commitment also important to all young people (especially straight women).
How might we increase well-being through family policies?
More family supports--child care subsidies. Grant right to marry to same-sex couples--gives legitimacy, institutional support, stability
According to Read, what do national polls show about American views on Islam?
50% believe islam is more likely to preach violence, 60% believe islam is "very different" from their own religion, 70% admit they know "very little" about islam.
According to Hull et al, what are some factors that complicate the cultural notion that marriage is the foundation of healthy families and communities?
50% divorce rate Putting off marriage- 28 men 26 women as opposed to 1960 23 men 20 women 1/3 all births to unmarried parents Cohabitation without marriage No longer a compulsory feature of adult life
According to lecture, what is the current religious make-up of the US? What does the Pew Research Center's "US Religious Knowledge Survey" show? What factors contribute to religious knowledge?
90% of Americans report believing in God; 76% identify as Christian; 50% identify as Protestant; 24% identify as Catholic; 2% Jewish; 1.4% Mormon; 16% do not report a specific affiliation; 4% report being atheist or agnostic; 12% say nothing in particular The US Religious Knowledge Survey shows that a large number of Americans are uninformed about the tenets, practices, history, and figures of major religions and faith practices. Factors contributing to religious knowledge: educational attainment -> college graduates, courses on religion
What are the three main difficulties to overcome in meat processing work? What coping mechanisms do workers use?
1. monotonous: same task continuously 2. dehumanizing: workers become extensions of the machine, humanity becomes secondary to the line moving efficiently 3. danger: injuries were common Coping mechanisms: SABOTAGE, enjoyed breaking the rules and getting away with it, allowed for creativity (games), a sense of control, symbolic individuality, and self worth
What are the four types of alienation? Explain each.
Alienated from product of labor (don't own product) From process of labor (work is just a meaningless activity—no satisfaction, not in control of labor—renting yourself out) From other workers (factories create isolation and competition) From species being (from that which makes the life of human species distinct from other animals—goes against essence of humanity)
According to Downey and Gibbs, why should we explore what happens when kids are out of school if we are concerned about educational inequality?
According to Downey Gibbs, children spend most of their time outside of school, rather than in it. The outside environment thus has a very significant impact on their education and learning. If children have more resources at home, and their parents have more time to spend with them and to instill essential skills, then these children will have an upper hand over children who lack such support, or those whose parents are primarily focused on just satisfying basic needs. Seasonal comparison research is a means to untangle the role of school versus non school influences. It compares how things change between the nonschool period (summer) and the school period. This research shows that students (regardless of socioeconomic status) gain academic skills at about the same rate during the nine month academic year, but gaps in skills are mostly developed during the summer gap.Students whose parents have a higher SES develop more skills during the summer gap, while students whose parents have a low SES actually lose knowledge.
According to Seidman, what is sexual politics?
According to Seidman, sexual politics are not just contesting, but constructing and creating sexual norms- recognizing how sexual hierarchies lead to unequal social distributions i.e. who is allowed to marry, etc.
According the the NPR clip in lecture, why are evangelical Christian scholars debating Adam and Eve? What are the arguments on each side?
All scientific evidence points to humans evolving from earlier primates, and never was that population less than about 10,000. It's impossible that we were all descended from one couple, because, especially considering that if the biblical account is to be believed humans would only have existed for about 6,000 years, the mutation rate would have to be astronomical to produce the genetic variation we have now. Traditional evangelicals resist questioning the adam and eve account because they believe if this cornerstone of their faith is called into question, it calls the entire faith into question. Another objection is that if they adapt their stance to fit the stance of the academic community, they will end up with neither the respect of the academic community nor their integrity as a religion.
According to Thompson, why did workers at the beef plant strive to work faster than the line?
Allowed them to take short breaks when they got ahead and could momentarily relax. Also gave them control over the employers, defying the rules that were set for them. This had symbolic meaning for the workers.
What is the social purpose of arranged marriage? How does this differ from our ideas about marriage?
Arranged: Marriage was about expanding family, alliances. Maintaining social order. Making strangers into family. Love seen as the death of marriage. Marriage should be a family decision, love is considered a weak basis for marriage, disruptive. Individualism severs ties to the family.Love is fragile, fleeting. Incompatible with marriage. Previously considered dangerous, antisocial. Western: marriage becomes replacement for family, and marriage is based on love. Individualism.
What assumptions about Islam feed these common American fears? What is the reality?
Assumptions that frame islam as a threat to American society: one type of islam, most salient identity, fundamentalist branch= mainstream Reality: islam is very diverse and well-integrated into American society—largely mainstream values/behaviors. Muslim americans are the most ethnically diverse population in the world In general: highly educated, politically conscious, etc.
What surprising conclusions do Downey and Gibbs reach about schools and equality?
Based on their research, Downey and Gibbs determine that schools are more the solution to educational inequality than the problem. Students develop inequalities in academic skills more over the summer gap than during the actual school year. This is caused by a difference in the availability of resources and time that parents can commit to the children's development. Schools thus end up being more of an equalizing force across socioeconomic differences. This means that a broader view of education reform must be taken, and children's lives with their families and neighborhoods must be improved.
According to lecture, how does cultural capital help explain educational inequality?
Because the educational system rewards those who possess cultural capital of the dominant class, as shown through large vocabularies and familiarity with high culture, academic ability becomes the product of investing time into cultural capital. To gain cultural capital requires investment of time, and cannot be done second-hand (which only the upper class has time to do), furthering educational inequality.
According to Zhou, how have other ethnic groups "become white"? Why is the model minority stereotype problematic?
Being "white" is an arbitrary label which has more to do with privilege than biology. People become assimilated into the mainstream ("white") by achieving economic success--status and wealth. Model minority stereotype is problematic because even though it sets asian-americans apart as better than the mainstream, it still sets them apart. reinforces stereotype. Also problematic because it traps asian-americans into certain high-status career paths. Also gives us an excuse to blame other minorities for their relative lack of success when really they start from different places (asian american immigrants tend to come here as skilled, highly educated workers who live in affluent neighborhoods, etc.)
