Cunningham, Kamy. [1993] 2005. "Barbie Doll Culture and the American Waistland". Pp. 39-42 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Reflecting on ideals of beauty, Cunningham describes American culture's (current) obsession with long legs and skinny waists on women. The problem, she says, is advertising: "Advertising is so dominate... that 'its messages are the only ones being heard'".
She talks about Barbie dolls with their unrealistic proportions, a giant statue of Cleopatra at Caesar's Palace and the Las Vegas showgirls, the dolled-up "clone women" from Pepsi commercials and MTV videos, and the emotionally and mentally childish Vanna White to demonstrate the prevalence of the one specific image of ideal beauty we see daily, wherever we go, and wherever we look.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Excerpt: September 11, 2001: Mass Murder and Its Roots in the Symbolism of American Consumer Culture
Ritzer, George. [2002] 2005. "September 11, 2001: Mass Murder and Its Roots in the Symbolism of American Consumer Culture". Pp. 33-39 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
The terrorist attacks of September 11th were a symbolic attack on American culture, argues social theorist George Ritzer. Indeed, in the aftermath of the attacks many commentators in the mass media remarked that the attacks were an objection to Americanization abroad while others dismissed this claim and asked "What did we do to deserve this?". In this essay, Ritzer answers this question succinctly by focusing on how one aspect of American culture--consumption--produces hostility towards the Unites States in foreign cultures. Specifically, he examines three aspects that present themselves not only physically but symbolically through their media presence; these aspects "bring with them (a) an American way of doing business, (b) an American way of consuming, and (c) American cultural icons".
The terrorist attacks of September 11th were a symbolic attack on American culture, argues social theorist George Ritzer. Indeed, in the aftermath of the attacks many commentators in the mass media remarked that the attacks were an objection to Americanization abroad while others dismissed this claim and asked "What did we do to deserve this?". In this essay, Ritzer answers this question succinctly by focusing on how one aspect of American culture--consumption--produces hostility towards the Unites States in foreign cultures. Specifically, he examines three aspects that present themselves not only physically but symbolically through their media presence; these aspects "bring with them (a) an American way of doing business, (b) an American way of consuming, and (c) American cultural icons".
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Excerpt: Body Ritual of the Nacirema
Miner, Horace. [1956] 2005. "Body Ritual of the Nacirema". Pp. 28-32 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
This is a classic essay to be sure, first appearing in American Anthropologist in 1956 and being reprinted and taught to students of social science ever since.
Miner describes the mysterious Nacirema tribe as an objective social scientist should. He documents their daily rituals for oral cleanliness and visits to the tribal medicine men and herbalists. He notes their obsession with the human body and how they go about preserving and fretting over it, from body rituals undertaken at temples to the efforts taken to conceal bodily functions such as excretion and reproduction.
This is a classic essay to be sure, first appearing in American Anthropologist in 1956 and being reprinted and taught to students of social science ever since.
Miner describes the mysterious Nacirema tribe as an objective social scientist should. He documents their daily rituals for oral cleanliness and visits to the tribal medicine men and herbalists. He notes their obsession with the human body and how they go about preserving and fretting over it, from body rituals undertaken at temples to the efforts taken to conceal bodily functions such as excretion and reproduction.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Excerpt: Leaving Home for College: Expectations for Selective Reconstruction of Self
Karp, David, Lynda Lytle Holmstrom, and Paul S. Gray. [1998] 2005. "Leaving Home for College: Expectations for Selective Reconstruction of Self". Pp. 51-57 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Every year, thousands of American high school students prepare to leave their homes for college. But in spite of being raised to be fervently independent, both they and their parents are ambivalent about this transition. It turns out that achieving independence in America involves complex social psychological processes pertaining to identity construction and group membership.
The students interviewed for this study were all upper-middle-class; all expected to go to college, and their parents expected nothing less. All of them "saw college as the time for discovering who they really were", as the time for abandoning past identities that they disliked and assuming new ones that they did.
Every year, thousands of American high school students prepare to leave their homes for college. But in spite of being raised to be fervently independent, both they and their parents are ambivalent about this transition. It turns out that achieving independence in America involves complex social psychological processes pertaining to identity construction and group membership.
The students interviewed for this study were all upper-middle-class; all expected to go to college, and their parents expected nothing less. All of them "saw college as the time for discovering who they really were", as the time for abandoning past identities that they disliked and assuming new ones that they did.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Excerpt: Navajo Women and the Politics of Identity
Schulz, Amy J. [1997] 2005. "Navajo Women and the Politics of Identity". Pp. 58-69 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Ethnic identification is a large facet of American life, one some say is making a resurgence among young people seeking to create their own identities. Indeed, the processes and structures of group membership is a pivotal topic in social psychology, and it is a necessary subject to understand the construction of reality in everyday life.
Amy Schulz examines the construction and reconstruction of the "American Indian" and, more specifically, "Navajo" ethnicities among women who identify as such. She discusses identity as "including nationality, ethnicity, gender, family, social class, and sexuality", and that "the salience of these identities may vary with situational and political forces". Identities may be deconstructed or reconstructed in response to power shifts between and among groups—a concept known as the politics of identity.
Ethnic identification is a large facet of American life, one some say is making a resurgence among young people seeking to create their own identities. Indeed, the processes and structures of group membership is a pivotal topic in social psychology, and it is a necessary subject to understand the construction of reality in everyday life.
Amy Schulz examines the construction and reconstruction of the "American Indian" and, more specifically, "Navajo" ethnicities among women who identify as such. She discusses identity as "including nationality, ethnicity, gender, family, social class, and sexuality", and that "the salience of these identities may vary with situational and political forces". Identities may be deconstructed or reconstructed in response to power shifts between and among groups—a concept known as the politics of identity.
Excerpt: Gender and Aging
Slevin, Kathleen, and Toni Calasanti. [2001] 2005. "Gender and Aging". Pp. 70-73 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Ageism, much like racism and sexism, allows people to think of others as "different". The influence of capitalism and culture has led to significant changes in our conception of the old in recent decades; images of the old in modern America, the authors argue, have shifted from that of the vulnerable elderly to that of the "greedy geezer" or burdensome old folks.
