May 6
Explore how technology is reshaping self-discovery in the digital age. Analyze the rise of the algorithmic self, social media identity, and
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Explore how technology is reshaping self-discovery in the digital age. Analyze the rise of the algorithmic self, social media identity, and
Technology and Self - Glossary
Full glossary
A
Absolute Monarchy
Achieved Status
Agency
Agents of Socialization
Aggressive masculinity
Agonistic Democracy
Authority
Autocracy
B
Basic needs poverty
Biological determinism
Black economy
Black feminism
Blasphemy
Bourgeoisie
Bureaucracy
C
Capitalism
Caste system
Changing roles theory
Class conflict
Cognitive development theory
Concentric-zone theory
Conformity
Convergence theory
D
Democracy
Demography
Deviance
Discrimination
Discursive Democracy
E
Egalitarianism
Endogamy
Epistemology
Equality
Ethnic group
Ethnocentrism
Ethnography
Evolutionary Theory
Exchange theory
F
Family
Feminism
Fragmentation
G
Gemeinschaft
Gender differences
Gender stratification
Genocide
H
Hegemonic Masculinity
L
Legalistic Democracy
Liberal Democracy
M
Migration
Minority group
Modernization theory
Monopoly
O
Occupational segregation
Oligarchy
Oligopoly
Organizational ritualism
S
Social mobility
Social stratification
Structured inequalities
Surplus value
T
The social construction of gender
Week 15
Occupational segregation
Occupational Segregation is the allocation of employment based on race or gender to some employees, but not to others.
Example : Despite decrease of extreme sexism, scholars claim that gender inequality today, whether in the context of assumptions or societal forces, remains perpetuated through a modern, "egalitarian" version of gender essentialism — the assumption that women and men's societal, economic and family positions are and should be inherently different. While most people today accept women's exposure to all economic resources, at the same time they want men and women to follow conventional "man" and "female" occupations and to see childcare as the primary obligation of mothers (McGrew, 2016) .
.Deutsch, B. (2012). Women and Work in the News. [online] The D&S Blog. Available at: http://dollarsandsense.org/blog/2012/02/women-and-work-in-the-news.html [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
McGrew, W. (2016). Gender segregation at work: “separate but equal” or “inefficient and unfair” - Equitable Growth. [online] Equitable Growth. Available at: https://equitablegrowth.org/gender-segregation-at-work-separate-but-equal-or-inequitable-and-inefficient/ [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Oligarchy
Oligarchy is a type of ruling system in which the authority of a limited number of individuals rests. These individuals may be differentiated by the aristocracy, money, schooling, business, religion, political, or military power
Is America an oligarchy, huh?
This was the conclusion of a 2014 report by two influential U.S. political scientists who concluded that the power of economic leaders and corporate business greatly exceeded that of average people. In their opinion, America is less a bastion of parliamentary democracy than a country trammeled by hyper-wealthy wishes (Gilens and Post, 2014).
Gilens, M. and Page, B.I. (2014). Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens. Perspectives on Politics, [online] 12(03), pp.564–581. Available at: https://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/mgilens/files/gilens_and_page_2014_-testing_theories_of_american_politics.doc.pdf.
Jones, N. and Alastair Gee (2018). Is America an oligarchy dominated by billionaires? [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2018/sep/26/america-oligarchy-dominated-billionaires-big-money-series [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Oligopoly
Oligopoly The dominance over a specific company, sector, operation, or product by a few large organizations.
Coca-Cola and Pepsi remain in the oligopoly market. They are offering a homogeneous commodity such that they can regulate the demand, however, they must justify their action when they decide to adjust the price of their products. Typically, they adjust the price of their products according to the frayed demand curve. They use cut-throat pricing to draw more future buyers.
Deuss, A. and Liaukontye, J. (2010). Brand Loyalty: Coke vs. Pepsi. [online] Economics of Advertising. Available at: http://economicsofadvertising2010.blogspot.com/2010/03/brand-loyalty-coke-vs-pepsi.html [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Kaplan, J. (2018). Pepsi and Coke Are Fighting to Get You to Drink Soda Again. [online] Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-26/it-s-back-to-cola-wars-in-pepsi-versus-coca-cola-marketing-blitz [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Organizational ritualism
Organizational ritualism a type of organizational behavior, especially bureaucracies, in which people obey the rules and regulations so tightly that they forget the intent of those rules and regulations.
