sociology- identity

sociology- identity

1. Culture

   • looked at by structuralists (society makes the individual)
   • way of life
     • refers to the languages, beliefs, values and norms, customs, diet, roles knowledge and skills that make up the way of any society
   • collection of norms and values and status and roles
   • global culture
     • globalisation- growing and interconnectedness and interdependence of societies across the world
       • glocal- global and local combined
   • dominant culture- main culture which is shared by most people
     • subculture-a smaller culture held by a group of people within the main society
       • usually occurs in a larger society which contains a diversity of people
         • different beliefs and a way of life which is different from the mainstream
     • high culture, popular culture, mass culture, low culture,
       • high culture- seen by some as the superior, the culture of the elite
         • mass culture- the common culture of the majority of people, enjoyed and accessible to all
           • low culture-seen as inferior, looked down on by most
             • popular culture- the culture of the day, what is popular right now
           • focuses on celebrities and materialism and stops the working from thinking for themselves which could lead to rebellion against the inequality of society
         • the wealthy and educated, has lasting artistic or literary value, sponsored by government, in specialist places (galleries, museums, theatres), requires a particular kind of education
         • Marxists see the difference between mass culture and high culture as a tool of control
         • Bourdieu (Marxist) believes understanding high culture has an advantage: middle class children achieve more in school because they have 'cultural capital'
   • strinati (1995) argues elements of high culture have become apart of popular culture and elements of popular culture are in high culture
   • postmodernists-focus on the rise of media, materialism and consumerism. believe we no longer earn our culture and identity but buy it
   • functionalists- a way of enabling social order and cohesion.
   • feminists- see culture as maintaining the status of patriarchal society. though cultural practises and beliefs, women are taught to fulfil specified roles in society

2. GENDER

   • radical fem-gender equality doesn't exist
   • functionalism-gender provides collective consciousness
     • GRS - all women should be feminine, all men masculine, share an agreement on gender
     • social guidance
   • patriarchal- secondary socialisation can be harmful to women; cause body image issyes
   • marxism- gender supports capitalism
     • society benefits those with power; in a patriarchal society, males would get the benefits
     • social control
   • postmodernism
     • social variables replaced by consumption
   • Labeling theory- gender roles are to be followed
     • rejecting roles can allow negative labeling for both males and females
       • eg: a man may be labeled as 'gay' if he is said to enjoy traditionally feminine activities
   • impression management-people are convinced that they must put on a persona to be accepted into society
     • females- usually appearance wise- expected to dress up wear make-up etc
       • males- in sense of their actions-expected to act 'masculine' in order to be accepted
         • many homosexual individuals would either conform to social stereotypes or hide them if they relate to such
           • if they are not 'out', they would create a false persona in society and only acknowledge their true selves in private
     • looking glass self-women are persuaded by social institutions to appear in a certain way
       • judge by how others perceive them and change in order to be like
   • masculinity: 1) aggressive masculinity(working class behaviour) 2)hegemony masculinity-socially desirable (middle-class)
   • parsons (1955)- believes women have an 'expressive role' in family; natural but reinforced by socialisation (functionalists)- gender is natural
     • mac an ghaill (1994)- focuses on 'hyper masculinity' among males, included policing their own and others' sexualities
     • males have an 'instrumental role' in family; natural but reinforced by socialisation

3. SEXUALITIY-label given due to who, on a category of gender, one would find sexually or romantically attractive

   • feminism-heteronormativity is still the norm
     • women are sexualised for men in the media e.g pornography
     • radical fem. argue porn and prostitution can be linked to domestic violence and rape in society
       • marxism-society is distracted by popular culture; distracts from issues with non heterosexual individuals
         • functionalism- roles ensure society running smoothly; this can include the role of heteronormativity
           • traditional nuclear family (mother and father) is believed to be the best
         • heterosexuality is the norm because it serves capitalism
           • reproduces workes
       • postmodernism- media starting to normalise homosexual relationships
   • weeks (1981) sexual identification is a strange thing
     • sexuality is more complex than other aspects of an identity
       • people may or may not participate in sexual activity with those they are sexually attracted to
   • rich (1980)- womens sexualitiy is oppressed by the patriarchy
     • women took part in 'compulsory heterosexuality' they are socialised into a heterosexual role for men
       • lesbian identity is seen as a threat to males or sexually attractive

4. CLASS-social system used more often decades ago, that seperated people due to the different class levels

   • their class was determined by wealth and income, and occupation held to earn such. children would be classified under their parents' classed until they were earning a living themselves
   • feminism-gender inequality-women earn less and gain less power than men
     • working class women perform unpaid labour such as running a household
       • patriarchy places women in lower class positions
   • marxism-conflict between social classes caused by power
     • society benefits rich and powerful; this would mean the upper class is benefitted most
       • popular culture distracts the lower classes from the class inequality
   • functionalism-society benefits everyone of all classes
     • the class system and roles in classes are needed to keep society running smoothly
   • postmodernism- modern life does not focus greatly on class status
     • the class system is dismissed as diversity increases in how to gain wealth and income
   • mackintosh and mooney (2004)-upper class' invisibility due to social closure
     • skeggs (1997)-studied working class women who are often dismissed by others of higher status due to their class
       • women would make themselves appear more 'respectable' in how they dress and decorate their homes
         • offe (1985)- people do not share an experience of full time work anymore- a main focus in social class
           • work is no longer a necessary feature of identity; people can form their identity without having to focus on class or occupation
     • they separate themselves from middle-lower classes through private education, exclusive clubs and uncommonly known activities

5. age

6. ethnicity