Issues in Sociology: December 2011

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Emerging Issues

One of the emerging issues of today is welfare. It seems to be more and more that people are taking advantage of welfare advantages. Welfare in the United States originated back in 1935's during the Great Depression. It was titled Aid to Dependent children (AFDC). The AFDC was replaced in 1996 by Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act (PRWRA). The problem with welfare now is that more and more people are taking advantage of the welfare program. Too many people are below the poverty line to support the welfare system. The more people who receive welfare the more tax payers must pay for it.

Another problem with the welfare system is that many recipients believe that the system makes it difficult to be become independent. The people receive very low income on welfare and often cannot find decent child care that is affordable. The majority of people who receive welfare are young mothers, so child care is very important to them. Most who receive welfare cannot make enough money to support themselves and their children. One major problem is that even though they get increased income on welfare they ended up paying more for the services they needed such as child care and transportation. So people on welfare often ended up with less money at their disposal. The idea of the welfare system is a good idea, to help those in need get back on their feet, but the system needs to be rearranged once again to be a more effective program.

References

Andersen, M. L., & Taylor, H. F. (2011). Sociology: The essentials. (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

AppliedSoc.org (2011). Applying Applied Sociology in the Family. [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://www.appliedsoc.org/family/.

Baldwin, John (2003).What is the Socialization Process? Retrieved from http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/faculty/baldwin/classes/soc142/scznDEF.html.

Chapin, Harry (1974). "Cat's in the Cradle." Retrieved from http://www.lyricsdepot.com/harry-chapin/cats-in-the-cradle.html.

Durkheim, Emile (n.d.). [Quotation]. Retrieved from http://www.engled101.com/quotes.html.

HighBeam Research Inc. (2011). Sociology of Religion. [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Sociology_of_religion.aspx#1.

Lee, F.L. (2003, January 18). Does Class Count in Today’s Land of Opportunity? [Article]. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/18/arts/does-class-count-in-today-s-land-of-opportunity.html?src=pm.

Marx, Karl (n.d.). [Quotation]. Retrieved from http://www.engled101.com/quotes.html.

Matsueda, Ross L. and Karen Heimer. (n.d.) A Symbolic Interactionist Theory of Role-Transitions, Role Commitments, and Delinquency. Retrieved from http://faculty.washington.edu/matsueda/Papers/Role.PDF.

O'Neill, Dennis (2009). Process of Socialization: Socialization. Retrieved from http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_1.htm.

Palmer, Jason (2011, March 22). Religion May Become Extinct in Nine Nations, Study Says. [Article]. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12811197.

Sociologyindex (n.d.). Social Stratification. Retrieved from http://sociologyindex.com/stratification.htm.

The Influence of Television Media on Society (2009, November 29). [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqRNRw0eBIE&feature=related.

Ty, Rey (2009, June 18). Sociology of Religion: Marx, Weber & Durkheim. [Video]. Retrieved from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2-rnGiTFRU.

What is Social Class? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://udel.edu/~cmarks/What%20is%20social%20class.htm.

1957 Social Class in America (2008, July 21). [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhI9V1fAHrY.

Chapter 13: Family and Religion

The chapter on families and religion is very hard to summarize. For one thing there is no good definition for family. What people consider to be family varies from person to person and generation to Generation. Andersen and Taylor (2011), as: a primary group of people--usually related by ancestry, marriage or adoption--who form a cooperative economic unit to care for any offspring (and each other) and who are committed to maintaining the group over time.

Sociologist study religion and its effects, but not the theology involved. So they can gain an understanding of the relative purposes for religious rituals and beliefs. An understanding of religion helps in the study of sociology because many societies have religion, and religious beliefs guide the actions of people in that society. Andersen and Taylor (2011) define religion as: an institutionalized system of symbols, beliefs, values, and practices by which a group of people interprets and responds to what they feel is sacred and that provides answers to questions of ultimate meaning.

Here is a quote by Karl Marx (n.d.) that addressed his standing on religion: "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of spiritless conditions. It is the opiate of the masses."

This is a link to a webpage by appliedsoc.org (2011) that introduces the sociology of the family. It thoroughly examines issues related to the family and the way a family functions. http://www.appliedsoc.org/family/.

This webpage by HighBeam Research Inc. (2011) gives a great definition of sociology related to religion and then goes into detail about the sociologists and views surrounding it. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Sociology_of_religion.aspx#1

This video describes the views of Marx Weber and Durkheim on the sociology of religion. By exploring these sociologists’ ideas side by side you can easily compare and contrast them and decide which you believe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2-rnGiTFRU

This is a link to an article by Jason Palmer (2011) for BBC News. The article is about the rising number of people who do not claim any religious affiliation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12811197.

References

Andersen, M. L., & Taylor, H. F. (2011). Sociology: The essentials. (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

AppliedSoc.org (2011). Applying Applied Sociology in the Family. [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://www.appliedsoc.org/family/.

HighBeam Research Inc. (2011). Sociology of Religion. [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Sociology_of_religion.aspx#1.

Marx, Karl (n.d.). [Quotation]. Retrieved from http://www.engled101.com/quotes.html.

Palmer, Jason (2011, March 22). Religion May Become Extinct in Nine Nations, Study Says. [Article]. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12811197.

Ty, Rey (2009, June 18). Sociology of Religion: Marx, Weber & Durkheim. [Video]. Retrieved from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2-rnGiTFRU.

