Introduction to Sociology Quiz

Course Introduction

• Course title: SOCI 201 - Introduction to Sociology
• Instructor: Dr. Gbenga Adejare
• University: University of Calgary

Land Acknowledgement

• Acknowledges the traditional territories of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta
• Recognizes the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, as part of the community

Course Expectations

• Respect is a two-way street
• The course aims for a truly enriching learning experience
• Students should actively review the course readings
• Active class engagement and participation is expected

Sociologists' Role

• Sociologists investigate social patterns
• They acknowledge that personal experiences are shaped by social location (e.g., age, gender, class, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation)
• Sociologists challenge and investigate perceived social patterns, like assumptions about certain professions.
• For example: The 2000 movie "Meet the Parents" is referenced as a social pattern that is questioned.

Sociology and Issues

• Sociological research assists in informed discussion about important social issues.
• The legalization of marijuana is used as an example of a social issue examined through sociological study
• It helps individuals comprehend how socializing influences shape their perspectives
• Sociology helps to challenge stereotypes and preconceived notions.

What is Sociology?

• Sociology is more effectively explained by describing what it does than by defining it directly.
• Sociology involves studying social patterns in:
  • Social variables (age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, ability, sexual orientation)
  • Social institutions (education, religion, family)
  • Social interactions

Sociology and Related Disciplines

• Sociology shares common ground with other social sciences (e.g., anthropology, economics, history, psychology, philosophy, political science).
• Sociology borrows from other fields' methodologies.

Sociology and Related Disciplines (Continued)

• Anthropology: Comparative study of human societies and cultures & development.
• Economics: Production, consumption, and distribution of wealth among individuals and groups.
• Philosophy: Major thinkers and ideas across societies.
• Political Science: Systems of government, and how they function.
• Psychology: The human mind, social and biological influences on behavior.
• Social Work: Applying knowledge to improve well-being
• Sociology: Development, structure, and functioning of human societies, social interactions, social relations, social institutions

Why Study Sociology?

• Understanding the social world (practices, attitudes, institutions) is a key purpose of the study.
• Understanding oneself within the broader social context is another.
• Recognizing the experiences of diverse people within various communities and countries are also valuable.
• Studying nations and their societal structures is equally important

The Sociological Imagination

• C. Wright Mills coined the term "sociological imagination".
• The primary focus of the sociological imagination is on societies, not individuals
• Understanding how social forces shape individuals is important
• The interplay between personal and political aspects is considered in sociology

Origins of Sociology

• Abd al-Rahman Ibn Khaldûn was a significant early sociologist, as he used a systematic approach to study societies and their histories.
• He analyzed how societies' wealth influences their behavior

The Development of Sociology in Europe

• Sociology emerged in 19th-century France, Germany, and the UK.
• Responses to industrialization, the French and American Revolutions, urbanization, and population growth contributed to sociology's emergence

Max Weber: A Founder of Modern Sociology

• Max Weber was a German sociologist.
• He investigated the relationship between Protestant values and the evolution of modern capitalism.
• Weber's work suggests that capitalism developed primarily in Protestant countries, and differences in work ethic across religions can be analyzed

The Spread of Sociology to North America

• Sociology spread to North America in the late 19th/early 20th century.
• North American sociologists addressed the impact of European immigration.
• The University of Chicago's sociology department was a pioneering department in North America, and produced renowned sociologists (e.g., Robert Park, Ernest Burgess, Everett C. Hughes, George Herbert Mead, Edwin Sutherland, and Jane Addams) in the 1920s and 1930s

The Development of Canadian Sociology (Continued)

• Carl Addington Dawson founded the first sociology department in Canada at McGill University in 1922.
• Harold Innis, a pioneer in political economy, contributed significantly to the development of sociology at the University of Toronto
• Samuels Delbert Clark was a notable figure and is considered a "sociological historian" having made contributions to sociology in Canada

Social Class and Ethnicity: John Porter

• John Porter (1921–1979) analyzed the link between social class and ethnicity in Canada
• Porter coined the term "vertical mosaic" to illustrate the hierarchical stratification of racial, ethnic, and religious groups in Canada due to systemic discrimination.
• His analysis revealed Anglo-Saxon Protestants at the top of the hierarchy with other groups (e.g., French-Canadians) below and marginalized groups towards the bottom

Early Women Sociologists

• Annie Marie MacLean: First Canadian woman to earn a PhD in sociology (at the University of Chicago). Pioneered the study of working women
• Aileen Ross: First woman hired as a sociologist in a Canadian university (University of Toronto), and conducted research on homeless women.
• Helen C. Abell: Founder of rural sociology in Canada

The Growth of Sociology in Canada

• Sociology became a notable field in the 1960s and 1970s in Canada.
• Many sociologists were hired from the US and the UK, and textbooks sometimes lacked Canadian perspectives.
• This prompted efforts to include Canadian perspectives in textbooks and recognize the underrepresentation of Indigenous sociologists