What productive assets to the bourgeoisie control? The proletariat?
Bourgeoisie: Means of production: tools, materials, machinery/equipment, patents, intellectual property, buildings, structures, land, etc. Proletariat: labor force
What are differences between students that arise in the home?
Children begin schooling with very different levels of academic skills based upon race and socioeconomic status, a result of the different home environments. Some complement what occurs as school (helping with homework, providing safe environments, taking care of medical needs), while others simply do not have the time to become as involved in the academic life of their children (leaving it up to the "experts"). These differences play a critical role in shaping how children gain academic skills during their school years. Specific differences include: how much parents read to children, parents' level of education, use of vocabulary, and nutrition
According to Lareau, what is concerted cultivation? Accomplishment of natural growth? What are the hallmarks of each parenting style?
Concerted cultivation is a process that middle class parents engage in, so as to develop certain skills and talents in an organized and concerted manner. It utilizes organized activities, which are developed by the parents, and these dominate the lives of middle class children. Parents have negotiations and discussions with their children, which also helps vocabulary. This in turn results in the growth of a sense of entitlement in children. Children learn to question adults and almost treat them as relative equals. There is more verbal agility, looking for attention, making rules work in their favor, Accomplishment of natural growth is a parenting style more characteristic of working class parents. These parents use directives, instead of persuading children with reasoning, and are more likely to use physical discipline. They do not use organized leisure activities. Parents are focused on satisfying basic needs, and do not elicit child's feelings or opinions. Working class children have more control over the character of their leisure activities. They often play with friends and relatives (who live close by) and neighbors. There is a disconnect between the parenting styles of working class children, and the central institutions of society (like schools) that the children must interact with, because these central institutions firmly promote strategies of concerted cultivation. This conflict causes working class children to develop an emerging sense of distance, distrust and constraint in their institutional experiences. Working class children also distrust authority, show a sense of constraint, and do not seek to get institutional accomodations.
What are impact studies (Downey and Gibbs)? What do they tell us about teaching effectiveness?
Constructing impact measures by taking a school's average difference between its students' first-grade learning rate and the learning rate observed in the summer prior to first grade. The key finding was not that all the schools deemed as "failing" under traditional criteria were really failing- ¾ of the schools had been incorrectly evaluated. If impact studies are more accurate, teachers teaching disadvantaged children are doing a better job than they are given credit for and current methods of school evaluation are producing significant errors.
According to lecture, in what ways do the federal and state governments control and construct marriage?
Controls who marries, when, etc (age, gender, race laws)
What is the Defense of Marriage Act?
DOMA- marriage=between man and a woman, states can refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states (federal law, clinton 1996) Ruled section 3 unconstitutional (one man one woman) No important governmental objective as justification to single out a group of people
What does Waters mean by arguing that white Americans maintain "symbolic ethnicities"? Why is ethnicity optional?
Essentialized ideas of race and gender keep class invisible. Class differences, performed in race-specific ways are wrongly understood to be primarily about gender and sexuality. Las Chicas blamed themselves and their families for their academic failure and lack of prospects, rather than recognizing the inherent bias in the system.
What is the impact of the invisibility of class? What are the larger implications of class- based differences for las chicas?!
Essentialized ideas of race and gender keep class invisible. Class differences, performed in race-specific ways are wrongly understood to be primarily about gender and sexuality. Las Chicas blamed themselves and their families for their academic failure and lack of prospects, rather than recognizing the inherent bias in the system.
According to Farkas, what factors are most important in explaining the black-white test score gap? What research does he cite?
Family structure, specifically that varying child-rearing practices among class and race. The lower class tends to teach fewer skills and behaviors to children than what teachers expect and what tests cover. This can result in discouragement, disengagement from school, and lower class placement, only furthering the gap. Black families are still behind white families in terms of employment, income, and resources, which results in single-parent homes. These resources improve children's school engagement, course grades, and test scores, causing black children to fall behind circumstantially. Also: black students: race-related test anxiety because it will be weighed as a projection of inherent black ability--lowers performance. Research: mixed-race children with white mother show significantly higher test scores than those with black mothers--test scores correlated to parenting styles. Race and class both affect: likelihood of parents to teach kids to apply information learned to another area, verbal responses to kids (encouraging v. negative and punitive) B/W gap in income has decreased but SAT gap has remained in every economic group--not just class.
Why do Armstrong et al argue that one source of gender inequality is the sexual double- standard? What myths about hooking up do they debunk?
Guys can hook up with many women with low social cost, whereas women engaging in sexual activity always have to worry about being called a slut. This is a source of gender inequality because from hook ups men are gaining both social praise and more sexual satisfaction from these encounters than women. Myths: young people are having more premarital sex than their parents. IN FACT, amounts are comparable or less. Sexual activity in "hookups" is relatively infrequent and light. It HASN'T replaced committed relationships (69% college students: relationship of 6 months or more) Hookup culture is not new--started in the 1960s (sexual revolution: pill, women's/sexual lib,)
According to lecture, what is historical materialism?
Historical materialism is understanding the social world and the structure of human society by examining the ways humans collectively produce the material necessities of life. People are producers, one of the central components of life is work, we can produce things and thats what seperates us from others. Our world is made by us because it is the result of what we do. We have created these situations meaning they are not natural and we can change them. Material conditions influence worldview and conduct—much depends on social position If you're going to study society, you have to study the conditions of that society first Historical: must understand historical context Materialism: relations of production
What did Hochschild expect to find when she interviewed parents about the time they spend at home and at work? What did you actually find?
Hochschild expected to find in her interview that the workplace is so demanding and draining that the home would become a haven; that parents would want to be at home more and would see the home as the place to relax, feel safe, and feel appreciated. She thought parents would want to minimize time at work and maximize time at home, especially when they had children. But she actually found that the home was a place of fighting, stress, and never-ending demands and tasks. People confessed that they went to work earlier than necessary to get away from the hectic and demanding home life, the felt appreciated and a sense of community at work, and the workers felt a great deal of loyalty to the workplace -> their work is there for them and can be a place where problems can be solved.