Chapter 8: Social Stratification

Social Stratification is an interesting topic in sociology. One focused on by many Marxist sociologists. Andersen and Taylor (2011) define Social Stratification as: a relatively fixed hierarchical arrangement in society by which groups have different access to resources, power, and perceived social worth.

Sociologists are not the only people to study Social Stratification. Many people are interested in social stratification because it causes inequality. Social stratification is often represented as a pyramid with the elites at the top. The pyramid model is good because it symbolizes how the people who govern the means of production are a very small group with the highest prestige. Whereas at the bottom of the pyramid are those individuals who work for little or no wages almost completely under the control of the elites.

Karl Marx (n.d.) once said in relation to class consciousness:"It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness."

This is a link to a website titled What is Social Class? (n.d.) that does an excellent job of summarizing the general issues and the history of the study of social class.

http://udel.edu/~cmarks/What%20is%20social%20class.htm.

This web page by Sociologyindex (n.d.) does an excellent job of defining stratification as well as its place in sociology. It also includes an extensive list of other resources on stratification.

http://sociologyindex.com/stratification.htm.

This is a link to a wonderful 1957 video on social stratification in the United States. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhI9V1fAHrY.

This is a link to an article by Felicia R. Lee (2003) about two sociologists at Cornell, Professor David B. Grusky, and assistant professor Kim Weeden, who explored the concept of social mobility in America. Interestingly, they find that the ways current social classes are defined make little difference in preferences, and another colleague suggests another way to define class.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/18/arts/does-class-count-in-today-s-land-of-opportunity.html?src=pm

References

Andersen, M. L., & Taylor, H. F. (2011). Sociology: The essentials. (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Marx, Karl (n.d.). [Quotation]. Retrieved from http://www.engled101.com/quotes.html.

Sociologyindex (n.d.). Social Stratification. Retrieved from http://sociologyindex.com/stratification.htm.

What is Social Class? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://udel.edu/~cmarks/What%20is%20social%20class.htm.

1957 Social Class in America (2008, July 21). [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhI9V1fAHrY.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Chapter 4: Socialization and the Life Course

To understand this chapter one must understand what exactly socialization is. In Sociology: the Essentials Andersen and Taylor (2011) define socialization as: the process by which human beings learn the social expectations of society.

Socialization and the Life Course really builds a foundation for an understanding of many sociological concepts.

One thing the chapter covers is the agents of socialization, a few of which are:

· Family

· Media

· Peers

· Sports

· Religious Institutions

· Schools

There are many different approaches for explaining socialization such as

· Psychoanalytic theory

· Social Learning Theory

· Functionalism

· Conflict Theory

· Symbolic Interaction Theory

Socialization is one of the key factors of diversity. Every person grows up to be a unique person because there were different factors that affected their lives. So many people will have some things in common, such as living in the same area or environment, but each has a unique set of circumstances that define how that person developed to fit society's expectations.

What I think of when I think of socialization is the Harry Chapin song Cat's in the Cradle (1974). Here are the lyrics for those of you who don't know the song.

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then

Here is a link to an article by Ross L. Matsueda and Karen Heimer (n.d.) about how symbolic interaction theory is applied to socialization, and how sometimes socialization leads to delinquency.

http://faculty.washington.edu/matsueda/Papers/Role.PDF

This is a link to a website by Dennis O'Neill (2009) that gives a brief description to the process of socialization. It is really helpful in gaining a basic understanding of the process of socialization around the world.

http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_1.htm

This is a link to a webpage by John Baldwin (2003) that discusses socialization as well as some of the positive and negative forms of socialization. The site also refers to the effects that socialization has on people's perspectives and lifestyles.

http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/faculty/baldwin/classes/soc142/scznDEF.html

This is a link to a video about the effect media has on socialization that was created by a student for one of her communications classes it is titled, "The Influence of Television Media on Society" (2009).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqRNRw0eBIE&feature=related

References

Andersen, M. L., & Taylor, H. F. (2011). Sociology: The essentials. (6th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Baldwin, John (2003).What is the Socialization Process? Retrieved from http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/faculty/baldwin/classes/soc142/scznDEF.html.

Chapin, Harry (1974). "Cat's in the Cradle." Retrieved from http://www.lyricsdepot.com/harry-chapin/cats-in-the-cradle.html.

O'Neill, Dennis (2009). Process of Socialization: Socialization. Retrieved from http://anthro.palomar.edu/social/soc_1.htm

The Influence of Television Media on Society (2009, November 29). [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqRNRw0eBIE&feature=related

Home Page

My name is Dakota Wallen; I am a Triple major at the University of Idaho, studying anthropology, history, and secondary education. Ultimately my goal is to become a professor of anthropology (with an emphasis in archaeology) someday.

As a requirement for my anthropology degree I must take Sociology 101. To fulfill a requirement of that course I have started this blog which will address some issues in sociology.

Sociology has a very simple definition for such a complex field; sociology is defined as the study of human behavior in society. I am interested in sociology because it is relevant to everybody's everyday life. Having a basic understanding of sociology would help many people to understand the world around them and be more understanding of the actions of other people, and cultures. The more we understand the people around us, the fewer conflicts there will be.

Here is a good quote about sociology:

Emile Durkheim (n.d.) once said "Man is a moral being, only because he lives in society. Let all social life disappear and morality will disappear with it."

References:

Durkheim, Emile (n.d.). [Quotation]. Retrieved from http://www.engled101.com/quotes.html.