1

Sociology 10: Introduction to Sociology

Spring 2015 Tuesday and Thursday 12-1pm

105 William James Hall https://canvas.harvard.edu/courses/1667

Professor: Eva Rosen evarosen@fas.harvard.edu Office: 410 William James Hall Office Hours: TBA

Teaching Fellow: Katherine Morris kmorris@fas.harvard.edu 474 William James Hall Office Hours: TBA

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Sociology is the study of the individual within the context of human society. This course will help students cultivate what C. Wright Mills called the “sociological imagination” by making connections between individual phenomena and the larger social context. We will study a range of social situations, from small-scale social interactions between two people and within small groups like families, to larger- scale contexts such as schools, neighborhoods, cities, and even countries. We will also use sociological tools to probe invisible social institutions and forces such as racism, sexism, capitalism, and inequality. Readings and lectures will cover classic works by Marx, Weber, and Durkheim, more contemporary theorists including Bourdieu, Goffman, Becker, and recent empirical work by Bourgois and others. Topics will include: socialization and social interaction, structural functionalism, rational choice theory, culture, the economy, stratification and inequality, race and ethnicity, gender, social problems, organizational sociology, social networks, education, family, the life course, politics, health, and more. The course will highlight a range of methods of social inquiry and analysis, including quantitative methods, demography, ethnography, qualitative interviewing, network analysis, and historical methods.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Participation: 20% The participation grade is comprised of attendance (see below) and participation, in both lecture and section. It is important to come prepared for class by doing the reading, and to participate by asking and answering questions. This is based on not just how often you speak but also on the quality of your comments in demonstrating your engagement with the readings and analytical thinking skills.

2. Two Paper Assignments: 30%

Two short papers (5-6 pages long) will be assigned over the course of the semester. In these papers students will be asked to reflect on key themes and reading from the course.

3. Midterm Exam: 20%

4. Final In-class Exam: 30%

2

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance: Attendance is mandatory, and will be taken in lecture and section, beginning the 2nd week of class. Absences from lecture and section will be excused for medical reasons or for religious observance, with a note or email from a doctor or resident dean. Please email the TF in advance, unless there is a medical emergency, in which case you should contact them as soon as possible. Unexcused absences will count against your participation grade.

Technology: In order to foster an active learning environment the professor may request that all computers, tablets, and cellphones be put away during class. Please be prepared to take notes with pen and paper. Students needing academic adjustments or accommodations because of a disability should notify the professor, and may present a letter from the AEO. All discussions will remain confidential.

Papers: All papers are due on their due date, uploaded to the course website. One third of a letter grade will be deducted for each day that a paper is late. Extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis in situations of medical emergency or religious observance.

Grading: Great care is taken grading assignments and providing feedback, and we are happy to meet with students regarding their grades. Please do not hesitate to schedule a meeting with the professor or TF if you would like to know more about how to improve on future assignments. If you would like an assignment to be re-graded, please note that the grade may be revised up or down upon re-evaluation.

Writing Resources: The Sociology Departmental Writing Fellow (DWF) is available to meet with students to discuss their papers. The Harvard College Writing Center is available to assist in any stage of the writing process. Information about both can be found online: http://sociology.fas.harvard.edu/pages/writing-papers-sociology

Collaboration Policy: Discussion and the exchange of ideas are essential to academic work. For paper assignments in this course you may consult with your classmates on paper topics and ideas. However, you should ensure that any written work you submit for evaluation is the result of your own research and writing and that it reflects your own approach to the topic. You must also adhere to standard citation practices in this discipline and properly cite any books, articles, websites, lectures, etc. that have helped you with your work. If you received any help with your writing (feedback on drafts, etc.), you must acknowledge this assistance. Do not turn in someone else’s work – in part, or in full – as your own.

READINGS

All assigned reading should be completed by the first class of the week. All readings are available online on the Canvas website https://canvas.harvard.edu/courses/1667, except for one book, which can be purchased or borrowed from the library:

Bourgois, Philippe. 2003. In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Barrio. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

3

Week 1. The Sociological Imagination & Doing Social Science January 27th & 29th

*Readings optional this week*

Mills, C. Wright. The Sociological Imagination. Chapter 1: “The Promise” (3-24).

Best, Joel. 2001. “Telling the Truth about Damned Lies and Statistics.” The Chronicle Review.

Miner. 1956. “Body Ritual among the Nacirema.” American Anthropologist 58:503-507.

Week 2. Identity, Socialization, and Social Construction February 3rd & 5th

Conley, Dalton, Roger Lancaster, Alondra Nelson, Kristen Springer, and Karl Bryant. 2014. “What’s biology got to do with it?” Contexts 13(4): 14-23.

Martin, Karin. 1998. “Becoming a Gendered Body: Practices of Preschools.” American Sociological Review 63:494-511.

Becker, Howard. 1953. “Becoming a Marihuana User.” American Journal of Sociology 59: 235-242.

Bourgois. In Search of Respect. “Introduction” (1-18).

Week 3. Social Interaction February 10th & 12th

Elster, Jon. 1989. “Rational Choice” in Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences (22-29).

Goffman, Erving. 1967. “Introduction” and “On Face-Work” in Interaction Ritual. (1-45).

Cahill, et.al. 1985. “Meanwhile Backstage: Public bathrooms and the interaction order.” Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 14:33-58.

Bourgois. In Search of Respect. Chapter 1: “Violating Apartheid in the United States” (19-47).

