Welcome to Sociology with Mrs Ashford

Objectives:

• Names and Introductions• Induction work, textbook, blog –

www.stcmsoc.wordpress.com• What is Sociology?• What topics will you learn about

and discuss?

Sociological perspectives

Induction TaskThis is due on 1st day of term without exception !

What Sociology isn’t about

• Sociology is not looking at an individuals behaviour

• Sociology is not a subject that has one answer for any of the questions that it asks

• Sociology is not an easy option

Sociology explores the social world around

us.It is the scientific study of society and human

behaviour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFdUtCAXAUM&feature=fvsr

What is Sociology?

C Wright Mills – The Sociological Imagination

• The ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society.

For example…Private v. Public Issues

How this...

Is linked to this...

The Sociology of Facebook

• There are more males on Facebook but on average girls have more friends than boys, leave more comments and chat more

• The average fb user visits 40 times a month.• On average people only leave comments for and

chat to around 5% of their ‘friends.’• Fb is making significant changes to the lives of

young people – good and bad !• There is a negative correlation between time spent

on facebook and exam results

If you’ve thought about these kind of things you will love Sociology.

• Should the government ban private schools and tutoring to pass 11+ exams so that every child has equal opportunities ?

• Will males and females ever be equal? Are they already equal? Are their differences due to biology or society?

• What would be the best way to tackle crime, preventing poverty or increasing prison sentences to act as a deterrent?

• Is it fair that some people are rich and some are poor – can the poor be blamed for their situation?

• Is it fair that some jobs seem easy but pay well while other really hard jobs are poorly paid?

• Why are girls achieving higher grades in education than boys?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXVqSS2T4H4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC5RQ5YbCXs

LO: To investigate reasons for anti- social behaviour and conflict during August 2011

The Riots of August 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnWsQFPM4A0

Discussion question

What do you think were the causes

of these riots?

Sociological Explanations• The rioting helped to highlight what is wrong with our

society• Poverty and deprivation caused by inequalities in the social

system• Poor upbringing – deviant values of underclass youths• Media labelling youth as criminal• Social exclusion – communities of poorer people who feel

left out or ignored• Gang status or peer group pressure• Racism – the police assuming ethnic minorities are criminal• Crowd behaviour – diffusion of responsibility• Greed caused by a materialistic society

Plenary

Sharing work, read and review each others work

and discuss opinions.

Functionalism

• Society is seen as a web of systems which all rely upon each other for example the family, the economy, law and order, politics, the culture of society, all bind together to make it work. If one part fails then society will dysfunction, just like a body would if an organ failed.

Marxism

• To Karl Marx progress and change is driven by a desire for profit in a capitalist system. The richest few at the top (Bourgeoisie) exploit the lower classes (Proletariat) by making a profit from their labour. The Bourgeoisie are a minority in society and fear uprising and rebellion so the masses are controlled through institutions like education, media and religion.

Feminism

• Feminists believe that the main conflict in society is not between social classes but between genders. They believe that society is Patriarchal (meaning males run society in their own interests). Feminists have campaigned since the Suffragettes in late 19th C to gain equality for women.

•

Interactionism

Society is created through the actions of individuals and how we interpret the world around us (everyone is unique and has free-will to change society for better or worse).

Interactionists believe that some people become negatively labelled through their dealings with others and this can affect how they live their lives. For example, if a teenager is labelled as a ‘chav’ this might affect how they behave in the future and on a wider scale affect society as a whole.

Post Modernism

• None of the old perspectives are adequate to explain how society works since it is in constant change. Changes include, multiculturalism, globalisation, changing gender roles, lack of trust in traditional authorities like scientists or politicians, the shrinking of time and space through technology, consumerism and global risks.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeoKQbT8BKs

Plenary

• What does Functionalism compare society to?• What did Marx call the two classes battling for

power?• What was the Feminist name for male

dominance?• Which perspective uses the term ‘labelling’?• Changes in modern society can be illustrated

by what social network?