SOCIOLOGY - A LEVEL - PREPARATION WORK SOCIOLOGY · SOCIOLOGY SOCIOLOGY - A LEVEL - PREPARATION WORK Many people coming to the subject of sociology for the first time have a vague

SOCIOLOGYSOCIOLOGY - A LEVEL - PREPARATION WORK

Many people coming to the subject of sociology for the first time have a vague idea that the subject is the study of people and society. This is a good start, as sociology looks at how influences from society shape and affect people and their behaviour, their experiences and how they interpret the world around them.

Sociology is the study of social institutions and the study of human groups and social life in modern societies.

Sociologists are interested in the various social institutions found in society and how they operate. For example, the family is an institution that exists in many forms and a version of the family is found in the majority of human societies.

Many developed societies have education systems, which perform a number of functions such as providing children with skills for work. Work and the economic system are the way in which goods and services are produced and distributed. The law ensures social control and regulation of people’s behaviour and politics enables people’s views to be represented democratically. Many societies also follow a set of beliefs, which may include religion. Therefore, society is made up of many parts (or institutions) and they all contribute something to the operation of society.

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Many people coming to the subject of sociology for the first time have a vague idea that the subject is the study of people and society. This is a good start, as sociology looks at how influences from society shape and affect people and their behaviour, their experiences and how they interpret the world around them.

Sociology is the study of social institutions and the study of human groups and social life in modern societies.

Sociologists are interested in the various social institutions found in society and how they operate. For example, the family is an institution that exists in many forms and a version of the family is found in the majority of human societies.

Many developed societies have education systems, which perform a number of functions such as providing children with skills for work. Work and the economic system are the way in which goods and services are produced and distributed. The law ensures social control and regulation of people’s behaviour and politics enables people’s views to be represented democratically. Many societies also follow a set of beliefs, which may include religion. Therefore, society is made up of many parts (or institutions) and they all contribute something to the operation of society.

Sociology is…The Study of Human Behaviour: Nature or Nurture?

People disagree about whether our behaviour is something natural that we are born with (nature) or whether it is the result of our upbringing in society and our environment (nurture).

Biologists would examine how our behaviour is shaped by natural instincts. However sociologists question this and argue that much of our behaviour is learned. Instead of looking at biological reasons for our behaviour, sociologists look towards culture and socialisation instead.

Sociologists usually define culture as the shared values and norms of a society or group.

There may be some cultural variation within one society. For example, in Britain there are many different groups that may have their own subcultures that vary from the mainstream. Cultures may also change over time. Attitudes to different behaviours may change, such as attitudes to smoking or sex before marriage.

Socialisation: The process of learning our culture is called socialisation. When living in a human society, we learn our social norms and values from being children. Many of the social institutions described earlier in this resource – family, education – are involved in the process of socialisation. One of the key functions of the family, according to some sociologists, is to socialise children into the norms and values of society. What is Sociology?


SOCIOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY IS…THE STUDY OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR: NATURE OR NURTURE?People disagree about whether our behaviour is something natural that we are born with (nature) or whether it is the result of our upbringing in society and our environment (nurture).

Biologists would examine how our behaviour is shaped by natural instincts. However sociologists question this and argue that much of our behaviour is learned. Instead of looking at biological reasons for our behaviour, sociologists look towards culture and socialisation instead.

Sociologists usually define culture as the shared values and norms of a society or group.There may be some cultural variation within one society. For example, in Britain there are many different groups that may have their own subcultures that vary from the mainstream. Cultures may also change over time. Attitudes to different behaviours may change, such as attitudes to smoking or sex before marriage.

Socialisation: The process of learning our culture is called socialisation. When living in a human society, we learn our social norms and values from being children. Many of the social institutions described earlier in this resource – family, education – are involved in the process of socialisation. One of the key functions of the family, according to some sociologists, is to socialise children into the norms and values of society.

Sociologists make the distinction between:

• Primary socialisation: this takes place in the family, where we are taught by our parents. These are often the norms that are expected of us within our family.

• Secondary socialisation: this takes place later, in education, the workplace or by the media. These are norms which are from the wider society and the adult world.

Social control: The methods society uses to ensure people comply with the rules and regulations are known as social control. Social control may involve punishments or rewards to help reinforce what acceptable norms of behaviour are within society. Social control may be formal such as the police or the courts. Social control can also take place in an informal way, such as through peers, neighbours and our families.