Baldwin, kip (2014). Blindly, Jumping Off Bridges…. [online] Kip Baldwin. Available at: https://kipbaldwin.com/2014/07/28/blindly-jumping-off-bridges/ [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Crossman, A. (2011). Definition of Ritualism in Sociology. [online] ThoughtCo. Available at: https://www.thoughtco.com/ritualism-3026527 [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Week 14
Migration
Migration, the progressively permanent migration of populations from one place to another. Sociological migration studies include the permanent relocation of people or entities over cultural or political borders to new areas and communities. There is also a difference between external migration (between countries) and internal migration (within regions). Migration transcends global, religious, cultural, economic, and legal boundaries. Contrary to demographers, sociologists are not involved in the physical migration of geographical boundaries. Rather, they investigate mechanisms that go beyond this dimension, such as shifts in global and local systems of inequalities that shape migration, the social building of borders of citizenship, and political tensions related to various modes of human mobility.
Horvath, K. and Amelina, A. (2017). Sociology of migration. [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320383211_Sociology_of_migration [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Mazur, E. (2016). Migration Illustration. [online] Dreamstime. Available at: https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-illustration-migration-illustration-people-different-nationalities-going-earth-picture-created-watercolors-image64734933 [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Minority group
A minority community may be described as a group of people who, because of their physical or cultural characteristics, are distinct from others in the society in which they reside for discriminatory practices and inequitable treatment, and who therefore regard themselves as targets of collective discrimination.
Examples of minority groups can include the LBGT population, religious groups whose religion is not commonly followed everywhere they reside, and people with special needs.
Amersfoot, H.V. (2010). ‘Minority’ as a sociological concept. [online] Ethnic and Racial Studies. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01419870.1978.9993230 [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Greenberg, S. (2020). Minority Cartoons and Comics - funny pictures from CartoonStock. [online] Cartoonstock.com. Available at: https://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/m/minority.asp [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Modernization theory
Modernization theory is a term used to describe the cycle of modernization that society is moving through as it transitions from a conventional society to a modern one. The concept was not credited to a specific person; rather, in the 1950s, it was related to the development of American social sciences.
A great example of modernization is the advancement of technology Platforms, applications, infrastructures, software, robots, machines and devices that are more powerful, cheaper, less hazardous and better suited to resolving any problem.
Bernstein, H. (2007a). Modernization theory and the sociological study of development. [online] The Journal of Development Studies. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00220387108421356?journalCode=fjds20 [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Bernstein, H. (2007b). Modernization theory and the sociological study of development. [online] The Journal of Development Studies. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00220387108421356?journalCode=fjds20 [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Monopoly
A monopoly is defined as exclusive ownership by a specific entity over a particular business, sector, operation, or product.
The below cartoon shows the cynical aspect of the Apple industry. Years before Apple became a small business, it called out that Microsoft became operating as a cartel and preventing the success of many businesses. However, as Apple won more market shares, far more than Microsoft currently, it twisted its back and tried to maintain its supremacy by launching copy-right suits against firms like Samsung and HTC. Companies will, of course, like to be the leading company so that it can monitor its revenues. But the usage of Apple's "arrow" to hit its enemies is not always helpful to the target.
Paino, M. and Chin, J. (2011). MONOPOLY and Critical Theory Gaming in a Class on the Sociology of Deviance. [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258184433_MONOPOLY_and_Critical_Theory_Gaming_in_a_Class_on_the_Sociology_of_Deviance [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Walker, L. (2013). Google 搜尋 http://jspivey.wikispaces.com/file/view/ipod-monopoly.jpg/75706817/ipod-monopoly.jpg 圖片的結果 | Walkerteach Econ. [online] Scoop.it. Available at: https://www.scoop.it/topic/walkerteach-econ/p/3994936736/2013/01/14/google-http-jspivey-wikispaces-com-file-view-ipod-monopoly-jpg-75706817-ipod-monopoly-jpg [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Week 13
Social mobility
Social mobility refers to the change in the social status of a person from one class to another. The shift can be lower, higher, intra-generational, or inter-generational, and it can not be decided if the transition is for positive or negative. Mobility may be challenging or unlikely in a closed society with a caste system. Though mobility is possible in an open society with a class system.