Economically, the old are dependent on the young for their well-being. The Social Security Act of 1935 is cited as a key step in the institutionalization of retirement, which defines "old" in years and promotes dependence by the old on the state (and, by extension, the younger taxpayers). Certain groups of people qualify for different Social Security and welfare benefits (varying by class, race and ethnicity, gender, and sexuality), with some people who do not have assets becoming more dependent than those who do.
Ageism, much like racism and sexism, allows people to think of others as "different". The influence of capitalism and culture has led to significant changes in our conception of the old in recent decades; images of the old in modern America, the authors argue, have shifted from that of the vulnerable elderly to that of the "greedy geezer" or burdensome old folks.
Economically, the old are dependent on the young for their well-being. The Social Security Act of 1935 is cited as a key step in the institutionalization of retirement, which defines "old" in years and promotes dependence by the old on the state (and, by extension, the younger taxpayers). Certain groups of people qualify for different Social Security and welfare benefits (varying by class, race and ethnicity, gender, and sexuality), with some people who do not have assets becoming more dependent than those who do.
Excerpt: The Genius of the Civil Rights Movement: Can It Happen Again?
Morris, Aldon. [1995] 2005. "The Genius of the Civil Rights Movement: Can It Happen Again?". Pp. 397-403 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
African Americans have come a long way since their oppression under slavery, and much of their advancement is due to the efforts of black protesters during the Civil Rights movement. Reflecting on the lasting implications of slavery and subsequent Jim Crow laws, Morris proclaims that the legacy of discrimination lives on; noting the importance of wealth on socioeconomic status, he says that "it was the slave and Jim Crow regimes that prevented Blacks from acquiring wealth that could have been passed down to succeeding generations".
African Americans have come a long way since their oppression under slavery, and much of their advancement is due to the efforts of black protesters during the Civil Rights movement. Reflecting on the lasting implications of slavery and subsequent Jim Crow laws, Morris proclaims that the legacy of discrimination lives on; noting the importance of wealth on socioeconomic status, he says that "it was the slave and Jim Crow regimes that prevented Blacks from acquiring wealth that could have been passed down to succeeding generations".
Monday, June 27, 2011
Excerpt: Jihad vs. McWorld
Barber, Benjamin R. [1995] 2005. "Jihad vs. McWorld". Pp. 393-397 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Our society is characterized by the ongoing conflict between tradition and progress. The former presents a conservative future in which globalization and modernity are rejected in favor of retribalization of cultures into and mutual exclusion. The latter presents a future with only one culture, artificially fabricated from the mesmerizing forces of the commercial and the popular.
Our society is characterized by the ongoing conflict between tradition and progress. The former presents a conservative future in which globalization and modernity are rejected in favor of retribalization of cultures into and mutual exclusion. The latter presents a future with only one culture, artificially fabricated from the mesmerizing forces of the commercial and the popular.
Excerpt: Generations X, Y, and Z: Are They Changing America?
Alwin, Duane F. [2002] 2005. "Generations X, Y, and Z: Are They Changing America?". Pp. 387-392 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
"Next to characteristics like social class, race, and religion, generation is probably the most common explanatory tool used by social scientists to account for differences among people."
It's become second-nature to refer to "our parents' generation" or to different groups of people as "The Baby Boomers" or "Generation Me". Alwin argues that generational shift as an explanation for social change is too easy and too flawed to be viable in social science, claiming instead that while generational shift may explain certain changes in attitude and behavior, a good deal more is explained by historical events and patterns of aging.
"Next to characteristics like social class, race, and religion, generation is probably the most common explanatory tool used by social scientists to account for differences among people."
It's become second-nature to refer to "our parents' generation" or to different groups of people as "The Baby Boomers" or "Generation Me". Alwin argues that generational shift as an explanation for social change is too easy and too flawed to be viable in social science, claiming instead that while generational shift may explain certain changes in attitude and behavior, a good deal more is explained by historical events and patterns of aging.
Excerpt: Mobilizing Minority Communities
Portney, Kent E., and Jeffrey M. Berry. [1993] 2005. "Mobilizing Minority Communities: Social Capital and Participation in Urban Neighborhoods". Pp. 379-384 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Americans are disengaged from civic life. This sentiment is recognized by social theorists, corroborated through numerous studies and polls, and widely discussed by everyone from grassroots organizations to politicians. While everyone can agree on this fact, there is much disagreement over its causes, and even more disagreement over its cure.
Portney and Berry examine the "structures of strong democracy", i.e. the institutions that allow members of the community to give input and become engaged in civic decisions, within minority neighborhoods. They conducted research in five cities: Birmingham, AL; Dayton, OH; Portland, OR; St. Paul, MN; and San Antonio, TX; which all boast high levels of citizen participation in democracy.
Americans are disengaged from civic life. This sentiment is recognized by social theorists, corroborated through numerous studies and polls, and widely discussed by everyone from grassroots organizations to politicians. While everyone can agree on this fact, there is much disagreement over its causes, and even more disagreement over its cure.
Portney and Berry examine the "structures of strong democracy", i.e. the institutions that allow members of the community to give input and become engaged in civic decisions, within minority neighborhoods. They conducted research in five cities: Birmingham, AL; Dayton, OH; Portland, OR; St. Paul, MN; and San Antonio, TX; which all boast high levels of citizen participation in democracy.
Excerpt: Black, Brown, Red, and Poisoned
Austin, Regina, and Michael Schill. [1994] 2005. "Black, Brown, Red, and Poisoned". Pp. 373-378 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Minority communities face a disparate amount of pollution, the authors claim. In some cases factories and housing for workers arose at the same time, but as whites' social status improved they left for better housing while "poorer black and brown folks who enjoy much less residential mobility" moved in. In other cases the housing came later and was built near industrial land because the location was cheap and the people were poor. In still other cases, industries are built near residential land due to several criteria, such as the land's low cost, the presence of cheap laborers in the nearby vicinity, and low population density of the area (which the authors correlate with poverty and race in certain regions of the country).