Sociology is…The Study of Social Problems and Issues

As well as studying how society works, sociologists are interested in why societies sometimes don’t work well, or why certain features of social life may be harmful. For example, poverty may be found in many societies, and this can lead to other forms of disadvantage. Many would argue that crime in society is harmful, especially to victims. Family breakdown and divorce may also occur which may lead to other social problems. Sociologists often research these issues to uncover useful information which could be used by governments and policy makers to try to improve society.

Sociology is… the Study of Social Differences and Inequalities Sociologists are also interested in how society may be divided into social groups – or how they are stratified. There is a lot of disagreement about how we should define different social classes, however we can usually separate them into these distinct groups: Upper class: A small class that refers to the main owners of society’s wealth. This may include business owners, landowners and the aristocracy. Middle class: A large class, and often refers to those in non-manual work. This includes people who don’t carry out physical labour in their work, and may involve working in offices. At the top of the middle classes, highly paid and highly skilled occupations may feature, such as doctors and lawyers. At the bottom, there may be people carrying out routine office work who are paid much less. Some may argue that those in the low paid jobs should be included in the working class as their pay may be very similar. Working class: A large class, including those who work in manual jobs which involve physical labour. This may include skilled work such as electricians or plumbers, or unskilled work such as working in packing in a factory.


SOCIOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY IS…THE STUDY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND ISSUESAs well as studying how society works, sociologists are interested in why societies sometimes don’t work well, or why certain features of social life may be harmful. For example, poverty may be found in many societies, and this can lead to other forms of disadvantage.

Many would argue that crime in society is harmful, especially to victims. Family breakdown and divorce may also occur which may lead to other social problems. Sociologists often research these issues to uncover useful information which could be used by governments and policy makers to try to improve society.

SOCIOLOGY IS… THE STUDY OF SOCIAL DIFFERENCES AND INEQUALITIESSociologists are also interested in how society may be divided into social groups – or how they arestratified.

There is a lot of disagreement about how we should define different social classes, however we canusually separate them into these distinct groups:

Upper class: A small class that refers to the main owners of society’s wealth. This may include business owners, landowners and the aristocracy.

Middle class: A large class, and often refers to those in non-manual work. This includes people who don’t carry out physical labour in their work, and may involve working in offices. At the top of the middle classes, highly paid and highly skilled occupations may feature, such as doctors and lawyers. At the bottom, there may be people carrying out routine office work who are paid much less. Some may argue that those in the low paid jobs should be included in the working class as their pay may be very similar.

Working class: A large class, including those who work in manual jobs which involve physical labour. This may include skilled work such as electricians or plumbers, or unskilled work such as working in packing in a factory.

Underclass: Some sociologists have identified this small class at the bottom, whose poverty may exclude them from full participation in society. This class may be characterised as having long term welfare benefit dependency and unemployment.

Some people have suggested there are now more than the 4 main categories of social class shown in the table above, such as the ‘working poor’ and the ‘lower middle class’.





Sociology is…The Study of Social Problems and Issues

As well as studying how society works, sociologists are interested in why societies sometimes don’t work well, or why certain features of social life may be harmful. For example, poverty may be found in many societies, and this can lead to other forms of disadvantage. Many would argue that crime in society is harmful, especially to victims. Family breakdown and divorce may also occur which may lead to other social problems. Sociologists often research these issues to uncover useful information which could be used by governments and policy makers to try to improve society.

Sociology is… the Study of Social Differences and Inequalities Sociologists are also interested in how society may be divided into social groups – or how they are stratified. There is a lot of disagreement about how we should define different social classes, however we can usually separate them into these distinct groups: Upper class: A small class that refers to the main owners of society’s wealth. This may include business owners, landowners and the aristocracy. Middle class: A large class, and often refers to those in non-manual work. This includes people who don’t carry out physical labour in their work, and may involve working in offices. At the top of the middle classes, highly paid and highly skilled occupations may feature, such as doctors and lawyers. At the bottom, there may be people carrying out routine office work who are paid much less. Some may argue that those in the low paid jobs should be included in the working class as their pay may be very similar. Working class: A large class, including those who work in manual jobs which involve physical labour. This may include skilled work such as electricians or plumbers, or unskilled work such as working in packing in a factory.


SOCIOLOGYUnderclass: Some sociologists have identified this small class at the bottom, whose poverty may exclude them from full participation in society. This class may be characterised as having long term welfare benefit dependency and unemployment. Some people have suggested there are now more than the 4 main categories of social class shown in the table above, such as the ‘working poor’ and the ‘lower middle class’. Sociologists study the relationship between social class and other factors, such as educational achievement and crime. Other forms of divide sociologists are interested in are gender and ethnicity. An individual’s social class, gender and/or ethnicity can affect their life chances – whether or not they do well at school, whether they can get a good job or their chances of committing crime or being imprisoned. For example on average, women earn about 15% less than men. Unemployment is almost twice as high for ethnic minorities as for whites.