An example of horizontal social mobility when an employee leaves his job to take a similar position at another firm.
Chan, T.W. (2017). Social mobility and the well-being of individuals. The British Journal of Sociology, [online] 69(1), pp.183–206. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1468-4446.12285 [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Joynsons, K. (2011). Social mobility. [online] Klaus Joynson’s Blog. Available at: https://klausjoynson.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/cartoon-6411/ [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Social stratification
A social stratification is a specific form of social inequality. where societies structure their members in terms of dominance, inferiority, and equality. Stratification is a mechanism of interaction or classification in which certain individuals are rated higher than others.
The religion or cast system in India is an example of social stratification.
Mondal, P. (2013). Social Stratification: Meaning, Types, and Characteristics | Sociology (2446 Words). [online] Your Article Library. Available at: http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/sociology/social-stratification-meaning-types-and-characteristics-sociology-2446-words/6199 [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Simonds, D. (2014). Mobility, measured. [online] The Economist. Available at: https://www.economist.com/united-states/2014/02/01/mobility-measured [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Structured inequalities
Structural inequality is a set of privileges established by organizations within the economy. These entities represent government policies, economic strategies, and law institutions. They also cover Media, health care, and education systems. They are influential socializing agents that inform us of what we could achieve within societies.
Amadeo, K. (2018). Structural Inequality in America. [online] The Balance. Available at: https://www.thebalance.com/structural-inequality-facts-types-causes-solution-4174727 [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Mondal, P. (2013). Social Stratification: Meaning, Types, and Characteristics | Sociology (2446 Words). [online] Your Article Library. Available at: http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/sociology/social-stratification-meaning-types-and-characteristics-sociology-2446-words/6199 [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Surplus value
According to Marx's theory, surplus value is proportional to the additional income produced by the workers in excess of their own labor costs, which the capitalist takes as profit when the commodities are sold. for example, Surplus-value is the variance between the money earned by the selling of the commodity versus the amount it cost the owner of the commodity to produce it.
Makandal, J. (2015). Marxism is Not a System: A Critique of the ISO’s Conception of Surplus Value – INIP. [online] Koleksyon-inip.org. Available at: http://koleksyon-inip.org/marxism-is-not-a-system-a-critique-of-the-isos-conception-of-surplus-value/ [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Wu, B. (2011). Surplus Value - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. [online] Sciencedirect.com. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/surplus-value [Accessed 29 Apr. 2020].
Week 12
Gemeinschaft
A terminology firstly used by the sociologist Tonnies to define a smaller, conservative, society-based community in which people have strong, direct, face-to-face connections and respect social bonds as a purpose of itself.
A great example of Gemeinschaft in modern world is Amish and Hassidic communities.
Olena, A. (2020). Amish people study suggests environmental factors influence mutations causing disease and evolution more than genes | Genetic Literacy Project. [online] Genetic Literacy Project. Available at: https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2020/02/03/amish-people-study-suggests-environmental-factors-influence-mutations-causing-disease-and-evolution-more-than-genes/ [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Waters, T. (2016). “Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft Societies.” [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303945817_Gemeinschaft_and_Gesellschaft_Societies [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Gender differences
Differences in the social hierarchies, responsibilities, interests, attitudes and personalities of men and women in society.
An example of gender differences in a proclivity for unethical behavior study sampled 213 individuals, men were identified more than twice as likely as women to participate in unethical actions (Betz, O’Connell and Shepard, 1989).