Minority communities face a disparate amount of pollution, the authors claim. In some cases factories and housing for workers arose at the same time, but as whites' social status improved they left for better housing while "poorer black and brown folks who enjoy much less residential mobility" moved in. In other cases the housing came later and was built near industrial land because the location was cheap and the people were poor. In still other cases, industries are built near residential land due to several criteria, such as the land's low cost, the presence of cheap laborers in the nearby vicinity, and low population density of the area (which the authors correlate with poverty and race in certain regions of the country).
Friday, June 24, 2011
Excerpt: American Apartheid
Massey, Douglas S., and Nancy A. Denton. [1993] 2005. "American Apartheid". Pp. 366-372 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Taking an objective approach, Massey and Denton identify what they deem the most important factor in understanding race relations and the persistence of racial inequality: residential segregation. Once the most commonly cited explanation by sociologists, the separation of black and white neighborhoods was the basis for numerous studies and the eventual Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education, and its resultant school desegregation programs. Following this decision and the passing of the Civil Rights Act (1964), Voting Rights Act (1965), and the Fair Housing Act (1968), many politicians declared the problem was solved, civil rights leaders stopped pressing for reforms, and the term "segregation" fell into disuse.
Taking an objective approach, Massey and Denton identify what they deem the most important factor in understanding race relations and the persistence of racial inequality: residential segregation. Once the most commonly cited explanation by sociologists, the separation of black and white neighborhoods was the basis for numerous studies and the eventual Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education, and its resultant school desegregation programs. Following this decision and the passing of the Civil Rights Act (1964), Voting Rights Act (1965), and the Fair Housing Act (1968), many politicians declared the problem was solved, civil rights leaders stopped pressing for reforms, and the term "segregation" fell into disuse.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Excerpt: Caring for Our Young: Child Care in Europe and the United States
Clawson, Dan, and Naomi Gerstel. [2002] 2005. "Caring for Our Young: Child Care in Europe and the United States". Pp. 263-270 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Clawson and Gerstel contrast public child-care in the United States with that of France and Denmark to demonstrate the lack of quality in American social programs.
Restructuring of welfare, employment, and family patterns has led to more American parents seeking child care because they need or want it. Preschool is now a cultural norm, experts "increasingly emphasize the potential benefits of child care", and Congress encourages child care to help kids through school later on (thus keeping them out of jail) and keep mothers working and families together.
Clawson and Gerstel contrast public child-care in the United States with that of France and Denmark to demonstrate the lack of quality in American social programs.
Restructuring of welfare, employment, and family patterns has led to more American parents seeking child care because they need or want it. Preschool is now a cultural norm, experts "increasingly emphasize the potential benefits of child care", and Congress encourages child care to help kids through school later on (thus keeping them out of jail) and keep mothers working and families together.
Excerpt: Divorce and Remarriage
Arendell, Terry. [1997] 2005. "Divorce and Remarriage". Pp. 253-262 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
The divorce rate in the United States is on the rise, and at current rates will reach 60% for first marriages and even higher for second marriages. Demographically, blacks and whites are the most likely to divorce, although rates are rising for other races/ethnicities. Considering such changes to the American family, Terry Arendell reports on the effects of divorce and remarriage on children who are caught in the middle.
The divorce rate in the United States is on the rise, and at current rates will reach 60% for first marriages and even higher for second marriages. Demographically, blacks and whites are the most likely to divorce, although rates are rising for other races/ethnicities. Considering such changes to the American family, Terry Arendell reports on the effects of divorce and remarriage on children who are caught in the middle.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Excerpt: Family Rituals and the Construction of Reality
Coltrane, Scott. [1997] 2005. "Family Rituals and the Construction of Reality". Pp. 245-252 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Social life is characterized by ritual. When we apply for a job, there is a protocol dictating the proper order for various actions, including the submission of a résumé, interview, follow-up, and either rejection or offer/acceptance. When we go out to a restaurant, there's an etiquette to how we sit, how we order, how much we order, how we eat, how we pay, and how we stand and leave. In anthropology, ritual is used to describe cultures by examining the foibles of particular societies. In sociology, ritual is largely ignored (to the detriment of the discipline, I would argue).
Social life is characterized by ritual. When we apply for a job, there is a protocol dictating the proper order for various actions, including the submission of a résumé, interview, follow-up, and either rejection or offer/acceptance. When we go out to a restaurant, there's an etiquette to how we sit, how we order, how much we order, how we eat, how we pay, and how we stand and leave. In anthropology, ritual is used to describe cultures by examining the foibles of particular societies. In sociology, ritual is largely ignored (to the detriment of the discipline, I would argue).
Excerpt: Weaving Work and Motherhood
Garey, Anita. [1999] 2005. "Weaving Work and Motherhood". Pp. 239-244 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Anita Garey describes her experience growing up in the 1950s. It wasn't like the TV sitcoms or idealist movies with homemaker wives and breadwinner husbands; every woman she knew in her community held jobs. It was later that she learned many of these working women weren't officially working; what the Department of Labor and many researchers and organizations consider "work" is "full-time (forty hours or more), day-shift, year-round employment in a defined occupation".
Anita Garey describes her experience growing up in the 1950s. It wasn't like the TV sitcoms or idealist movies with homemaker wives and breadwinner husbands; every woman she knew in her community held jobs. It was later that she learned many of these working women weren't officially working; what the Department of Labor and many researchers and organizations consider "work" is "full-time (forty hours or more), day-shift, year-round employment in a defined occupation".