Is a consensus theory as it believes that society is based on agreement amongst its members about basic norms and values (culture). It originated from the work of Emile Durkheim, known as the founding father of Functionalism, in the late 1800’s. Other key writers since then have been Parsons and Merton. The theory tries to explain what makes societies ordered and stable.

The Organic Analogy

SSoo,, ssoocciioollooggyy iiss tthhee ssttuuddyy ooff hhuummaann ssoocciieettyy,, hhuummaann bbeehhaavviioouurr,,

ssoocciiaall iinnssttiittuuttiioonnss,, ssoocciiaall pprroobblleemmss aanndd ssoocciiaall ddiiffffeerreenncceess!!

Sociologists study the relationship between social class and other factors, such as educational achievement and crime.

Other forms of divide sociologists are interested in are gender and ethnicity. An individual’s social class, gender and/or ethnicity can affect their life chances – whether or not they do well at school, whether they can get a good job or their chances of committing crime or being imprisoned. For example on average, women earn about 15% less than men. Unemployment is almost twice as high for ethnic minorities as for whites.

FUNCTIONALISMIs a consensus theory as it believes that society is based on agreement amongst its members about basic norms and values (culture). It originated from the work of Emile Durkheim, known as the founding father of Functionalism, in the late 1800’s. Other key writers since then have been Parsons and Merton. The theory tries to explain what makes societies ordered and stable.

The Organic AnalogyThe functionalist sociologists believed that societies are made up of inter-related parts that are essential for the smooth running of society. They say that society is similar to a biological organism such as the human body. As the human body is made up of parts – cells, organs etc - that fit together and depend on each other, society is also a system of interdependent parts.

For example, the family is a part of society that reproduces the next generation and socialises them into the norms and values. The education system is a part of society that socialises children and teaches them skills and knowledge they will need for the workplace.

Consensus approach – society is working together for the good of all its individuals. It is based on meritocratic principles (we all start from the same starting point) and therefore the rules and social norms are there to benefit the individual and wider society. Without these norms and values we would have outright chaos – this is referred to as anomie.

Value consensus – essentially means that all society shares the same set of agreed norms and values. If all members share the same then value consensus is achieved. in order to have social order, society needs to ensure that it has value consensus – if it doesn’t then there will be no social order and anomie will occur (state of normlessness)

Underclass: Some sociologists have identified this small class at the bottom, whose poverty may exclude them from full participation in society. This class may be characterised as having long term welfare benefit dependency and unemployment. Some people have suggested there are now more than the 4 main categories of social class shown in the table above, such as the ‘working poor’ and the ‘lower middle class’. Sociologists study the relationship between social class and other factors, such as educational achievement and crime. Other forms of divide sociologists are interested in are gender and ethnicity. An individual’s social class, gender and/or ethnicity can affect their life chances – whether or not they do well at school, whether they can get a good job or their chances of committing crime or being imprisoned. For example on average, women earn about 15% less than men. Unemployment is almost twice as high for ethnic minorities as for whites.


The Organic Analogy



Underclass: Some sociologists have identified this small class at the bottom, whose poverty may exclude them from full participation in society. This class may be characterised as having long term welfare benefit dependency and unemployment. Some people have suggested there are now more than the 4 main categories of social class shown in the table above, such as the ‘working poor’ and the ‘lower middle class’. Sociologists study the relationship between social class and other factors, such as educational achievement and crime. Other forms of divide sociologists are interested in are gender and ethnicity. An individual’s social class, gender and/or ethnicity can affect their life chances – whether or not they do well at school, whether they can get a good job or their chances of committing crime or being imprisoned. For example on average, women earn about 15% less than men. Unemployment is almost twice as high for ethnic minorities as for whites.


The Organic Analogy




SOCIOLOGY

The functionalist sociologists believed that societies are made up of inter-related parts that are essential for the smooth running of society. They say that society is similar to a biological organism such as the human body. As the human body is made up of parts – cells, organs etc - that fit together and depend on each other, society is also a system of interdependent parts.

For example, the family is a part of society that reproduces the next generation and socialises them into the norms and values. The education system is a part of society that socialises children and teaches them skills and knowledge they will need for the workplace.

Consensus approach – society is working together for the good of all its individuals. It is based on meritocratic principles (we all start from the same starting point) and therefore the rules and social norms are there to benefit the individual and wider society. Without these norms and values we would have outright chaos – this is referred to as anomie.

