Unit 6: Deviance and Social Control

Reading: Chapter 7 in Macionis, pp. 173 - 203

Class Meets: September 22 and 24, 2009

Topics: Unit 6 considers the concepts of deviance and social control. An important function of our interaction is groups is to produce a sense of normalcy, but not everyone obeys social norms. When people break norms, sociologists call this deviance, and studying deviance offers a basis of comparison that helps us understand and affirm social norms. Also, by studying deviance we can better understand how social institutions and organizations control the behavior of individuals. In Unit 6, we will study deviance from the perspective of different theoretical paradigms, we will consider crime as a specific type of deviance and examine how the criminal justice system in the United States is organized to address deviance in society. In Unit 6 you will learn to appreciate the formal and informal ways that social groups control behavior and better understand why we require social norms.

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Unit 7: Stratification

Reading: Chapter 8 in Macionis, pp. 205 - 241

Class Meets: September 29 and October 1, 2009

Topics: Unit 7 covers the basics of social stratification, a way of viewing social structure that highlights the differences among social groups and the conflicts that difference can produce. The conflicts are not necessarily violent; rather, it is the conflicting views among groups that gives society form and holds society together, according to this perspective. Stratification emphasizes that society is structured in hierarchies, where some groups get more of what society values (e.g., money, power, prestige, property, access, toys) while other groups get less. Who gets what is controlled by an opportunity structure that increases the life chances for some and closes off opportunities for others. In Unit 7 we will consider different systems of stratification, different theoretical perspectives on stratification, and how stratification operates in the U.S. We will present characteristics of different social classes, in particular the poorest and least powerful, and we will consider ways in which movement between classes is enhanced or prevented. Unit 7 will help you appreciate why we have rich and poor, and how these categories are perpetuated through time.

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Unit 8: Globalization

Reading: Chapter 9 in Macionis, pp. 243 - 269

Class Meets: October 6 and 8, 2009

Topics: Unit 8 expands on the concept of stratification and applies it to global soceity, emphasizing the relative differences in wealth, stature and access to resources among nations. A key insight is that today we can talk about a truly global society, in other words, a system by which people around the world are integrated under a common set of rules, assumptions, and institutions. Sociologists use the term globalization to refer to the many processes that are moving us towards this global society. In Unit 8 we will examine the nature of the global system of stratification, distinguish characteristics of high-income, middle-income and low-income countries, and study theories of global social change in the post-World War II period that explain how a global system of stratification has emerged. You will come away with a greater appreciation for the interconnections between people around the world and how nation-states and transnational corporations have organized to advance a global society. You also will learn about some of the threats that global society poses to our well-being.

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Unit 9: Gender

Reading: Chapter 10 in Macionis, pp. 271 - 297

Class Meets: October 13, 2009

NOTE: Fall Break begins Wednesday, October 14 at 5:00 pm. Classes will not meet on Thursday, October 15 nor Friday, October 16. The regular class schedule will resume on Monday, October 19.

Topics: Unit 9 takes up the topic of gender, or the socially constructed representations of sex. Gender is an ascribed characteristic, but virtually every society is stratified by gender. Males get more privileges and benefits than females. In Unit 9 we will examine some explanations as to why this is the case. We will consider how men and women are different, how institutions act as agents of socialization to create a gender identity, some of the ramifications of gender stratification, various theoretical perspectives on gender, and how women have organized into social movements to achieve gender equity. Unit 9 will cause you to question your own sense of privilege and realize that many of the things we take for granted are actually prescribed by the way our society constructs gender identity.

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Unit 10: Race and Ethnicity

Reading: Chapter 11 in Macionis, pp. 299 - 331

Class Meets: October 20 and 22, 2009

Topics: Unit 10 expands on the topic of stratification, focusing on race and ethnicity as ascribed characteristics that are the basis of stratification in many societies. In addition to the concepts of race and ethnicity, we examine the meaning of "minority group," and contrast it to both "majority group" and "dominant group." We study the nature of prejudice and discrimination, ways in which minority groups interact with dominant groups, and cultural characteristics of various racial and ethnic groups in the United States. In Unit 10, you will learn how discrimination occurs and how discrimination is perpetuated. You will be presented with examples that illustrate how society sometimes operates independently of its members, as discrimination becomes embedded in institutions and is perpetuated, even if individuals are not discriminating against minority groups.

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Last Modified: 7/24/09

Copyright © 2009 - Dr. Alan Barton