Excerpt: Racial Desegregation: Magnet Schools, Vouchers, Privatization, and Home Schooling
Meeks, Loretta F., Wendell A. Meeks, and Claudia A. Warren. [2000] 2005. "Racial Desegregation: Magnet Schools, Vouchers, Privatization, and Home Schooling". Pp. 297-303 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
The Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education was that "separate but equal is inherently unequal", and rendered illegal racial segregation. What it did not do was prescribe means to implement desegregation and phase out segregation: "Some see this as synonymous with legalizing freedom but not abolishing slavery".
Current demographics illustrate the rising population of minority groups in relation to the majority, tendency of inner-city public schools to be mostly minority students, rising per-capita cost of public education, and declining scores in standardized measures of achievement.
The Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education was that "separate but equal is inherently unequal", and rendered illegal racial segregation. What it did not do was prescribe means to implement desegregation and phase out segregation: "Some see this as synonymous with legalizing freedom but not abolishing slavery".
Current demographics illustrate the rising population of minority groups in relation to the majority, tendency of inner-city public schools to be mostly minority students, rising per-capita cost of public education, and declining scores in standardized measures of achievement.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Excerpt: Race in American Public Schools: Rapidly Resegregating School Districts
Frankenberg, Erica., and Chungmei Lee. [2002] 2005. "Race in American Public Schools: Rapidly Resegregating School Districts". Pp. 292-296 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Almost fifty years after the "landmark" Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, Frankenberg and Lee examine how desegregated American public schools really are. What they find is startlingly retrogressive: that public schools are becoming increasingly diversified but also increasingly segregated.
Almost fifty years after the "landmark" Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, Frankenberg and Lee examine how desegregated American public schools really are. What they find is startlingly retrogressive: that public schools are becoming increasingly diversified but also increasingly segregated.
Excerpt: School Girls
Orenstein, Peggy. [1994] 2005. "School Girls". Pp. 288-292 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Orenstein begins with a narrative of a sixth-grade classroom exercise. A teacher asks students to close their eyes and imagine what their life was like one year before, then three, six, eight, and all the way back to their birth. Then she asks them to picture living their lives the exact same way, except as the "opposite" sex. The students write down their perceived differences and the teacher keeps track of them on two lists on the board. What she finds is most interesting: the boys' list contains numerous "have to's" (e.g. "I'd have to spend lots of time in the bathroom on my hair and stuff") while the girls' list contains mostly wistful longings (e.g. "I'd get to play a lot more sports"). Orenstein sums up the findings: "By sixth grade, it is clear that both girls and boys have learned to equate maleness with opportunity and femininity with constraint".
Orenstein begins with a narrative of a sixth-grade classroom exercise. A teacher asks students to close their eyes and imagine what their life was like one year before, then three, six, eight, and all the way back to their birth. Then she asks them to picture living their lives the exact same way, except as the "opposite" sex. The students write down their perceived differences and the teacher keeps track of them on two lists on the board. What she finds is most interesting: the boys' list contains numerous "have to's" (e.g. "I'd have to spend lots of time in the bathroom on my hair and stuff") while the girls' list contains mostly wistful longings (e.g. "I'd get to play a lot more sports"). Orenstein sums up the findings: "By sixth grade, it is clear that both girls and boys have learned to equate maleness with opportunity and femininity with constraint".
Friday, May 20, 2011
Excerpt: Color-Blind Privilege: The Social and Political Functions of Erasing the Color Line in Post Race America
Gallagher, Charles A. [2003] 2005. "Color-Blind Privilege: The Social and Political Functions of Erasing the Color Line in Post Race America". Pp. 189-195 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Countless advertisements, television shows, movies, and other images of race relations in the media seem to suggest that racism is done and over, or that "America is on the verge, or has already become, a truly color-blind nation". Gallagher cites surveys and statistical data, as well as images in popular culture, that suggest most whites consider the playing field level and racism a thing of the past while most blacks see it as quite uneven.
Countless advertisements, television shows, movies, and other images of race relations in the media seem to suggest that racism is done and over, or that "America is on the verge, or has already become, a truly color-blind nation". Gallagher cites surveys and statistical data, as well as images in popular culture, that suggest most whites consider the playing field level and racism a thing of the past while most blacks see it as quite uneven.
Excerpt: Immigrant America: Who They Are and Why They Come
Portes, Alejandro, and Ruben Rumbaut. [1996] 2005. "Immigrant America: Who They Are and Why They Come". Pp. 184-188 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
This article presents four biographies of immigrants in America who were all educated (or became educated) and came to the United States for financial opportunities, ultimately becoming successful middle-class members of society.
This article presents four biographies of immigrants in America who were all educated (or became educated) and came to the United States for financial opportunities, ultimately becoming successful middle-class members of society.
Excerpt: Seeing More than Black and White
Martinez, Elizabeth. [1998] 2005. "Seeing More than Black and White". Pp. 178-183 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Written in 1998, this article addresses the need to see race relations in broader terms than a simple "Black-white framework". Presenting this false dichotomy leads to several false impressions: that there are no common interests among peoples of color, that only African Americans suffer institutionalized racism, and that people of color should understand their lives in relation to "whiteness".
Martinez points out the numerous comparisons of suffering by different minority groups that often lead to claims of being "Most Oppressed". Indeed, she points out that "pursuing some hierarchy of oppression leads us down dead-end streets where we will never find the linkage between different oppressions and how to overcome them." All racially oppressed people should unite against the "White Supremacist agenda" to divide minorities against each other.
Written in 1998, this article addresses the need to see race relations in broader terms than a simple "Black-white framework". Presenting this false dichotomy leads to several false impressions: that there are no common interests among peoples of color, that only African Americans suffer institutionalized racism, and that people of color should understand their lives in relation to "whiteness".
Martinez points out the numerous comparisons of suffering by different minority groups that often lead to claims of being "Most Oppressed". Indeed, she points out that "pursuing some hierarchy of oppression leads us down dead-end streets where we will never find the linkage between different oppressions and how to overcome them." All racially oppressed people should unite against the "White Supremacist agenda" to divide minorities against each other.
Excerpt: The Souls of Black Folk
Du Bois, W.E.B. [1903] 2005. "The Souls of Black Folk". Pp. 176-177 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
African Americans, as W.E.B. Du Bois claims, possess a "double-consciousness" or duality between their being "Americans" and being "Negroes".