Value consensus – essentially means that all society shares the same set of agreed norms and values. If all members share the same then value consensus is achieved. in order to have social order, society needs to ensure that it has value consensus – if it doesn’t then there will be no social order and anomie will occur (state of normlessness)

Gender role socialisation

What is sex?

• Biological make up

What is gender?

• Social construction (something CREATED by society)

What is gender role socialisation?

• Gender role socialisation is passing on norms and values based on your gender. The family is the first instituion which passes on gendered norms and values through children playing with certain toys, wearing particular clothing etc. children begin to understand their gender roles in society.

TASK - Look at the images below. What will girls and boys understand about their gender? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GENDER ROLE SOCIALISATION

What is sex? • Biological make up

What is gender? • Social construction (something CREATED by society)

What is gender role socialisation?• Gender role socialisation is passing on norms and values based on your gender. The family is the first

instituion which passes on gendered norms and values through children playing with certain toys, wearing particular clothing etc. children begin to understand their gender roles in society.

TASK - Look at the images below. What will girls and boys understand about their gender?

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SOCIOLOGYCAN CHILDREN BE RAISED GENDER NEUTRAL?

TASK - Read the article ‘He, she… it?’ and answer the following questions:

1. Highlight ‘gender-neutral’. What does this mean?

2. How did Abbie respond to boys challenging her?

3. What did the museum visitor say about a boy being noisy?

4. Did 3 year old Antonia think girls and boys are the same?

5. What effect might dress styles and compliments for clothing have on girls?

6. Why might businesses want to separate boys and girls?

7. What impact has the ‘Let Toys Be Toys’ campaign had?

8. What did parent Beck Laxton do to stop her child being held back by gender?

9. What does Angela Spencer think of gender identity?

10. What is happening to the proportion of women in science, technology etc?

11. What does Carnell conclude?


SOCIOLOGYCAN CHILDREN BE RAISED GENDER NEUTRAL?

TASK - Read the article ‘He, she… it?’ and answer the following questions:

1. Highlight ‘gender-neutral’. What does this mean?

2. How did Abbie respond to boys challenging her?

3. What did the museum visitor say about a boy being noisy?

4. Did 3 year old Antonia think girls and boys are the same?

5. What effect might dress styles and compliments for clothing have on girls?

6. Why might businesses want to separate boys and girls?

7. What impact has the ‘Let Toys Be Toys’ campaign had?

8. What did parent Beck Laxton do to stop her child being held back by gender?

9. What does Angela Spencer think of gender identity?

10. What is happening to the proportion of women in science, technology etc?

11. What does Carnell conclude?


SOCIOLOGYHE, SHE ... IT?A growing number of parents, teachers and experts say we should be raising children the ‘gender-neutral’ way. But is it a good idea? And what does it even mean?

Abbie likes Spider-Man. She likes the way he can shoot webs out of his fingers. So last summer, the seven-year-old opted for Spider-Man-themed sandals. “You’re a boy, you’re a boy,” taunted her classmates.

Abbie has long brown hair, a penchant for train sets, and a reserve that could be taken for shyness. But when challenged by the boys in her class, Abbie “took matters into her own hands,” as her mother Kim Carnell puts it, offering evidence of her gender by flashing them. The anatomy lesson may have proved her point, but it landed Abbie in trouble with her teachers – and it was only later that Abbie plucked up the courage to tell her mother what had prompted the incident. Abbie refused to wear the sandals again.

On a recent rainy afternoon, my son hurtled around the Imperial War Museum in London, singing loudly. “Typical boy,” a fellow visitor remarked companionably, as I chased him. “Boys need to be outside - they just don’t do museums!”

But was Henry being a “typical boy” or a typical 18-month-old who, after 20 minutes of hushed tones, had hit his limit?

As we left the museum I asked my daughter, who is three, whether she thinks girls and boys are different. Antonia replied, “Girls can do anything boys can do.” After a moment’s reflection, she added: “But they are different, because girls get purple and boys get green.”

What? “I thought it was pink and blue,” I said. “Those, too,” she replied.

Strict gender segregation in clothing, toys and activities is a relatively recent phenomenon. When I was a child in the 1980s, everyone wore OshKosh dungarees and built with blocks. My children wear dungarees, too, but the bibs of theirs are prominently embroidered with “OshKosh Girl” or “OshKosh Boy” in curly script. The categories of boy and girl seem to have become as rigid as those of horse and cow.

Others suggest that dressing girls in pretty shoes and dresses, and complimenting them on their looks, teaches them to place excessive value on their appearance. Embarrassing boys out of playing with dolls could be discouraging their nurturing instincts.

