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.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
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.
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