On the one hand, the black community has a deep history in America, and has long suffered under an unequal social hierarchy. It has its own interests, its own values, its own judgements, and its own culture. Black Americans are descended from this integral chunk of America, and are driven to act as representatives of their race, to lift themselves and their brethren up from poverty and racism. On the other hand, blacks suffer from the scrutiny of white America, and those who wish to advance themselves or their race must do so according to white ideals.
African Americans, as W.E.B. Du Bois claims, possess a "double-consciousness" or duality between their being "Americans" and being "Negroes".
On the one hand, the black community has a deep history in America, and has long suffered under an unequal social hierarchy. It has its own interests, its own values, its own judgements, and its own culture. Black Americans are descended from this integral chunk of America, and are driven to act as representatives of their race, to lift themselves and their brethren up from poverty and racism. On the other hand, blacks suffer from the scrutiny of white America, and those who wish to advance themselves or their race must do so according to white ideals.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Excerpt: Death and Social Structure
Blauner, Robert. [1966] 2005. "Death and Social Structure". Pp. 361-363 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
In this classic essay, leading sociologist Robert Blauner discusses the ways in which modern society copes with death, and how social rituals and organization are increasingly designed to minimize the disruption caused by human mortality.
He notes that, characteristic of a modern society, we have bureaucratized to alienate individuals from experiencing death. Whereas Americans once worked at or near the home, now there is separation of work and home; whereas ill Americans once stayed at home to live out the remainder of their lives, they are now taken to hospitals or elderly communities; whereas dead Americans were once brought home for the family to prepare funeral arrangements, they are now taken to funeral parlors for these duties.
In this classic essay, leading sociologist Robert Blauner discusses the ways in which modern society copes with death, and how social rituals and organization are increasingly designed to minimize the disruption caused by human mortality.
He notes that, characteristic of a modern society, we have bureaucratized to alienate individuals from experiencing death. Whereas Americans once worked at or near the home, now there is separation of work and home; whereas ill Americans once stayed at home to live out the remainder of their lives, they are now taken to hospitals or elderly communities; whereas dead Americans were once brought home for the family to prepare funeral arrangements, they are now taken to funeral parlors for these duties.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Excerpt: Beauty Myths and Realities and Their Impact on Women's Health
Zones, Jane Sprague. [1997] 2005. "Beauty Myths and Realities and Their Impact on Women's Health". Pp. 353-360 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Physical beauty is a value taught to girls from a very early age. Indeed, a good many sociological articles, journals, and books are dedicated to the ideas of the social construction and communication of gender. Zones goes a step further are claims that this social construction serves a function; our cultural preoccupation with women's appearances "serves to control and contain women's ambitions and motivations to gain power in larger political contexts".
Physical beauty is a value taught to girls from a very early age. Indeed, a good many sociological articles, journals, and books are dedicated to the ideas of the social construction and communication of gender. Zones goes a step further are claims that this social construction serves a function; our cultural preoccupation with women's appearances "serves to control and contain women's ambitions and motivations to gain power in larger political contexts".
Excerpt: Latinos' Access to Employment-Based Health Insurance
Brown, Richard E., and Hongjian Yu. [2002] 2005. "Latinos' Access to Employment-Based Health Insurance". Pp. 348-353 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
The problem: 37% of Latinos do not have health insurance (as of this article, published in 2002). The authors note that Latinos are more likely than non-Hispanic whites to report being in "fair" or "poor" health and less likely to visit a doctor. That is to say, Latinos have the same or greater need for health services but are less likely to use them. The authors believe that this disparity is due to the high percentage of those without health insurance, which makes medical fees and prescription costs easier to pay.
The problem: 37% of Latinos do not have health insurance (as of this article, published in 2002). The authors note that Latinos are more likely than non-Hispanic whites to report being in "fair" or "poor" health and less likely to visit a doctor. That is to say, Latinos have the same or greater need for health services but are less likely to use them. The authors believe that this disparity is due to the high percentage of those without health insurance, which makes medical fees and prescription costs easier to pay.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Excerpt: Forever Seen as New: Latino Participation in American Elections
DeSipio, Louis, and Rodolfo O. de la Garza. [2002] 2005. "Forever Seen as New: Latino Participation in American Elections". Pp. 342-346 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
The Latino population in the United States is rising, and by 2050 is expected to amount to 30% of the total US population. In 2002, when this article was written, only 1 in 6 Latinos voted in elections.
However, the potential for a cohesive "Latino electorate" is growing in size and strength, and it becomes incrementally more influential each election cycle. The authors highlight a few different reasons for this and note that Latino empowerment could in the near future determine the outcome of national elections.
The Latino population in the United States is rising, and by 2050 is expected to amount to 30% of the total US population. In 2002, when this article was written, only 1 in 6 Latinos voted in elections.
However, the potential for a cohesive "Latino electorate" is growing in size and strength, and it becomes incrementally more influential each election cycle. The authors highlight a few different reasons for this and note that Latino empowerment could in the near future determine the outcome of national elections.
Excerpt: Diversity in the Power Elite
Zweigenhaft, Richard, and William Domhoff. [1998] 2005. "Diversity in the Power Elite". Pp. 337-342 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Since the massive influence of Horatio Alger's rags-to-riches stories in the 1870s, American culture has featured prominently the myth that anyone who wants something and works hard enough to get it will be successful.
Post-World War II, United States culture had entered a period that C. Wright Mills calls "the Great American Celebration", in which the ever-growing mass media celebrated the rise of the country out of the Great Depression, the social progress of FDR's New Deal, and the recent dedication to and victory in the Second World War. Claims of a classless society abounded, and especially with the GI Bill allowing millions of Americans to go to attend college and millions more to buy a house, claims of Horatio Alger-esque individuals rising up the social ladder became the norm. Mills challenged this cultural myth, pointing out that almost all the members of the power elite were white, Christian, wealthy, and male, and a majority came from "an even narrower stratum, the 11 percent of U.S. families headed by businesspeople or highly educated professionals like physicians and lawyers."