Back in Britain, I talk to Kate Pietrasik, the founder of Tootsa MacGinty, a unisex children’s clothing label stocked in Selfridges, Fenwicks and independent boutiques across the UK. “Fashion for children matters,” says Pietrasik. “Because unfortunately the first thing someone notices is what you look like.” And that affects the way they treat you. Pietrasik herself is intimidatingly chic, in a way that hints at the years she spent living in France: neat brown bob, leather jacket, Breton top. “There’s a narrowing scope of what kids can be,” says Pietrasik. The reason, she says, is money. “If we can separate boys and girls to such a degree that they need different clothes and toys, then it’s double your money.”

Two years ago, Let Toys Be Toys was founded, inspired by a heated Mumsnet discussion. “Boys and girls need the chance to develop in all areas,” declares its website. “Action, construction and technology toys are predominantly marketed to boys while social role play and arts and crafts toys are predominantly marketed to girls. Both boys and girls miss out this way.” Fourteen national British retailers, including M&S, Boots and Debenhams, have agreed to the group’s calls to stop using “girls” and “boys” signs.

Some parents have taken more drastic action. Beck Laxton, who lives in Cambridge, was so concerned about stereotyping she tried to keep her son’s gender a secret for five years, writing about the experiment on her “Beckblog”.

Today, Sasha is eight. Laxton tells me, “we don’t watch any live TV - there are too many stereotypes there. And we avoid going to toyshops because of the pink and blue aisles.”

“Most ordinary mums will say: ‘Yeah, but boys and girls are different,’” says Siobhan Freegard, a mother of three and a founder of Netmums, one of Britain’s largest parenting websites. Freegard is both glamorous, with long, looked-after blonde hair, and no-nonsense. “Parents don’t really get what the point is of campaigns like Pink Stinks,” which fights gender stereotypes...


SOCIOLOGYHE, SHE ... IT? CONTINUED...Angela Spencer, who has owned and operated nurseries for the past 21 years, agrees. “Boys and girls develop differently, socially and emotionally,” she tells me. “The anatomy of boys and girls is different and their subsequent developmental needs are different. In this ‘gender-neutral’ trend, we are running the risk of losing gender identity completely.”

A decade ago, Dr Simon Baron-Cohen, professor of developmental psychopathology at the University of Cambridge, published an enormously influential book. The Essential Difference argued that the female brain is built for empathy, whereas the male brain is hardwired for building systems. Dr Baron-Cohen’s theory is part of a body of work, from academic journals to self-help bestsellers such as Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, that supports the conventional wisdom that men and women are different. But just as many studies suggest these differences are wildly overstated - and that, where they exist, they are learned, not innate. Nurture rather than nature.

Whatever the truth, these are bad times for gender equality in Britain. The UK has dropped to 26th place in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, behind Nicaragua,

Bulgaria and Burundi. Women make up a declining percentage of the workforce in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and maths) despite the boom in these sectors.

It’s a similar picture in America, where several Silicon Valley firms stand accused of tolerating a misogynistic “brogrammer” culture that freezes out female employees and reinforces the idea that technology is for men.

Frida Andén, a Swedish IT consultant and mother of two girls, echoes her concerns. “Historically, equality

“Are boys and girls different?” asks Kim Carnell, the mother of the seven-year-old Spider-Man fan. “Some are. But girls and girls are different. My oldest and youngest daughters are definitely into stereotypically girly activities, whereas Abbie definitely isn’t.”

It seems an incredibly regressive step to be telling children what they can and can’t like, wear or do, based on whether they’re boys or girls. And one that is potentially harming their long-term prospects. “They should be able to do whatever they like,” says Carnell. It’s hard to disagree.

NEW RIGHTThis approach is associated with the Conservative Party. When the conservative party came to power in the UK in 1979, they set about cutting social expenditure. They did this because they believed that to do so would regenerate private profitability, but also because they believed that reducing public reliance on state provision was a matter of principle.

They believe that the capitalist system can provide wealth and happiness for everyone regardless of back ground – work hard and you shall reap the rewards!One of the main beliefs is that the government should not interfere with the public when it comes to spending. They believe that the welfare system (benefits) are not helpful but actually make the issue of unemployment worse. They believe that people become dependent on benefits and this is a problem in society. These individuals are know as the underclass.

their subsequent developmental needs are different. In this ‘gender-neutral’ trend, we are running the risk of losing gender identity completely.”