Why is housing the main source of disruption in the lives of the workers Ehrenreich met? Why are some trapped into living in motels even though they are expensive?
Housing is expensive, and therefore poor people cannot afford to pay upfront for housing, such as putting a down payment on a house. Motels allow people to pay for day to day, week to week housing, which is the only option for people who cannot afford to pay high prices all at once. Even though this ends up being more expensive, poor people have no other options based on the frequency of their income and lack of saving to help them establish a home.
How do Hull et al counter the pure relationship and deinstitutionalization arguments?
Hull et al counter these 2 models with Ann Swidler's research that finds many Americans oscillate between 2 contradictory visions of love: pragmatic (matches their everyday experience) and the romantic love myth (corresponds to important elements in the institution of marriage). Thus, the ongoing influence of marriage as a social institution keeps the romantic model of intimacy culturally relevant, despite the emergence of the newer models of intimacy. Ideal model of love persists because marriage as an institution requires it--Swidler predicts romantic love culture would die out if people stopped trying to form and maintain lasting marriages Another study corroborates Gidden's idea that people in pure relationships appear to have a greater sense of autonomy, and higher relationship satisfaction. However, it does not support his idea that pure relationships lead to higher levels of anxiety and addiction. Gidden's theory has also been criticized for overlooking the rich diversity of cultural values and practices of marriage. The feminist critique also argues that there isn't really equality in marriage and and there are many gender inequalities.
What are the different motivations Muslim women have for wearing the veil? For not wearing the veil? How do these different meanings demonstrate social construction theory?
Many women who choose to veil invoke various sorts of religious imagery and theological edicts when asked about their motivations for veiling. Many veiled women contend that veiling is commanded in the Qur'an. Several women began to veil because they had friends who did or because they felt more closely connected to significant others through this cultural practice. Many also invoke the discourse of masculine-feminine difference to defend the merits of veiling. For them, the idea of masculine hypersexuality and feminine vulnerability to the male sex drive is crucial to their rationale. Several of the unveiled women argue that the veil reinforces gender distinctions that work to Muslim women's collective disadvantage. Many of the unveiled view hijab as a mechanism of patriarchal control. The unveiled women trace the origin of the veil not to God but rather to men's difficulties in managing their sexuality. They conclude that it is unfair to charge women with taming men's sexuality.
What is the marital decline position? What is the marital resilience perspective?
Marital Decline: Argues that changes in intimacy is cause for concern--decline in marriage and increase in single-parent/disrupted families are key contributors to other social ills: poverty, delinquency, poor academic performance among kids. Stable marriages promote stable society--families are responsible for and protect each other. Marital resilience: Changes in family life actually strengthens quality of intimate relationships in marriage. Allows people to get out of bad marriages because weakens social and legal pressures to stay in them. i.e. fault divorce--get out and try again for a happier relationship.
Why was love seen as a threat to the social order throughout much of history?
Marriage was seen as a tool for social advancement/alliances, and love (outside of marriage) could destabilize the marriage relationship. Love within marriage was problematic because women who were affectionate toward their husbands were not seen as having proper respect for them, and men who loved their wives could then be manipulated by them.
From Ledger: how does mass incarceration cause poverty and the "social ills" of the "undeserving poor"?
Mass incarceration of these groups causes poverty as these people are unable to reintegrate into society after being incarcerated. This plays with family structure, often removing the father from families, which play into why there are so many African American female head of households. Many need the extra money and are driven into crime just to get by. Black men are more likely to get a sentence, and for that sentence to be harsher, therefore removing them from families for longer periods of time. Fathers wanted to be involved, social circumstances made it difficult/impossible.
What does Messner mean when he argues that sports are both a "gendered institution" and a "gendering institution"? What were the main differences he found along race and class lines in terms of motivations and participation in sports?
Messner argues that sports are a "gendered institution" because they are organized by gender using different rules and equipment AND men's sports are much more popular, male athletes paid more,etc., and also a "gendering institution" because they uphold and reinforce normative constructions of gender, actively involved in producing gendered individuals. For lower class blacks it was more about participating because that was often the only option other than crime, viewed as a way out of the lower class. For middle class whites, it was recognized as one of many options, and there are other ways for succeeding professionally. Further, for these middle class people, their status does not have too much to do with their performance in sports (academics is another option), but lower class people may feel a greater reliance on sports for status.
According to lecture, what does Swidler mean when she argues that the ideal model of love persists because marriage requires it?
People talk about marriages as hard work, requiring trust, honesty, respect, and self-discipline, following the "confluent love" model. However, people also believe in the romantic ideals of love and marriage. Therefore, the romantic love ideal is tied to the institution of marriage. If people didn't buy into the idea of romantic love and marriage as a long-term, monogamous relationship and stopped being committed to making those relationships work, the idea would die out.
According to Auyero and Switsun, what types of polluted environments do the poor have to live with? What about Flammable specifically? What is the impact on health?
Poisonous fumes. polluted waters, contaminated ground. pollution from petrochemical companies (Shell-Capsa). air is unfit for human residence, used as an open-air waste disposal site illegally. Pipes that supply drinking water are plastic and allow toxins from the environment to leak in. All shantytown children exposed to carcinogens chromium and benzene, and toluene but Flammable children had disproportionately high blood levels of lead which results in lower-than-average IQs. Dermatological problems: eye irritation, skin infections, eruptions, allergies. respiratory problems: coughs, bronco-spasms. neurological problems: hyperactivity. sore throats. headaches.
According to lecture, how can we see the influence of religion in politics?
Politics and religion mingle, leading to "culture wars"—Christian conservatives want religion to play a stronger role in the nation, liberals argue for a political sphere distinct from religion US—some of the most controversial, volatile political ideas are part of the culture war (intelligent design v. evolution taught in schools, stem cell research, abortion, same-sex marriage, contraception: included in obamacare, religious-affiliated organizations don't want to pay for it) Affordable care act requires contraception free of charge.
