Download Welcome to Sociology 12

Welcome to Sociology 12
Why study sociology?
 It enables us to see how behaviour is shaped by the
groups to which we belong and the society in which
we live
 It provides new ways of approaching problems and
making decisions, that is more scientifically based
than using commonsense knowledge
 It allows for the discovery of patterns in behaviour
Sociology is the systematic study of human society and
social interaction.
 Sociologists use theoretical perspectives and
research methods to systematically examine
social behaviour
 Sociology provides important insights into
pressing social issues, such as suicide,
prostitution, rioting, murder, in current
societies
The Sociological Imagination
 A sociological imagination: allows us to see relationships
between individual experience and the larger society; it allows
us to consider an issue from the perspective of how a
sociologist would look at it (as opposed to a teacher or lawyer)
 Public issues like widespread unemployment often are seen as
individual problems, but there are no private solutions for them
 It enables us to understand if linkages exist between individual
and group actions- like murder and collective acts of violence
The Sociological Imagination (con’t)

i.
Takes into consideration factors such as
Race: term to specify groups of people based on physical
characteristics like skin colour
ii.
Ethnicity: cultural heritage or identity, including factors like
language or nation of birth
iii.
Class: the relative position of a person or group within a
larger society, based on wealth, power, prestige, or other
valued resources
iv.
Gender: the meanings, beliefs, and practices associated
with sex differences
A global sociological perspective
• A global sociological perspective means we take into
account perspectives and studies developed from
non-North American places and cultures
• Enables us to identify relationships or connections
between developed, developing, and least developed
countries
• BQ: What has primarily shaped your identity:
•
•
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Your Race
Your Ethnicity
Your Class
Your Gender