A decade ago, Dr Simon Baron-Cohen, professor of developmental psychopathology at the University of Cambridge, published an enormously influential book. The Essential Difference argued that the female brain is built for empathy, whereas the male brain is hardwired for building systems. Dr Baron-Cohen’s theory is part of a body of work, from academic journals to self-help bestsellers such as Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, that supports the conventional wisdom that men and women are different. But just as many studies suggest these differences are wildly overstated - and that, where they exist, they are learned, not innate. Nurture rather than nature.

Whatever the truth, these are bad times for gender equality in Britain. The UK has dropped to 26th place in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, behind Nicaragua, Bulgaria and Burundi. Women make up a declining percentage of the workforce in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and maths) despite the boom in these sectors.

It’s a similar picture in America, where several Silicon Valley firms stand accused of tolerating a misogynistic “brogrammer” culture that freezes out female employees and reinforces the idea that technology is for men.

Frida Andén, a Swedish IT consultant and mother of two girls, echoes her concerns. “Historically, equality

“Are boys and girls different?” asks Kim Carnell, the mother of the seven-year-old Spider-Man fan. “Some are. But girls and girls are different. My oldest and youngest daughters are definitely into stereotypically girly activities, whereas Abbie definitely isn’t.”

It seems an incredibly regressive step to be telling children what they can and can’t like, wear or do, based on whether they’re boys or girls. And one that is potentially harming their long-term prospects. “They should be able to do whatever they like,” says Carnell. It’s hard to disagree.

This approach is associated with the Conservative Party. When the conservative party came to power in the UK in 1979, they set about cutting social expenditure. They did this because they believed that to do so would regenerate private profitability, but also because they believed that reducing public reliance on state provision was a matter of principle.

They believe that the capitalist system can provide wealth and happiness for everyone regardless of back ground – work hard and you shall reap the rewards!One of the main beliefs is that the government should not interfere with the public when it comes to spending. They believe that the welfare system (benefits) are not helpful but actually make the issue of unemployment worse. They believe that people become dependent on benefits and this is a problem in society. These individuals are know as the underclass.


SOCIOLOGYTASK – Can you identify at least three reasons why we should and two reasons why we shouldn’t this video link will help you understand what it is like to be on benefits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ChfmyxsruE

TASK – Can you identify at least three reasons why we should and two reasons why we shouldn’t this video link will help you understand what it is like to be on benefits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ChfmyxsruE

Marxism is named after founding father Karl Marx, like functionalists, Marxists also view society as a social system; however they look at it from a conflict perspective.

Marx was an economist and philosopher who was critical of the economic system of capitalism which had developed in Western societies around that time. He felt that this system benefited the few at the expense of the many.

Capitalism: An economic system (way of managing money) based on private ownership of businesses e.g. Alan Sugar owns businesses and decides what to do with his profits.

He argued that society was made up of two main social groups:

1. A ruling (capitalist) class – this small group own the means of production. This means they own the things that are needed to produce goods to be sold e.g. land, raw materials, factories.

2. A subject class (working class) – workers who sell their labour to the ruling class in exchange for wages

There is a basic conflict of interests between the ruling class and the subject class, according to Marx. Workers produce wealth in the form of goods yet a large part of that wealth is taken in the form of profits by the ruling class. Thus one group gains at the expense of another.

Class Conflict Between Bourgeoisie and Proletariat

Capitalist society is based on two groups – the bosses (bourgeoisie) and the workers (proletariat). There is a conflict of interests between these two groups and society is based upon this exploitative relationship.

Should we get rid of benefits?

YES NO



Capitalism: An economic system (way of managing money) based on private ownership of businesses e.g. Alan Sugar owns businesses and decides what to do with his profits.He argued that society was made up of two main social groups:




Class Conflict Between Bourgeoisie and Proletariat Capitalist society is based on two groups – the bosses (bourgeoisie) and the workers (proletariat). There is a conflict of interests between these two groups and society is based upon this exploitative relationship.

TASK – Can you identify at least three reasons why we should and two reasons why we shouldn’t this video link will help you understand what it is like to be on benefits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ChfmyxsruE



Capitalism: An economic system (way of managing money) based on private ownership of businesses e.g. Alan Sugar owns businesses and decides what to do with his profits.

He argued that society was made up of two main social groups:




Class Conflict Between Bourgeoisie and Proletariat

Capitalist society is based on two groups – the bosses (bourgeoisie) and the workers (proletariat). There is a conflict of interests between these two groups and society is based upon this exploitative relationship.

Should we get rid of benefits?