What is positive about pure relationships? What is negative?!
Positives: more autonomy, more egalitarian, greater happiness Negative: insecurity, anxiety and addiction
What were the different markers of distinction between the preps and las chicas?
Preps: mostly white, middle class girls, college prep track, involved in the classroom and extracurricular activities, conservative dress, "natural" make up Las Chicas: Mexican American, working class, vocational track, not involved in the classroom or in extracurriculars, more and darker make up, more revealing clothing
What are the different ways preps and las chicas attain adulthood?!
Preps: want approval from parents and adults so they follow middle class norms of going to college in attempts to eventually develop a career. Las Chicas: begin working right out of high school, and by becoming mothers These paths are different because teachers invest and have high expectations of the preps, while they have zero expectations of las chicas.
According to Read and Bartowski, what are the competing discourses of the veil in contemporary Islam?
Proponents of veiling begin their defense of this cultural practice by arguing that men are particularly vulnerable to corruption through unregulated sexual contact with women. They call attention to the uniquely masculine penchant for untamed sexual activity and construe the veil as a God-ordained solution to the apparent disparities in men's and women's sexual appetites. The veil also is thought to serve as a demonstration of the Muslim woman's unwavering obedience to the tenets of Islam, as a clear indication of the essential differences distinguishing men from women, as a reminder to women that their proper place is in the home rather than in pursuing public-sphere activities, and as a sign of the devout Muslim woman's disdain for the profane, immodest, and consumerist cultural customs of the West. FInally, they also say that it is prescribed in the Quran. Those who are opposed to the veiling practices seek to reverse the sacralization of the veil by linking the hijab with oppressive social hierarchies and male domination. THey also argue that using the veil is more just a backward tradition, than actual standard to judge Muslim women's devotion to Allah. The historical fact that veiling is a cultural practice that originated from outside of Islamic circles is often highlighted. Islamic feminists also point to the highly questionable scriptural interpretations on which Muslim clergy often base their pro-veiling edicts.
Drawing on Weber and lecture, explain the protestant work ethic and its "elective affinity" with capitalism. Talk about the calling, predestination, and asceticism.
Rise of capitalism tied to puritan ethics esp protestant work ethic. Protestantism introduced the idea that people fulfilled their duty to god through hard work and asceticism. Calling: a duty to god fulfilled through discipline, rational labor in a vocation Calvinist teachings shape the kind of behavior needed for capitalism to develop. Predestination: only the elect are chosen by god for salvation Produces "inner loneliness" -deal with it by working hard at your calling, and if you're blessed by god, you'll be economically successful (manifestation of god's favor) God helps those who help themselves, it's your duty to act as if you are chosen. Lack of confidence is a sign of insufficient faith. Asceticism: abstaining from worldly pleasures. Self discipline and self-restraint. Prove faith through denying yourself, meaning wealth should not lead to idleness or luxuries, nor are you supposed to give it to the poor (poor are damned, rejected by god. Poverty is evidence of damnation—they turned away from their calling) SO money is reinvested Spirit of capitalism: desire to show that you are in God's grace by working hard and having financial success, but the rejection of consumption for pleasure or leisure Justifies division of labor and inequality
What changes in relationship trends are linked to more independence from parents?
Same-sex relationships and interracial relationships more common, sexual minority young adults more willing to date someone of a different race or enter into less financially secure relationships than their heterosexual counterparts.
How does Chaves counter the argument that religion is on the decline in the US?
Says we're overwhelmed and confused by the bureaucracy, turn to religion for guidance More than 90% of americans believe in god, 76% Christian—50% protestant, 24% catholic. Jews 2%. Mormons 1.7%, 16% do not report specific affiliation. 4% atheist or agnostic, 12% say nothing in particular One measure of religiosity is piety: "individual belief and participation in formal religious worship" remains very high in the us People have not abandoned religion for secularism
Why do we still turn to religion for guidance according to Chaves--what is a sociological explanation?
Says we're overwhelmed and confused by the bureaucracy, turn to religion for guidance. Relief from bafflement, pain,moral dilemmas. SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION: Religion is one of the main ways of delineating group boundaries and collective identities. Expected to thrive as long as we define ourselves by how we are different from others. More broad than deep--if it serves its purpose as an identifier its not as necessary to know that you're professing to believe.
What is season comparison research? What does it tell us about educational inequality?
Seasonal comparison research is a means to untangle the role of school versus non school influences. It compares how things change between the nonschool period (summer) and the school period. This research shows that students (regardless of socioeconomic status) gain academic skills at about the same rate during the nine month academic year, but gaps in skills are mostly developed during the summer gap. Students whose parents have a higher SES develop more skills during the summer gap, then students whose parents have a low SES.
From Telles: what happens with educational achievement across generations of Mexican-Americans?
Second generation Mexican Americans achieve a higher level of education than their parents, but in the following generations the trend moves downward with later generations achieving lower levels of academic success. Also, the education gap between Mexican Americans PERSISTS OR GROWS
What did Ehrenreich conclude about low-wage work after her experiment ended?
She concluded that living on low-wages is nearly impossible, and the lifestyle these people lead may actually be worse than that of people on welfare. struggled to maintain health (losing weight even on a diet of fast food). Living on one low-wage job isn't enough and working two or more is nearly impossible. influx of former welfare recipients and economic downturn will exacerbate conditions. BUT promotes camaraderie.
Based on Ehrenreich's journalistic fieldwork, what are the costs of being poor?
She found those who are poor end up paying more for thing because they cannot pay in-full upfront. For example, if a person cannot afford to live close to where he works, he will end up paying lots of money on gas. Can't make a deposit on an apartment—live in a motel (more expensive in the long run) Food costs: motels, no kitchen. Buy processed food, eat fast food. Costs more than food you cook. Buy uniform for low paying job
How does this research demonstrate social-structural factors that contribute to the test score gap? What are possible solutions that would help close the gap?