Betz, M., O’Connell, L. and Shepard, J.M. (1989). Gender differences in proclivity for unethical behavior. Journal of Business Ethics, [online] 8(5), pp.321–324. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00381722 [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Mark, H. (2017). Gender Differences in Communication Styles | PPU online. [online] Point Park University Online. Available at: https://online.pointpark.edu/public-relations-and-advertising/gender-differences-communication-styles/ [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Gender stratification
Gender stratification corresponds to the inequality between women and men in earnings, authority, and privilege. Gender is a socially established notion that reflects an asymmetrical, hierarchical that unequal differentiation between men and women.
Example: is the percentage of men vs. women in politics.
Ermira Danaj (2016). “Gender Stratification.” [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303685178_Gender_Stratification [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Jordans, F. (2020). Libya players agree to respect arms embargo, push cease-fire. [online] AP NEWS. Available at: https://apnews.com/06713d3fd88b700b6c69d32549a6ba93 [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Genocide
The deliberate and systemic elimination of ethnic, cultural or political groups.
Shaw, M. (2013b). Genocide. [online] obo. Available at: https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199756384/obo-9780199756384-0029.xml [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Stein, E. (2019). “Genocide” by Ed Stein. [online] Scholarlyvoices.org. Available at: http://scholarlyvoices.org/health01/29.html [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Week 11
Egalitarianism
Egalitarianism comes from the French word e'gal, which means equal. the political ideology of egalitarianism could be defined as a theory that sees each and every individual as equal in their moral standing, granting them equal rights and opportunities.
In an egalitarian Society, individuals choose to live together as equals as one of their core beliefs in these cultures. In which, egalitarian relationships happen between any two individuals that have a relation, such as a mother and a daughter, a brother and a girlfriend, or two colleagues. An example of an egalitarian relation is a married couple who share domestic responsibilities, raising children, and financial commitments equally.
Thompson, M., Verweij, M. and Ellis, R.J. (2006). Why and How Culture Matters. Oxford Handbooks Online. Oxford University Press.
Epistemology
Epistemology is a philosophic discipline that centers around studying knowledge understanding and how it can be achieved. We may assume that this covers the ontology of knowledge. Examples of theories in the context of epistemology are relativism, rationalism, irrationalism, and realism.
Delić, Z. (2017). Introductory Chapter: Sociology of Knowledge and Epistemological Paradox of Globalization. Epistemology and Transformation of Knowledge in Global Age. [online] Available at: https://www.intechopen.com/books/epistemology-and-transformation-of-knowledge-in-global-age/introductory-chapter-sociology-of-knowledge-and-epistemological-paradox-of-globalization [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Reece, R. (2014). philosophy in figures. [online] philosophy in figures. Available at: https://philosophy-in-figures.tumblr.com/ [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Evolutionary Theory
According to the sociological theorist Herbert Spencer, the evolutionary theory in sociology could be defined as the theory of social changes in which societies evolving from simplistic to more complex structures. building on the same idea in biology, the theory that living organisms evolve new features that allow them to adapt or survive.
Dietz, T., Burns, T.R. and Buttel, Federick H (1990). Evolutionary Theory in Sociology: An Examination of Current Thinking. Sociological Forum, [online] 5(2), pp.155–171. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/684458?seq=1 [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Harrington, B. (2009). Evolution and Qualitative Sociology - Economic Sociology. [online] Thesocietypages.org. Available at: https://thesocietypages.org/economicsociology/2009/05/06/evolution-and-qualitative-sociology/ [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism is a perception that the rules, beliefs, ideologies, practices, and rituals of one's own society or subculture are inferior to those characterizing other cultural settings. Since William Graham Sumner framed that term in (1906) it has been the core of the social study of cultures.
Through media, ethnocentrism is presented as an entertaining tool, rather than a serious issue. In My Big Fat Greek Wedding movie the father frequently states that he can trace any word back to Greek origins. In fact, the whole film centers on the thrills and problems of Greek wedding preparation. At the end of the day, though, the story has a happy outcome, indirectly implying that the good outweighs the drawbacks.