Week 4. Structure and Economy February 17th & 19th

Marx, Karl. “Wage Labour and Capital.” Selection from Inequality and Society (55-66).

Marx and Engels. “Manifesto of the Communist Party.” Selection from Inequality and Society (68-75).

Weber, Max. “Class, Status, Party” Selection from Inequality and Society (81-93).

Bourgois. In Search of Respect. Chapter 2: “El Barrio: A Street History” (48-76).

4

Week 5. Culture February 24th & 26th

Geertz, Clifford. “The Impact of the Concept of Culture on the Concept of Man.”

Bourdieu, Pierre. “The Forms of Capital.” Selection from Inequality and Society (443-456).

Bourgois. In Search of Respect. Chapter 3: “Crackhouse Management: Addiction, Discipline, and Dignity” (77-113).

PAPER #1 DUE Thursday, February 26th

Week 6. Inequality and Economic Stratification March 3rd & 5th

Veblen, Thorstein. The Theory of the Leisure Class. Chapter 4: “Conspicuous Consumption” (43-62).

Rank, Mark. 2011. “Rethinking American Poverty.” Contexts 10(2):16-21.

Davis, Kingsley and Wilbert Moore. 1944. “Some Principles of Stratification.” Selection from Inequality and Society (137-147).

Cassidy, John. 2014. “Forces of Divergence: Is Inequality Endemic to Capitalism?” The New Yorker.

Bourgois. In Search of Respect. Chapter 4: “Goin’ Legit: Disrespect and Resistance at Work” (114-173).

Week 7. Race and Ethnicity March 10th

Lee, Jennifer and Frank Bean. 2007. “Reinventing the Color Line: Immigration and America’s New Racial/Ethnic Divide.” Social Forces 86(2):561-586.

Omi, Michael and Howard Winant. 1994. “From the 1960s to the 1990s” from Racial Formation in the United States.

James, David. 1994. “The Racial Ghetto as a Race-Making Situation: The Effects of Residential Segregation on Racial Inequalities and Racial Identity.” Law & Social Inquiry 19(2): 407-432.

Farley, John and Gregory Squires. 2005. “Fences and Neighbors: Segregation in 21st-Century America.” Contexts 4(1): 33-39.

MIDTERM Thursday, March 12th

Spring Break March 16-20th

5

March 24th & 26th Week 8. Education, Learning, and Mobility

Coleman, James. 1987. “Families and Schools.” Educational Researcher, 16(6): 32-38.

Turner, Ralph. “Sponsored and Contest Mobility and the School System.” Great Divides.

Macleod, Jay. 1987. Excerpt of Ain’t No Makin’ It: Leveled Aspirations in a Low-Income Neighborhood.

Bourgois. In Search of Respect. Chapter 5: “School Days: Learning to be a Better Criminal.”

Week 9. Gender March 31st & April 2nd

West, Candace and Don Zimmerman. 1987. “Doing Gender.” Gender & Society 1(2):125-151.

Charles, Maria. 2011. “What Gender is Science?” Contexts 10(2):22-28.

Bourgois. In Search of Respect. Chapter 6: “Redrawing the Gender Line on the Street” (213-258).

Week 10. Family April 7th & 9th

Eagly, Alice. and Wendy Wood. 1999. “The Origins of Sex Differences in Human Behavior: Evolved dispositions versus social roles.” American Psychologist 54:408-423.

Edin, Kathryn and Maria Kefalas. 2005. “Unmarried with Children." Contexts, 4(2):16-22.

Bourgois. In Search of Respect. Chapter 7: “Families and Children in Pain” (259-286).

Bourgois. In Search of Respect. Chapter 8: “Vulnerable Fathers” (287-317).

Week 11. Social Networks, Groups, Organizations April 14th & 16th

Networks:

Christakis, Nicholas and James Fowler. 2009. Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives. Preface and Chapter 1: “In the Thick of It” (xi-32).

Moody, James. 2001. “Race, School Integration, and Friendship Segregation in America.” American Journal of Sociology 107(3):679–716.

Gladwell, Malcolm. 2005. “Getting In: The Social Logic of Ivy League Admissions.” The New Yorker.

Organizations:

Vaughan, Diane. 1996. The Challenger Launch Decision. Chapter 10: “Lessons Learned” (387-422).

6

Thursday, April 16th PAPER #2 DUE

Week 12. Health April 21st & 23rd

Link, Bruce and Jo Phelan. 1995. “Social Conditions as Fundamental Causes of Disease.” Journal of Health and Social Behavior (Extra Issue): 80-94.

Marmot, Michael. 2006. “Status Syndrome: A Challenge to Medicine.” Journal of the American Medical Association 295(11): 1304-1307.

Lauderdale, Diane. 2006. “Birth Outcomes for Arabic-Named Women in California before and after September 11.” Demography 43, (1):185-201.

Brandt, Allan. 1978. “Racism and Research: The Case of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study” The Hastings Center Report 8(6): 21-29.

Week 13. Institutions: The State April 28th

Weber, Max. “Politics as a Vocation” in Max Weber: Essays in Sociology by Gerth and Mills (77-83).

Fukuyama, Francis. “Bureaucracy” in Political Order and Political Decay (52-65).

Mann, Michael. “The Autonomous Power of the State” in State/Space: A Reader (53-64).

Bourgois. In Search of Respect. “Conclusion” (318-327).

FINAL EXAM (Exam Group 9)