Significant portions of the black-white test score gap disappear once social class differences between the groups are adjusted for. Comparing black and white children coming from similar economic and family backgrounds, their test scores are typically closer than when comparing all black and white children. The national trend toward smaller class sizes in school may help close the gap, as smaller class sizes have been shown to help African-American students. Emphasis on phonics instruction for beginning readers has also been shown to help. But as long as African-American students continue to have lower pre-reading and pre-mathematics skills upon entering kindergarten and first grade, the gap will never be closed.
Drawing on Ledger, what is the Moynihan Report? Why was it controversial?
The Moynihan Report was written in 1965 assessing the state of African American families in the United States.It was interpreted as blaming the victim by focusing on the deterioration of the black family. BUT may have been misinterpreted—did talk about slavery, discrimination etc. was calling for federal intervention, but in actuality it was used as fuel for conservative talk aimed at cutting back federal aid.
What solutions does Herring offer?
Since structural discrimination is clearly evident, policies should be designed to reduce discrimination. This phenomenon must also be brought to the public attention. Here are some steps: Conduct more social audits of employers in various industries of varying sizes and locations. Expanded use of evidence from social audits in lawsuits against discriminatory employers provides more information about discriminatory processes, arms black applicants more effectively, and provides greater deterrence to would be discriminators. It allows for more exposure and documentation. Restrict govt. funding to and public contracts with firms that have records of repeated discrimination against blacks. Discriminatory employers should not be allowed to use taxpayer funds to conduct unfair treatment of blacks. THis can also be used as a monetary means of deterrence. Redouble affirmative action efforts. THis means undertaking activities specifically to identify and recruit qualified members of disadvantaged minority groups to overcome the results of past discrimination. It relies on the premise that there are unequal life chances for different groups. Speak out when discrimination does occur. Discrimination against blacks often goes unreported. It is thus incumbent upon white Americans to help stamp out this malignancy.
What are social audit studies? What types of racial discrimination do social audit studies detect? How do audit studies reveal that discrimination is more sophisticated today?
Social audit studies send one black and one white person of equal qualification to apply for a job and then observing the results. Differential treatment is used to assess discrimination. These audit studies detected racial discrimination by finding that most companies are less likely to offer interviews and jobs to racial minorities, and that racial discrimination occurs in one out of every five interviews. These studies have revealed that discrimination is more sophisticated today by revealing that most companies do not explicitly deny jobs to African Americans, but discriminate in ways that are much harder to detect. For example, whites may be called back before black applications are even looked at, whites may get offered higher positions or wages, or companies will not seek employees in places that have higher welfare or other characteristics of the like. Structural discrimination: labor and social practices appear to be race-neutral actually systematically discriminate against African-americans. Like seniority rules, plant location, public transit Racialized social systems: societies in which economic, political, and ideological levels are partially structured by the placement of actors in racial categories Allocate unequal economic, political, and social rewards along racial lines Leads to the abandonment of seeking employment at all (for low-skilled black men)
What is Cherlin's deinstitutionalization argument?
Social norms of marriage are weakening. Tradition is less important, traditional marriage as an institution are less common and weaker. There is greater freedom to choose how to be married and when and whether to be married at all. This can be traced to factors like the rise of unmarried childbearing, the changing division of labor in the home, the growth of unmarried cohabitation, and the emergence of same sex marriage. THis creates trends where people question the link between marriage and parenting, or homosexuality and marriage. THis allows people to feel freer to marry later, to end unhappy marriages or to forgo marriage. Thus, marriage is losing its dominant status.
social construction
Socially constructed reality is an ongoing, dynamic process All knowledge is derived from and maintained by social interactions differences are produced by social experience rather than biologically—social, not natural Concepts/categories that appear fixed or natural are defined by humans through interactions If it were fixed or biological, should be the same across time, location, and culture, but wide variations exist
According to Herring, what are some of the racial discrimination charges leveled against major corporations in the US?
Some of the racial discrimination charges leveled against major US corporations in the US include Texaco employees charged with calling black employees racist names. Texaco also used two promotion lists, a public one and a secret one that excluded black employee names. and Coca-Cola creating job hierarchies that put black employees on the bottom and paying them significantly less per year than white employees. These charges surrounded the issues of job discrimination and wage gaps.
What is the argument for legalizing prostitution?
The argument for legalizing prostitution is that it will make all aspects safer for everyone (reduce risks of violence/abuse) involved and take some power away from the pimps--government regulation. This would help to transform the way workers are treated, giving the workers rights and protections, and start working toward ending public stigma, portraying sex workers as workers instead of deviants.
According to Simon, what do studies show about parenthood and emotional well-being? How does this challenge conventional wisdom?
Studies show that parents in the US experience significantly more symptoms of depression and emotional distress than adults without children, which is caused by the social forces associated with having children. Most men and women in the US will become parents because of the social weight given to parenthood (and the pity associated with people who don't have children, as well as the characterization that they are lazy/selfish). Parents also have more meaning in their lives compared to those without children, but they also experience more frequent negative emotions (such as anxiety, fear, anger, and worry) and less frequent positive emotions (calm, contentment) than those without children. Issues surrounding marriage, employment, and finances all play a role in these facts (unemployment and single parenthood -> people blame themselves when things aren't going well).
According to Wilson, who or what do young black men in inner cities blame for their plight?
Subscribe to the American dream, adhere to mainstream notions of work. Blame the individual, not discrimination for their plight--don't apply the sociological imagination.
What evidence have social scientists provided that counter cultural arguments that depict black men as holding views and ideals counter to that of other ethnic/racial groups and mainstream American more broadly?
Subscribe to the American dream, adhere to mainstream notions of work. Blame the individual, not discrimination for their plight--don't apply the sociological imagination.
Why is the myth of opting out a serious challenge to gender equality in the workplace?
Takes pressure off employers to modify policies to make it more plausible for women to be both workers and mothers, because women maintain that it was "their choice" to leave the workforce, not holding accountable the structural factors that forced them into it (don't want to burn bridges).
What federal and state benefits do married couples enjoy?