Big, M. (2016). GIF by My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. [online] GIPHY. Available at: https://giphy.com/gifs/mybigfatgreekwedding-my-big-fat-greek-wedding-2-mbfgreekwedding-l42Pfvf9gygWuCwJG [Accessed 28 Apr. 2020].
Thomas, W.I. and Sumner, W.G. (1907). Folkways. A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals. The American Historical Review, 13(1), p.116.
Week 8
Ethnography
Ethnography is fundamentally about embedding ourselves as investigators in different social contexts over a prolonged period of time, in order to gain a deeper view of the nature and nuances of everyday activity, social interactions, and the workings of societies.
Rhodes, J. (2009). WHAT IS ETHNOGRAPHY IN SOCIOLOGY? [online] The University of Manchester. Available at: https://hummedia.manchester.ac.uk/institutes/methods-manchester/docs/ethnographyinsociology.pdf [Accessed 25 Apr. 2020].
Family
Family is identified as a social unit structured of two or more individuals that are bounded by blood, birth, adoption, marriage, or significant long-term relationship and stay together. They typically form an economic entity, where financially independent adults support the family and take care of dependent members. The family plays a wide range of significant roles for societies. It socializes youth, provides moral and logistical assistance to its people, helps regulate sexual reproduction and sexual activities, and provides members a cultural identification. Moreover, abrupt or far-reaching shifts in the family system or frameworks are undermining its unity and fracturing community.
Example of family structure types :
Farrell, B., VandeVusse, A. and Ocobock, A. (2012). Family change and the state of family sociology. Current Sociology, [online] 60(3), pp.283–301. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0011392111425599 [Accessed 25 Apr. 2020].
Kwan, M. (2017). Michael Kwan | LoveToKnow. [online] LoveToKnow. Available at: https://www.lovetoknow.com/member/75~michael-kwan [Accessed 25 Apr. 2020].
Kwan, M. (2018). Types Of Family Structures. LoveToKnow.com. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=136&v=8HkqJFky538&feature=emb_logo [Accessed 25 Apr. 2020].
Feminism
Feminism is the belief in cultural, economic, and political equality between genders. While it originates primarily from the West, feminism is expressed around the world and is embodied by numerous organizations dedicated to working on behalf of women's rights and interests.
Feminism is a different form of critical sociology. There are substantial differences between forms of feminism; for example, the differences mostly traced to the first wave of feminism in the 19th and early 20th century, the second feminism wave in the 1950s and 1970s, and the third feminism wave starting from the 80s to date. Below series of videos shows the historical time line of important milestones for feminism.
Anderson, S. (2018). Watch: Waves of feminism. [online] Sydney Opera House. Available at: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/events/whats-on/all-about-women-home/news-all-about-women/waves-of-feminism.html [Accessed 26 Apr. 2020].
Davis, S.N. (2017). Sociology, Theory, and the Feminist Sociological Canon. SAGE Open, [online] 7(1), p.215824401769715. Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2158244017697157?icid=int.sj-abstract.similar-articles.3 [Accessed 25 Apr. 2020].
Fragmentation
In urban sociology, fragmentation refers to the lack or underdevelopment of connections between societies and the groups of some individuals of that society on the basis of shared ethnicity, gender, race, language, profession, faith, income level, or other mutual interests.
For example, cultural fragmentation of recent media production has produced an atmosphere in which a vast amount of individuals can see themselves portrayed and seeing the stories they have longed for on the screens and written publishing.
Armano, D. (2015). Video Killed The Television Star: Why Total Fragmentation Is The New Norm. [online] Logic+Emotion. Available at: https://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/2015/03/video.html [Accessed 26 Apr. 2020].
Rosenberg, A. (2015). The downside of cultural fragmentation. The Washington Post. [online] 19 Oct. Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2015/10/19/the-downside-of-cultural-fragmentation/ [Accessed 26 Apr. 2020].
Steinmetz, G. and Chae, O. (2002). Sociology in an Era of Fragmentation: From the Sociology of Knowledge to the Philosophy of Science, and Back Again. The Sociological Quarterly, [online] 43(1), pp.111–137. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/4121166?seq=1 [Accessed 26 Apr. 2020].