Since the massive influence of Horatio Alger's rags-to-riches stories in the 1870s, American culture has featured prominently the myth that anyone who wants something and works hard enough to get it will be successful.
Post-World War II, United States culture had entered a period that C. Wright Mills calls "the Great American Celebration", in which the ever-growing mass media celebrated the rise of the country out of the Great Depression, the social progress of FDR's New Deal, and the recent dedication to and victory in the Second World War. Claims of a classless society abounded, and especially with the GI Bill allowing millions of Americans to go to attend college and millions more to buy a house, claims of Horatio Alger-esque individuals rising up the social ladder became the norm. Mills challenged this cultural myth, pointing out that almost all the members of the power elite were white, Christian, wealthy, and male, and a majority came from "an even narrower stratum, the 11 percent of U.S. families headed by businesspeople or highly educated professionals like physicians and lawyers."
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Excerpt: The Power Elite
Mills, C. Wright. [1956] 2005. "The Power Elite". Pp. 332-336 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Position is everything. That's the core argument of C. Wright Mills' book (excerpted here), The Power Elite, a seminal work in the study of social hierarchy. Decisions are made daily that affect more than how much milk we take in our coffee; laws are passed, governments are overthrown, wars are begun, and The Bomb is dropped. These are powerful decisions, and those who make them do so from positions of great authority.
The power that these "elite" possess, Mills argues, has nothing to do with personal attributes. It's not the shrewd intellect of the captain-of-industry, nor the cunning tact of the Congressman, nor the ingenious strategy of the general that affords them authority over society, but the fact that they are captain-of-industry, Congressman, and general.
Position is everything. That's the core argument of C. Wright Mills' book (excerpted here), The Power Elite, a seminal work in the study of social hierarchy. Decisions are made daily that affect more than how much milk we take in our coffee; laws are passed, governments are overthrown, wars are begun, and The Bomb is dropped. These are powerful decisions, and those who make them do so from positions of great authority.
The power that these "elite" possess, Mills argues, has nothing to do with personal attributes. It's not the shrewd intellect of the captain-of-industry, nor the cunning tact of the Congressman, nor the ingenious strategy of the general that affords them authority over society, but the fact that they are captain-of-industry, Congressman, and general.
Excerpt: Michael Jordan and the New Global Capitalism
LaFeber, Walter. [2002] 2005. "Michael Jordan and the New Global Capitalism". Pp. 170-174 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Meditating on the spread of American culture abroad, Walter LaFeber sums up his entire argument with one thing: Michael Jordan. As American media negotiated deals and promoted basketball to as wide a market as possible, Michael Jordan's leading his team to multiple championships had become a worldwide legend. On top of this, television advertisements and magazine ads across the world bore his image as an endorsement of Nike sneakers and a myriad of other globally-marketed products.
The decentralization of mass communication, from monarchs and/or the Church to a handful of broadcasters to dozens of news/media outlets to the internet, has made it easier to spread culture. Those with the product and capital for effective marketing overwhelm foreign markets to push sneakers, candy bars, television sets, books, cameras, sports, and even (though they may not be aware of it) icons, values, and beliefs.
Meditating on the spread of American culture abroad, Walter LaFeber sums up his entire argument with one thing: Michael Jordan. As American media negotiated deals and promoted basketball to as wide a market as possible, Michael Jordan's leading his team to multiple championships had become a worldwide legend. On top of this, television advertisements and magazine ads across the world bore his image as an endorsement of Nike sneakers and a myriad of other globally-marketed products.
The decentralization of mass communication, from monarchs and/or the Church to a handful of broadcasters to dozens of news/media outlets to the internet, has made it easier to spread culture. Those with the product and capital for effective marketing overwhelm foreign markets to push sneakers, candy bars, television sets, books, cameras, sports, and even (though they may not be aware of it) icons, values, and beliefs.
Excerpt: The Nanny Chain
Hochschild, Arlie Russell. [2000] 2005. "The Nanny Chain". Pp. 162-169 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
It's something many of us may not even realize: love and caring has become a commodity. Hochschild describes the way that chains of care are built:
It's something many of us may not even realize: love and caring has become a commodity. Hochschild describes the way that chains of care are built:
A typical global care chain might work something like this: An older daughter from a poor family in a third world country cares for her siblings (the first link in the chain) while her mother works as a nanny caring for the children of a nanny migrating to a first world country (the second link) who, in turn, cares for the child of a family in a rich country (the final link). Each kind of chain expresses an invisible human ecology of care, one care worker depending on another and so on.Most analyses and examinations of globalization focus on economics or politics. Hochschild proposes that we examine the psychological effects on those affected, such as a mother's displacing of love from her children to those she's paid to care for.
Excerpt: The Garment Industry in the Restructuring Global Economy
Bonacich, Edna, Lucie Cheng, Norma Chinchilla, Nora Hamilton, and Paul Ong. [1994] 2005. "The Garment Industry in the Restructuring Global Economy". Pp. 155-162 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
The authors describe globalization (in particular the global restructuring of the world economy) as the manufacturing and production of goods shifts from the more industrialized countries to the "newly industrializing" countries, and then to the less industrialized countries. This restructuring has given rise to new kinds of transnational corporations that coordinate manufacturing in multiple locations and are "supragovernmental actors that make decisions on the basis of profit-making criteria without input from representative governments".
The chief effect of global restructuring from a social perspective is the integration of peasants and farmers into the global economy. These "first generation wage-workers" often migrate between capitalist and noncapitalist sectors and are often exploited through harsh working conditions and low pay. Many find themselves displaced or unable to survive and emigrate to more developed countries with hopes of finding a better life.