Tax incentives, hospital visitation rights, immigration policy, retirement, ss, Medicaid, etc (1138 rights and protections when you marry)
According to Stone, what are the "motherhood pulls" professional women face? What are the workplace pushes?
The "motherhood pulls" professional women face include pulls from modern society, with the general idea that parenthood is supposed to be intense (concerted cultivation), and the idea of intensive motherhood that emphasizes that fact that mothers should spend a great deal of time, energy, and money with and for their children. The "workplace pushes" professional women face include inflexible workplace schedules, husbands who offered emotional support but not offering to help with household chores (as men did not feel pressure to put childcare before work, causing this to become the key reason than many women quit their job)Tell the wives it was "their choice" to quit work (your problem), penalties for trying to take advantage of the "family friendly" policies offered by the workplace (if go part time, end up working full time anyways), and the idea that women view the relationship between parenthood and the workplace in a way that men do not.
What is the "warm modern stance" to addressing the speed up?
The "warm modern stance" to addressing the speedup is humane and egalitarian, maintaining the balance between home and work life. It involves the recognition that there is a speed up in work life and family life and that something needs to be done, with family-friendly changes in the workplace (such as flex time, flex place, part-time options, and paid parental leave). Can help spread out work between employees, increases employee control over work and hours, help further gender equality.
How does exploitation lead to revolution? What did Marx mean by saying that the bourgeoisie have sown the seeds of their own destruction?
The capitalist earns more at the end of the exchange than they started with by exploiting workers. Labor gives commodities their value, so often the workers exceed the value of their wages (working more than they are paid) in order to ensure that the capitalists can make a healthy profit. This can lead to revolution by creating tension between the productive capacity of society and the way society is organized- workers are frustrated by the small stipends they are given for their vigorous, dangerous, and taxing work. By saying that the bourgeoisie have sown the seeds of their own destruction, Marx foresaw a transition from capitalism to socialism and communism. He believed the proletariat would rise and revolt as they became appendages of machines and subject to unfair wages.
What is the choice gap? What structural factors are involved? Why is the rhetoric of choice lead women to blame themselves?
The choice gap is the disjunction between the rhetoric of choice and the reality of constraints they feel upon choosing between career and parenthood. Women face the double burden of intensive motherhood and being the ideal worker -> at work, women are denied part time jobs or face penalties for putting family first; some employers even view women who can become pregnant as risks (ideal worker is basically a man who doesn't have to take care of home and kids). Despite these structural impediments, women often use the rhetoric of choice because it gives them a sense of power and control over their situation. Women associate the choice with feminism, using their individual reasons for structural displacement. A huge part of a woman's identity is compromised upon leaving the workplace, but they feel that their choice gave them control.
Why have the emotional cultures of home and work reversed?
The emotional cultures of home and work could be reversed through the trend of inherent lack of stability in the family life, caused by higher divorce rates, and more women working outside the home, experiencing the pull back to the home and housework. The insatiable wants and needs of consumerism, causing people to work hard in order to get the things they want, could also be another cause of this reversal. This can be seen through the retail therapy effect, treating oneself to goods for working hard, and contributes to the vicious cycle of more time at work causing more stress of home, which causes a greater desire to be at work more, etc.Feel appreciated at work—awards ceremonies, promotions. Intimate relationships move to workplace as replacement for loss of neighbors, etc.
How does the example of South Africa discussed in class demonstrate the social construction of race?
The fact that in 2008, the high court in South Africa ruled the Chinese South Africans were to be reclassified as black people shows that race is much more than just ethnic background, culture, and skintone, but also social standing, stereotypes, and class benefits based upon the ideas of race and the impact that particular associations based on race have.
According to lecture, what is the gender system approach?
The gender system approach centers around the idea that society is shaped around the differentiation of gender. Educational settings, sports, behavior, occupation, expectation, superiority, and compensation are all associated with the gender system of differentiation. It points out the taboo of the sameness of men and women, operating to maintain socially significant differences between genders. kids line up by gender, different areas on the playground, etc.
According to Weitzer, what is the oppression model in sex work?
The idea that sex work is inherently abusive, workers are pushed/tricked into this work against their will from a very young age, drug abuse, and are often subject to violence. This is also seen as an institution of men over women. People who subscribe to the oppression model believe that if prostitution were to be legalized these problems would only become worse.
How do Black college students experience ethnicity on college campuses? What is the paradox of symbolic ethnicity?!
The identity development of Black college students is more complicated than that of Whites (who merely claim symbolic identities) because of the added element of racial discrimination and racism, along with the "ethnic" developments of finding others who share their background. Thus Black student have the positive attraction of being around other Black students who share some cultural elements (they group to share common experiences and community), as well as the need to band together with other students in a reactive and oppositional way in the face of racist incidents on campus. The paradox of symbolic ethnicity is that it depends upon the ultimate goal of a pluralist society, and at the same time makes it more difficult to achieve that ultimate goal. It is dependent upon the concept that all ethnicities mean the same thing, that enjoying the traditions of one's heritage is an option available to a group or an individual, but that such a heritage should not have any social costs associated with it.
What are the major stresses of parenting? What social changes does Simon offer to deal with these problems?
The major stresses of parenthood include employment (finding a balance between work and parenthood, trying to work out flexible time off); the well-being of the children as they grow older, both emotionally and financially; how the child turns out as a reflection of the parent (feelings of failure if not up to standards); the emotional well-being of the relationship of the parents; the fact that there is little preparation or instructions for how to parent; the fact that there is not much of a social safety net for parents, which leads to parents feeling at fault; and the need to reevaluate cultural beliefs about parenthood and happiness.
How do racial formation theory and racialized social systems theory explain the social construction of race?
The racial formation theory, which emphasizes social, economic, and political forces as determinants of racial categories, is what defines racialized social systems, where social, economic, and political forces structure racial categories. Because race was used to organize social systems through the racial formation theory, race became an independent element of the social system even in the absence of the social conditions that brought race into being.
Explain the basic tenets of social construction theory.
