Download Introduction to Sociology

Stratification and Institutions
• Sociologists say cultural
beliefs influence the structure
of society
• Believe that culture shapes how
roles are assigned & how
resources are made available to
society’s members
• How an individual moves
from one social role to
another is determined by
society’s institutions & cultural
beliefs
• Typically institutions are formed
& roles created based on the
way the economy is set-up & its
political beliefs
Collectivist Society
• Community that values the
group more than indy’s, indies
needs are secondary to
collective thought/action
• Typically less industrialized
• Society is segregated by
classifications
• Fewer interactions w/ ppl of
different groups
• Ppl are more involved/attached
to members of their group
Individualistic Society
• Community that values or
believes in indy rights &
freedoms to pursue own
happiness more than group
interests
• Typically industrialized
• Society is integrated
• Ppl interact w/ all groups & can
shift/change groups
Collective
Individualistic
Members…
Are interdependent on one
another
Are guided by personal goals, indies
valued & expressed by the groups joined
Values…
Belonging, modesty, conformity,
uniformity, harmony, &
cooperation
Autonomy, competition, independence,
freedom, & assertiveness
Social
behaviour
Guided by norms, obligations, &
duties
Guided by personal attitudes, needs, &
rights
Individual &
Communal
Goals
Are very similar
Are not necessarily similar
• What type of society is Canada?
• Japan is considered an industrialized collective. How
would education be different there?
• Multiculturalism is the political & social belief that ethnic & cultural
diversity is ideal
• Multiculturalism fosters the idea of social cohesion
• A way of integrating economic & social policies that allow citizens to interact
easily
• The goal of multiculturalism is to eliminate social fragmentation
• The failure of society to fully integrate minority groups into mainstream
culture
• Fragmentation creates alienation amongst some groups, which could lead to
the disintegration of accepted social norms
• 2ndly, multiculturalism aims to socially integrate minority groups
• The process of bringing minority groups into mainstream culture so they can
enjoy the same rights, opportunities, & services available to the majority
• What do you want to be when you grow up?
• Notice how nobody said, unemployed, homeless, or poor
• That is b/c of social stratification
• It is the institutional & social processes that define certain types of
occupations & goods as socially desirable
• These social elements are given great value & are governed by
strict rules regarding their distribution
• IOW, some groups hold the means to attain power & prestige, and can
deny it to others (can be explained by sociological SoTs)
• Functionalists say the most qualified hold the most important
positions & rewards them for it (financially). Inequality occurs b/c
some jobs are more valued than others.
• Conflict Theorists say inequality exists b/c some ppl are willing to
exploit others for personal gain, often through the use of force to
achieve their goals.
• Symbolic Interactionist says children are socialized to believe a
person’s social class is the result of their effort/talent & successful
individuals are hard-working, whereas the unsuccessful are
unmotivated and negative
• Which view makes the most sense to you?
• Regardless of the social structure, indies attempt to achieve the
goals they believe are possible given their talents, education, &
skills
• Social status refers to the importance of the position a person
holds in society (it can be achieved or ascribed)
• Achieved status is a position held based on accomplishments
• Ascribed status is a position determined by birth (indy has no control of it)
• Social Mobility refers to the process of changing status w/in a
community
• It is more possible in an individualistic society & it is a motivator
• Meritocracy refers to a social system in which positions are
given to ppl according to their abilities/worth
• Sociologists study social inequality to explain differences b/w
individuals, groups, and societies
• Social inequality is the inability of some ppl/success of others to attain
access to privileges, rewards, or assets of society
• The chart below lists the conditions that create social inequality
and lead to discrimination
Characteristic
Explanation
Wealth
An individual’s family assets & material possessions that result in social
respect & power in society
Occupation
The level of prestige that is attached to a profession or job & the
possibility of social mobility that job facilitates
Credentials
Belonging to influential groups that create positive social opportunities &
lead to increased social status
Education
The ability to complete a degree that will lead to elite roles & prestige
in areas of business & academics
• An institution does not necessarily mean a
building, although schools, hospitals and
prisons are apart of sociological institutions
• Social Institution is an organization or
social framework whose function is to meet
the basic needs of its members by
providing direction & operating principles
• Goal is to satisfy individual needs & provide
structure for the benefit of all society
• Example: Prison
• Is both a physical institution & a social institution
(part of gov’t)
• Responsible for maintaining public order
• What would a functionalist say about social institutions?
• Purpose: to meet the needs of its members
• Actuality: essential for social living & they model the social norms
& provide positive reinforcement for appropriate behaviour
• What would a conflict theorists say about social institutions?
• Purpose: meet the needs of its members
• Actuality: SI’s are roadblocks preventing marginalized groups
from gaining equal access to resources b/c the wealthy control
their operation & access to them
• Speculate, What might a sociological feminist say about SI’s?
Institution/Beliefs
Representatives
Needs Served
Family
Respect, nurturance,
support, loyalty, knowledge
Father, mother, siblings, etc
Nuclear family, extended
family, adoptive parents,
etc
Socializes children
Reproduction
Perpetuates marriage
Self-concept/self-esteem
Religion
Education
Government
Economy
You will complete the above chart w/ a partner(s) after the lesson