The authors describe globalization (in particular the global restructuring of the world economy) as the manufacturing and production of goods shifts from the more industrialized countries to the "newly industrializing" countries, and then to the less industrialized countries. This restructuring has given rise to new kinds of transnational corporations that coordinate manufacturing in multiple locations and are "supragovernmental actors that make decisions on the basis of profit-making criteria without input from representative governments".
The chief effect of global restructuring from a social perspective is the integration of peasants and farmers into the global economy. These "first generation wage-workers" often migrate between capitalist and noncapitalist sectors and are often exploited through harsh working conditions and low pay. Many find themselves displaced or unable to survive and emigrate to more developed countries with hopes of finding a better life.
Excerpt: Studying the Quagmire of Welfare Reform
Hays, Sharon. [2003] 2005. "Studying the Quagmire of Welfare Reform". Pp. 148-153 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
The 1996 Personal Responsibility Act effectively cut welfare support for many impoverished Americans. "All that was needed, this law seemed to be saying, was to educate the poor in 'mainstream' American values of work and family life", Hays explains.
The reality was that the law required welfare recipients to enroll in work training courses and seminars, apply for unskilled or low-skilled jobs, and work whatever job at whatever hours for whatever pay they could find to receive their welfare checks. The catch was that "the vast majority of adult welfare recipients—over 90 percent—are mothers. Nearly all are raising their children alone". And with sanctions for failing to meet any welfare requirements, most of these poor single mothers had to spend 30-40 hours a week out of the house, thus having to pay for child care. Welfare reform allowed for some support (but not much) for child care, transportation, health insurance, rent payments, etc.
The 1996 Personal Responsibility Act effectively cut welfare support for many impoverished Americans. "All that was needed, this law seemed to be saying, was to educate the poor in 'mainstream' American values of work and family life", Hays explains.
The reality was that the law required welfare recipients to enroll in work training courses and seminars, apply for unskilled or low-skilled jobs, and work whatever job at whatever hours for whatever pay they could find to receive their welfare checks. The catch was that "the vast majority of adult welfare recipients—over 90 percent—are mothers. Nearly all are raising their children alone". And with sanctions for failing to meet any welfare requirements, most of these poor single mothers had to spend 30-40 hours a week out of the house, thus having to pay for child care. Welfare reform allowed for some support (but not much) for child care, transportation, health insurance, rent payments, etc.
Excerpt: Wealth Matters
Conley, Dalton M. [1999] 2005. "Wealth Matters". Pp. 143-148 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
This is a powerful article with a powerful point: social and economic class is not described by income, but by wealth. Dalton Conley contrasts two real families that are strikingly similar; both were young couples with two small children, both were low-income (at or just above the poverty line), both fathers were laid off from a sheet-metal factory and ended up taking minimum-wage jobs, and both had the same living expenses.
The only real difference between them was their assets. The first family owned their home, due to a loan from his parents and a mortgage co-signed by hers. The second family rented a "cheap" apartment in a bad neighborhood, which turned out to be more expensive in the long run; they lived under poor conditions, drained their savings, fought, and eventually divorced.
This is a powerful article with a powerful point: social and economic class is not described by income, but by wealth. Dalton Conley contrasts two real families that are strikingly similar; both were young couples with two small children, both were low-income (at or just above the poverty line), both fathers were laid off from a sheet-metal factory and ended up taking minimum-wage jobs, and both had the same living expenses.
The only real difference between them was their assets. The first family owned their home, due to a loan from his parents and a mortgage co-signed by hers. The second family rented a "cheap" apartment in a bad neighborhood, which turned out to be more expensive in the long run; they lived under poor conditions, drained their savings, fought, and eventually divorced.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Excerpt: Great Divides
Shapiro, Thomas M. [2004] 2005. "Great Divides". Pp. 136-143 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
In the introductory essay of his own anthology, Thomas M. Shapiro refers to the Great U-Turn (a curious trend in which all measures of social inequality in the modern era decrease during the 20th Century, reach their low point in the 1970s, and then begin to rise up exponentially) and suggests that this reversal could be the result of economic restructuring. As American society becomes increasingly unequal, it is increasingly important that we understand how these social strata are formed, what qualities characterize them, what shape the hierarchy takes, and the nature of interactions between and among members of the different strata.
In the introductory essay of his own anthology, Thomas M. Shapiro refers to the Great U-Turn (a curious trend in which all measures of social inequality in the modern era decrease during the 20th Century, reach their low point in the 1970s, and then begin to rise up exponentially) and suggests that this reversal could be the result of economic restructuring. As American society becomes increasingly unequal, it is increasingly important that we understand how these social strata are formed, what qualities characterize them, what shape the hierarchy takes, and the nature of interactions between and among members of the different strata.
Excerpt: The Communist Manifesto
Marx, Karl, and Friedrich Engels. [1848] 2005. "The Communist Manifesto". Pp. 132-135 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
I have a copy of the full document elsewhere, and a quick comparison reveals that the excerpt has less than half the content of the original...
The essay, published in 1848, effectively defines the conflict perspective in terms of class: "the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles".
I have a copy of the full document elsewhere, and a quick comparison reveals that the excerpt has less than half the content of the original...
The essay, published in 1848, effectively defines the conflict perspective in terms of class: "the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles".
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Excerpt: Sense and Nonsense About Surveys
Schuman, Howard. [2002] 2005. "Sense and Nonsense About Surveys". Pp. 21-26 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Schuman's article is another on research methods, briefly discussing the importance of sampling in surveys and how a survey is affected by its own form and content.
The 1930s and 1940s saw the development of probability sampling, which "in its simplest form calls for each person in the population to have an equal chance of being selected". He notes the curious fact that regardless of population size, the sample size needed to achieve a certain degree of precision remains the same: around 1000.
Schuman's article is another on research methods, briefly discussing the importance of sampling in surveys and how a survey is affected by its own form and content.
The 1930s and 1940s saw the development of probability sampling, which "in its simplest form calls for each person in the population to have an equal chance of being selected". He notes the curious fact that regardless of population size, the sample size needed to achieve a certain degree of precision remains the same: around 1000.