The social construction theory is based on the idea that differences are produced by social experiences rather than biologically. These differences are social, not "natural". Concepts that appear fixed or natural, such as the differences of gender, are defined by human beings through their interactions. This can be proved by the wide variations of concepts and categories across time and culture that should be similar among all humans if they were truly fixed or biological. We create our reality through our interactions with one another, which makes social construction a very powerful social fact.
According to lecture, what is the social constructionist approach to sexuality?!
The social constructionist approach to sexuality focuses on the cultural and historical context, stating that sexualityies are multiple, rather than unitary; essentially stating that sexualitites are socially shaped.
What are the negative attitudes toward Black men as workers Wilson found in his own research? How does this represent statistical discrimination?
The structural factors Wilson highlights include the economy (fewer jobs in available due to economic downturn), new technologies that can replace people, the decline of jobs in manufacturing, the decreased demand for low-skilled labor (fewer low-skill jobs available), globalization (pits low skilled workers in USA against those in India/China, who can be employed for much less), the decreasing union involvement (less power and more vulnerability for those who do have low-skill jobs), poor education of black males (fewer opportunity for higher-level jobs, because they lack the basic tools required to get jobs), and the increased risk of incarceration for black males (discriminatory hiring among companies). Increased incarceration is related to both poor education and increased joblessness. It is also related to the punitive approach to justice where rates of incarceration soared even when overall crime declined. All these structural factors cause problems, which are further aggravated by employer's negative attitudes toward black men as employers.
What are the structural factors particular to inner-city black men that Wilson highlights? Explain each one.
The structural factors Wilson highlights include the economy (fewer jobs in available due to economic downturn), new technologies that can replace people, the decline of jobs in manufacturing, the decreased demand for low-skilled labor (fewer low-skill jobs available), globalization (pits low skilled workers in USA against those in India/China, who can be employed for much less), the decreasing union involvement (less power and more vulnerability for those who do have low-skill jobs), poor education of black males (fewer opportunity for higher-level jobs, because they lack the basic tools required to get jobs), and the increased risk of incarceration for black males (discriminatory hiring among companies). Increased incarceration is related to both poor education and increased joblessness. It is also related to the punitive approach to justice where rates of incarceration soared even when overall crime declined. All these structural factors cause problems, which are further aggravated by employer's negative attitudes toward black men as employers.
What is the theory of "structural discrimination"?
The theory of "structural discrimination" is that labor and social practices that appear to be race-neutral actually systematically discriminate against African-Americans. The discrimination is already built into the system, so it can be invisible even to people within the companies. This type of discrimination can be traced to plant location, public transit decisions, seniority rules, funding of public education, immigration and trade policies, and more. Seniority rules - when blacks are hired later than whites then operating by these rules ensures greater job security and higher pay to whites than to African Americans. Blacks, who were the last hired, will be the first fired and worst paid. Thus, unequal outcomes are built into the rules themselves. Companies may decide to relocate away from areas with higher concentrations of black residents. Policy makers decide to build public transit that provides easy access from the suburbs to central city job sites, but not from the inner city. Public education, which is funded by local property, is of a lower quality in the inner city than the suburbs. Policy makers attempt to blunt the effects of inflation and high interest rates by allowing unemployment rates to climb, especially when they climb more rapidly in African American communities. Policy makers negotiate immigration and trade agreements that may lead to lower employer costs but may also reduce the number of jobs available to blacks. In none of these decisions do employers or policy makers need to be radically prejudiced, but their actions have disproportionately negative effects on blacks.
According to Bettie, what are the three different meanings to "women without class"? How were symbolic boundaries drawn between the students?
The three different meaning are: no cultural capital or mobility; women being left out of theorists' talk about social class; and everything in studies being reduced to gender without the consideration of race, class, or any other factors. Symbolic boundaries (conceptual distinctions used to categorize objects, people and practices) were drawn between the students by their ambitions/futures (four-year college bound vs. community college), the classes they took (vocational or college-prep), the way they dressed (tighter vs. more conservative), their social class (middle or working), and their race (Mexican American vs. white).
According to Hochschild, what three factors lead to a speed up in work and family life?
The three factors that lead to a speed up in work and family life include the increasing number of women working outside the home, the fact that women's jobs lack flexibility, and the increased hours for both men and women at work, more than ever before.
How do anti same-sex marriage activists frame the threat of gay marriage?
Threatening the traditional idea of marriage, what will happen to children, impact religious freedom
What does Hochschild argue about challenges to the emotional culture of home? Why do these changes benefit workplace?
Time—speed-up necessitates seeking out "quality time" with family. Families de-prioritize things outside of inner core (waste of time) Problematic because you end up being disconnected from your community. Concerted cultivation—middle class families disconnected from extended family, neighbors. Losing greater connections as a result of speed-up (focus only on core rituals and work). Loss of supportive structures around family might be a gain for the workplace. Getting support from workplace, social bonds. What did Hochschild expect to find? That workplace would be sped-up, home a haven to escape from hectic work life, people feel more appreciated at home. Want to maximize time at home, minimize work time esp if they had children. ACTUALLY found home is not relaxing, more stressful than the workplace. Go to work early to decompress. Feel appreciated, sense of community. Home work unrecognized, taken for granted. THIS IS WHY workers don't take advantage of policies allowing more time with families. What brought about the reversal in family and work cultures? Trends in family—half of all marriages end in divorce. Lack of stability. More women working outside of the home, still responsible for most of household labor. Consumerism—work to maintain lifestyle, endless wants and needs. Retail therapy (treat yourself for working so much) Feel appreciated—awards ceremonies, promotions. Intimate relationships move to workplace as replacement for loss of neighbors, etc. Cycle: running away from home produces more tensions, more tensions means more retreating to work.
What structural factors limit working-class families from adopting concerted cultivation?
Upper class parents have more books, speak more words to their kids, difference of double the vocab by age 3. Working-class parents don't have the time or the cultural capital to invest in this--more focused on meeting the basic needs of their kids (food, shelter, etc.).