YES NO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ChfmyxsruE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ChfmyxsruE


SOCIOLOGY

FEMINISM Feminism is also known as a conflict theory. Whereas Marxism focuses on the conflict between social class, Feminism looks at the conflict between the sexes.

Feminists argue that society is divided along gender lines, and that men have more dominance and power than women. They are critical of the traditional role of women in the family and believe that women have fewer opportunities in the workplace.

Patriarchy is a term often used by feminists to describe this process. It simply means male dominance. Feminists believe society is patriarchal. They argue that male dominance is present in people’s working and family lives, and is reflected in social norms and values, roles and institutions.

Do we need Feminism today?TASK - Research examples of everyday sexism then decide if feminism is still needed in the

UK(Think about your own experience and what you have seen in the media and use https://everydaysexism.com/)

Is Feminism relevant in the UK?

Feminism is also known as a conflict theory. Whereas Marxism focuses on the conflict between social class, Feminism looks at the conflict between the sexes.

Feminists argue that society is divided along gender lines, and that men have more dominance and power than women. They are critical of the traditional role of women in the family and believe that women have fewer opportunities in the workplace.

Patriarchy is a term often used by feminists to describe this process. It simply means male dominance. Feminists believe society is patriarchal. They argue that male dominance is present in people’s working and family lives, and is reflected in social norms and values, roles and institutions.

MaxWeberisthefoundingfatherofsocialactiontheory.Hearguesthatalltheabovetheoriesarewrongastheylookattheroleofsocietyfromamacroperspective.Hearguesthatsocietyisbuiltthroughtheindividualandthereforeweshouldfocusonsmallscale,micro,interactionsbetweenpeople.Labelling theory – in order to make sense of the world we apply labels to people around us. These labels can become ‘sticky’ and difficult to shake off.

These labels almost have a life of their own can have both positive and negative effects especially if they are attached to a powerful actor such as police officer or teacher.

This in turn can then become a self-fulfilling prophecy – the social pressure resulting from the label can cause the label to become true.

Do we need Feminism today?

TASK - Research examples of everyday sexism then decide if feminism is still needed in the UK(Think about your own experience and what you have seen in the media and use https://everydaysexism.com/)

Is Feminism relevant in the UK?

https://everydaysexism.com/


SOCIOLOGYSOCIAL ACTIONMax Weber is the founding father of social action theory. He argues that all the above theories are wrong as they look at the role of society from a macro perspective. He argues that society is built through the individual and therefore we should focus on small scale, micro, interactions between people.

Labelling theory – in order to make sense of the world we apply labels to people around us. These labels can become ‘sticky’ and difficult to shake off.

These labels almost have a life of their own can have both positive and negative effects especially if they are attached to a powerful actor such as police officer or teacher. This in turn can then become a self-fulfilling prophecy – the social pressure resulting from the label can cause the label to become true.

In Sociology we apply labelling theories to different topics :–

• Education

• Crime and deviance

TASK – Answer the following questions using the internet to help.


• Education



Although many of the sociologists and theorists we have looked at so far are from a long time ago, sociologists continue to study society in the present day. They are often based in universities all over the world, carrying out research into a range of social problems and social change and publishing their findings in articles and books.

Sudhir Venkatesh “Gang Leader for a Day” 2008 Venkatesh spent six years studying a criminal gang in Chicago. He used the method of participant observation, spending time with the gang members and observing their activities. He spent time with the gang’s families and wrote about their lives, publishing a book about gang life.

Eileen Barker “Making of a Moonie” 1984 A study of the religious cult “The Moonies”. Barker was interested in how people came to join this cult and what their lives were like. She carried out participant observation, but also used unstructured interviews and questionnaires. She was given permission to interview and spend time with the members of the religious organisation, and so did not have to take an undercover role. She joined in with prayer meetings and spent social time with the individual Moonies.

1. Do the police label people? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. Do the media label people as criminals? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. What do you think will happen if they do? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Can you think of any recent examples when this has happened? Think about the media and police. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………


SOCIOLOGY


• Education



Although many of the sociologists and theorists we have looked at so far are from a long time ago, sociologists continue to study society in the present day. They are often based in universities all over the world, carrying out research into a range of social problems and social change and publishing their findings in articles and books.

Sudhir Venkatesh “Gang Leader for a Day” 2008 Venkatesh spent six years studying a criminal gang in Chicago. He used the method of participant observation, spending time with the gang members and observing their activities. He spent time with the gang’s families and wrote about their lives, publishing a book about gang life.

Eileen Barker “Making of a Moonie” 1984 A study of the religious cult “The Moonies”. Barker was interested in how people came to join this cult and what their lives were like. She carried out participant observation, but also used unstructured interviews and questionnaires. She was given permission to interview and spend time with the members of the religious organisation, and so did not have to take an undercover role. She joined in with prayer meetings and spent social time with the individual Moonies.