Excerpt: Not Our Kind of Girl
Kaplan, Elaine Bell. [1995] 2005. "Not Our Kind of Girl". Pp. 13-20 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Elaine Bell Kaplan studied African American teenage mothers and the impact of their sexual behavior on the Black community as a whole. Most Americans recognize the phenomenon of teenage motherhood and assume that it's the cause of many problems that go on to self-perpetuate. "The popular view of many Americans [is that] marital status and age-appropriate sexual behavior ensure the well-being of the family and the community", she says.
Much of the article discusses Kaplan's research methods and her ethnomethodological approach. She interviewed and "hung out" with a number of Black teenage mothers to understand how and why gender, race, and class affect their lives and how they make sense of their world. She observed and talked to them over a seven month period to gain insight into this social issue.
Elaine Bell Kaplan studied African American teenage mothers and the impact of their sexual behavior on the Black community as a whole. Most Americans recognize the phenomenon of teenage motherhood and assume that it's the cause of many problems that go on to self-perpetuate. "The popular view of many Americans [is that] marital status and age-appropriate sexual behavior ensure the well-being of the family and the community", she says.
Much of the article discusses Kaplan's research methods and her ethnomethodological approach. She interviewed and "hung out" with a number of Black teenage mothers to understand how and why gender, race, and class affect their lives and how they make sense of their world. She observed and talked to them over a seven month period to gain insight into this social issue.
Excerpt: The Forest and the Trees
Johnson, Allan G. [1997] 2005. "The Forest and the Trees". Pp. 6-13 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
In his research, Johnson deals a lot with the issue of diversity. He describes briefly how diversity enhances productivity but serves as the basis for internal division amongst work groups. "People tend to think of things only in terms of individuals, as if a society or a company or a university were nothing more than a collection of people living in a particular time and place", he says. Many of today's problems and topics are seen as originating from personal flaws or attributes, personal thoughts or abilities, as certain societies (especially in the West, especially in the United States) apply an individualistic outlook to the world. This outlook itself is problematic, as it hinders our sociological imagination.
In his research, Johnson deals a lot with the issue of diversity. He describes briefly how diversity enhances productivity but serves as the basis for internal division amongst work groups. "People tend to think of things only in terms of individuals, as if a society or a company or a university were nothing more than a collection of people living in a particular time and place", he says. Many of today's problems and topics are seen as originating from personal flaws or attributes, personal thoughts or abilities, as certain societies (especially in the West, especially in the United States) apply an individualistic outlook to the world. This outlook itself is problematic, as it hinders our sociological imagination.
Excerpt: The Sociological Imagination
Mills, C. Wright. [1959] 2005. "The Sociological Imagination". Pp. 1-5 in Understanding Society, 2nd ed., edited by Margaret L. Andersen, Kim Logio, and Howard Taylor. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Widely regarded as a leading sociologist, Mills authored The Sociological Imagination in 1959. In it, he defines the "sociological imagination" as a way of thinking that "enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society". It's a simple enough concept, and one repeated throughout my SOCY101 course and textbook (and the introductory textbook on my shelf, which is not the same).
The argument is that everyone tends to view the world through their own eyes and interpret the world based on their own common sense and understanding, where what's needed is the ability to think objectively about social structures, social facts, and social relations and to relate these things to the personal biography of ourselves and other individuals. It's common sense, but it needed to be said.
Widely regarded as a leading sociologist, Mills authored The Sociological Imagination in 1959. In it, he defines the "sociological imagination" as a way of thinking that "enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society". It's a simple enough concept, and one repeated throughout my SOCY101 course and textbook (and the introductory textbook on my shelf, which is not the same).
The argument is that everyone tends to view the world through their own eyes and interpret the world based on their own common sense and understanding, where what's needed is the ability to think objectively about social structures, social facts, and social relations and to relate these things to the personal biography of ourselves and other individuals. It's common sense, but it needed to be said.
Anthology: Understanding Society
Andersen, Margaret T., Kim A. Logio, and Howard F. Taylor, eds. 2005. Understanding Society: An Introductory Reader. 2nd ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Introduction
My current theory is lacking.
A couple years ago I switched my major to sociology and fell in love with it. The main draw, I found, is the strength of its theoretical half relative to its experimental half; unlike the physical sciences, there is a considerable amount of thought-experiments, philosophy, and personal interpretation to be drawn upon in analyzing and explaining the observable data.
I've had a number of experiences in the year since my graduation that have reshaped my worldview. Certain assumptions I'd held, or ideas I'd agreed with, are now obsolete and replaced with new ones. Also, I've recently rearranged my room and found a number of books I've accrued over the past four years that I still haven't read completely (or at all), but which I know to be rich in ideas.
I have registered to take the GRE this summer, and soon thereafter will begin applying to graduate schools. This little project of mine should help me review the material and keep my mind active until graduate school, rekindle my interest in the discipline and organize my thoughts, and help me clear off my bookshelf.
Over the next few months, I will try to more ambitiously read/re-read all the texts on my shelf and offer my own reviews and commentaries on them here.
Here I go...
A couple years ago I switched my major to sociology and fell in love with it. The main draw, I found, is the strength of its theoretical half relative to its experimental half; unlike the physical sciences, there is a considerable amount of thought-experiments, philosophy, and personal interpretation to be drawn upon in analyzing and explaining the observable data.
I've had a number of experiences in the year since my graduation that have reshaped my worldview. Certain assumptions I'd held, or ideas I'd agreed with, are now obsolete and replaced with new ones. Also, I've recently rearranged my room and found a number of books I've accrued over the past four years that I still haven't read completely (or at all), but which I know to be rich in ideas.
I have registered to take the GRE this summer, and soon thereafter will begin applying to graduate schools. This little project of mine should help me review the material and keep my mind active until graduate school, rekindle my interest in the discipline and organize my thoughts, and help me clear off my bookshelf.
Over the next few months, I will try to more ambitiously read/re-read all the texts on my shelf and offer my own reviews and commentaries on them here.
Here I go...
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