Why does Waters argue that there are social costs associated with symbolic ethnicities? Why is pluralism in this context problematic?!
Waters argues that symbolic ethnicity has no cost for the individual. However, there is a cost associated with symbolic ethnicity for the society, because symbolic ethnicities are confined to White Americans of European origin. Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and American Indians do not have the option of a symbolic ethnicity at present in the US, and for all the ways ethnicity does not matter for White Americans, it matters for non-Whites. The reality is that White ethnicities have a lot more choice and room for maneuver than they themselves think they do, when the situation is very different for members of racial minorities whose lives are strongly influenced by their race or national origin regardless of how much they may choose not to identify themselves in terms of the ancestries. Because white Americans have the option to choose, the individualized voluntary symbolic identity becomes a dominant assumption which is applied to society at large, even though it does not work for nonwhites. The symbolic ethnic may think that all groups are equal, and that all identities are interchangeable. He fails to recognize that there is a difference between individualistic symbolic ethnic identity and a socially enforced and imposed racial identity. Pluralism can be problematic because for it to work, all ethnicities should be equal. If we ignore the differences in power relations and externalities, then pluralism just reinforces racial hierarchies, and creates tensions (such as on college campuses between students). Thus, the invisible hand of pluralism requires some form of regulation.(if we ignore it it just makes it worse.)
Drawing upon the film clip shown in class, what is the paradox of modern marriage according to Coontz?
We now subscribe to the "happily ever after" model: fidelity, main support mechanism, choosing based only on love, parents and in-laws should stay out of it, express affection, discuss problems. This makes marriage much more fulfilling when it works, but when it doesn't, it seems less bearable than it would have 100 years ago. Makes the institution less stable.
What myths about sex work does Weitzer challenge? What does research show that counters conventional notions?
Weitzer questions the ideas that sex work is inherently bad- bad for society, for the people involved. He challenges the oppression model, which is based on the idea that sex work is inherently exploitative and abusive; that women are victims of sexual abuse, start young, become addicted to drugs, are subject to violence, and are tricked into prostitution. Research shows: a large percentage of indoor workers reported increase in self-esteem after they began working in prostitution, research shows the age started in prostitution half started after age 19, studies on rape, robbery, and assault each report between 20-40% of outdoor sex workers
What are the differential outcomes of these different parenting styles? How can we explain this?
What are the outcomes for middle-class kids? Sense of entitlement, make rules work in their favor, question authority For working-class/poor kids? Sense of constraint, defer to authority, less likely to customize an interaction to suit their preference, parents distrust and fear authority (have bad experiences trying to get what they need, fear bc they have the power to take their kids away), do not seek or get institutional accommodations—out of sync with standards of institution.
According to Edin and Kefalas, why are young women like Jen having kids prior to getting married? Why did Jen say that her child "saved her"?
Young women are having kids prior to getting married because the lack of economic prospects leaves no motivation to put off childbearing. Young women value motherhood greatly, for the purpose and the status they feel it gives--way of attaining adulthood/respect. Some women feel that children "saved them" because children helped them straighten up in order to try to provide for their children, giving them a new sense of purpose and reason to better themselves in every possible way. The choices they make now impact someone else besides themselves.
Why does she argue that this distinction is really about class? In addition to appearance, how else was class performed?
When las chicas talk about "acting white" they really mean acting middle class, because they're only referring to the preps as opposed to the smokers and the hicks (white but not middle class status)When trying to understand social processes, categories like race and gender tend to take the place of class. Although class was left unnamed for las chicas, it was performed through their race, choice of classes, the way they talked, their extracurricular activities, and their rejection of school and prep norms (preps attain adult status by earning praise from teachers and parents while las chicas reject that system and instead attain adult status by entering the workforce and becoming mothers).
What did it mean for las chicas to accuse someone of acting white?
When the Las Chicas referred to someone as acting white they meant that person was acting according to middle class norms. Accusing them of being fake, phony, and insincere. They were truly discussing class differences, without directly using the word, because they were only referring to the white girls of middle class status not to the white students such as the smokers and hicks who were not of middle class status.
According to lecture, what are who restrictions and how restrictions?
Who restrictions: Defining who it is acceptable to engage in sexual activity with, as is restricted by gender, age, kin, race, caste, or class of sexual partner. How restrictions: Defining what is socially acceptable in how sexual activity is performed, such as the organs used, what can be touched and when, the frequency of sexual activity, etc.
What is the financial trap?
Workers get into spending pattern where you can no longer get by without the steady income. Initially these workers saw this opportunity as a temporary job that turned into a career based on their spending patterns. The high income for low status work encourages conspicuous consumption. Those who come in thinking of this as a temp job are pulled into this life of conspicuous consumption through the culture of other workers who show off new cars at lunch and talk about recent purchases. These purchases become rewards for the awful work employees must endure.
Why are the working poor more likely to eat fast food?
Working poor are more likely to eat fast food/processed foods because they cannot afford to pay for foods either in bulk or multiple ingredients for a dish, or they can't afford living conditions with a kitchen (i.e. motel). Through eating fast food these poor can get prepared food for a price they can afford. Also, not enough time to prepare food between multiple shifts.
What are Telles' and Zhou's arguments about assimilation and "becoming white"?
Zhou: Most Asian Americans seem to accept that "white" is mainstream, average, and normal, and look to whites as a frame of reference for attaining higher social positions. But white is an arbitrary label having more to do with privilege than biology. Becoming "white" is more of a tool for material success, but becoming white can mean distancing oneself from one's own ethnicity. Asian American, African American, and Hispanic American group identities all risk restraining individual members' aspirations for personal advancement. Telles: Mexican American immigrants did not necessarily assimilate into American society, even though it worked for Eastern European immigrants, because they still identify themselves (and other identify them) as Mexican Americans, before Americans. Proximity of mexico and constant influx of low-wage mexican immigrants reinforce stereotypes.
What factors have led to deindustrialization?
the rise of unmarried childbearing, the changing division of labor in the home, the growth of unmarried cohabitation, and the emergence of same sex marriage