1. Do the police label people? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. Do the media label people as criminals? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. What do you think will happen if they do? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Can you think of any recent examples when this has happened? Think about the media and police. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………


SOCIOLOGYCrime Survey for England and Wales The first Crime Survey for England and Wales was carried out in 1982, collecting information about people’s experiences of crime in 1981. It is a victimisation survey and measures the amount of crime in England and Wales by asking people about crimes they have experienced in the previous year. It is also an important source of information about other topics, such as attitudes towards the criminal justice system and perceptions of anti-social behaviour. The Survey is carried out

by the government every year. Paul Willis “Learning to Labour – How working class kids get working class jobs” 1977 Paul Willis was a sociologist who studied working class boys and their experience of education. He used the method of participant observation, alongside interviewing the boys about how they felt about and experienced school and what they expected from their futures.

Research Task

Choose one of the following sociological studies. Write a short synopsis of what the study was about and how the sociologists did their research. (250-500 words) 1. Sudhir Venkatesh “Gang Leader for a Day” 2008 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRq1AhFAN-4 short youtube clip outlining the study. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/gang-leader-for-a-day-by-sudhir-venkatesh-790843.html bit more of an in depth view of it. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1491906.Gang_Leader_for_a_Day synopsis of the book (easiest way to grasp what it's about). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudhir_Venkatesh his wiki page. 2. Eileen Barker “Making of a Moonie” 1984 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Making_of_a_Moonie brief overview of the study https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/sep/04/moonies-brainwash-dispel-myth an article in the Guardian newspaper about the Moonies, written by Eileen Barker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm0lqSg6gvo a video clip about Moonie mass weddings. 3. The Crime Survey for England and Wales http://www.crimesurvey.co.uk/en/AboutTheSurvey.html an overview of the Crime Survey. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingdecember2018 some detail on the findings of the most recent survey. 4. Paul Willis “Learning to Labour – How working class kids get working class jobs” 1977 https://revisesociology.com/2016/01/25/learning-to-labour-paul-willis-summary-evaluation-research-methods/ overview of the study https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Willis Willis’s Wikipedia page. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/sociology/education-and-sociology/paul-willis/ more info on the study.


SOCIOLOGY

Key Term / Concept

Definition

1 Norms Expected behaviours – what is ‘normal’ e.g. queuing for the bus rather than pushing in

2 Values Things that are seen as important by society e.g. respecting others.

3 Culture The way of life of a particular group e.g. British culture often includes drinking tea

4 Subculture A smaller group within the larger group that have some of their own norms and values e.g. ‘goths’ may wear dark clothes and make up

5 Primary socialisation The process of learning the norms and values in the early stages of life through the family

6 Secondary socialisation

The process of learning the norms and values that continues throughout life e.g. through education, religion and the media

7 Positive sanction Something that rewards ‘good’ behaviour e.g. a gold star for a good piece of work

8 Negative sanction Something that punishes unacceptable behaviour e.g. being told off.

9 Hierarchy A ladder of status or importance e.g. heat teacher, assistant head teacher, head of year, teacher

10 Capitalism An economic system (way of managing money) based on private ownership of businesses e.g. Alan Sugar owns businesses and decides what to do with his profits

11 Patriarchy Male dominated society e.g. most world leaders are male

12 Structural theory A theory that believes our behaviour is shaped by outside forces e.g. functionalists say norms shape our behaviour

13 Action theory A theory that believes our behaviour is decided by us e.g. interactionists say we can choose how we behave

14 Macro theory Large scale view e.g. Marxists are interested in class divisions throughout society

15 Micro theory Small scale view e.g. interactionists are interested in how we interact with each other every day

16 Consensus theory Theory that says society is based on agreement e.g. functionalists say we all share the same norms and values

17 Conflict theory Theory that says society is based on a tension between groups e.g. Marxists say there is conflict between business owners and the workers

18 Institutions Building blocks of society e.g. family, education, religion, media, politics

19 Labelling Attaching a meaning or definition to a person e.g. ‘teacher’s pet’

20 Social construction Something that is created by society e.g. feminists believe women tend to look after children because society 0`

KEY TERM GLOSSARY

Documents

SOCIOLOGY - A LEVEL - PREPARATION WORK SOCIOLOGY · SOCIOLOGY SOCIOLOGY - A LEVEL - PREPARATION WORK Many people coming to the subject of sociology for the first time have a vague