Different Kinds of Sociology

• Sociology is categorized by approach, and includes different schools.
• Common methodologies used by sociologists are structural functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interaction, feminist theory, and postmodern theory

Different Kinds of Sociology (Continued)

• Macrosociology: Examines the big picture (institutions, large social structures) using concepts like structural functionalism, conflict theory, feminist theory, and postmodern theory
• Microsociology: Focuses on individual actions, motivations, and interactions, often through symbolic interactionism

Structural Functionalism

• Key figures include Émile Durkheim, Robert Merton, and Talcott Parsons
• It uses an analogy using an organism or biological system to represent society
• Identifies societal structures (like families) and their functions (how they work to maintain the system)
• The focus often is on maintaining social equilibrium.
• The approach fell out of favor in recent times because it has struggled to address conflict.

Durkheim and Social Facts

• Émile Durkheim, a founder of sociology, coined the term "social fact."
• Defined as patterns of actions, thinking, and feelings outside of any individual and influencing behaviors

Durkheim and Social Facts (Continued)

• Social facts are characterized by:
  • Existence prior to an individual.
  • Being a characteristic of a particular group.
  • Exerting a constraining force over people

Merton's Manifest and Latent Functions

• Robert K. Merton identified manifest (intended, obvious) and latent (unintended, less obvious) functions and dysfunctions in society.
• Religion, for example, can have manifest functions like fulfilling spiritual needs or latent functions like creating support systems.

Conflict Theory

• Conflict theory emphasizes the existence of conflict in all major societies as a catalyst for social change
• Key components are conflict, class, contestation, and change
• It examines how different groups struggle, compete, and challenge existing societal structures

Conflict Theory (Continued)

• Karl Marx is a major figure in conflict theory.
• Marx contended that societies are built upon hierarchy.
• The role in production determines class position in a society.
• Marx highlighted the conflict between the bourgeoisie (capitalists) and the proletariat (workers), and believed this would lead to a socialist revolution resulting in a classless society.

Symbolic Interactionism

• George Herbert Mead examined socialization, self-development and social roles
• Herbert Blumer coined the term "symbolic interaction."
• Individuals create and maintain social systems through interaction with other people
• Erving Goffman studied total institutions (prisons, boarding schools), observing how they regulate and control residents.

Symbolic Interactionism (Continued):

• Symbolic interactionism studies the daily social interactions and meaning systems of individuals in small group settings instead of larger societal structures

Feminist Theory

• Feminist theories stem from conflict theory, focusing on systemic discrimination against women.
• Key figures are Mary Wollstonecraft and Harriet Martineau.
• Early feminist analysts highlighted women's roles in society.
• Key concepts include standpoint theory, which argues knowledge is developed based on perspectives, and discrimination within the academic community

Feminist Theory (Continued)

• Feminists analyzed how the world was largely constructed based on male perspectives.

Feminist Theory (Continued)

• Dorothy Smith developed standpoint theory to address gender-based discrimination in academia.
• She argues for recognizing particular lived experiences and standpoints in knowledge creation.
• Different waves of feminism are noted, including campaigns for civil rights, focusing on equality in different arenas, and recognizing marginalized groups.

Postmodern Theory

• Postmodern theory includes diverse voices, emphasizing the representation and perspectives of marginalized groups often overlooked in powerful social structures and norms.
• Key figure is Michel Foucault. His concept of discourse refers to the various ways that groups speak about reality, recognizing the influence power plays.
• Discourses and totalitarian discourses are central to understanding how power functions and shapes social interactions.

Sociology by Audience

• Sociology can be categorized based on its intended audience, including professional, critical, policy, and public sociology.

Professional Sociology

• Professional sociology generates highly specific information, often technical and specialized.
• It's typically aimed at academic and professional readers with the goal of applying research to real-world issues.

Critical Sociology

• Critical sociology aims to address sociological questions, debates, and topics in a conscious way, recognizing the possibility for social improvement to serve as a catalyst for change.
• The goal is making sure societal implications are addressed, and not losing sight of the goals of sociological inquiry (like encouraging meaningful social change)

Policy Sociology

• Policy sociology generates data for policymakers to make policy decisions.
• Sociologists assist policymakers with evidence-based decisions in education, healthcare, and social welfare, as well as other domains.

Public Sociology

• Public sociology strives to make sociology accessible to the public by employing clear language and engaging with various groups beyond academic and professional circles.
• For example: C. Wright Mills was a major figure in trying to bring sociological ideas into the broader public domain, helping various groups understand society in a way that is accessible to them.

Conclusion

• Sociology is a wide-ranging field encompassing many different social issues. The core of sociology is the study of human interactions in society.
• Sociology is distinct but interconnected with other fields.
• Sociological knowledge benefits everyone.

Optional Introductory Reflection

• Reflect on a personal issue and how societal structures and forces contribute to or exacerbate it. Analyze how a "personal" issue is also a social problem and consider the structural forces and social factors influencing it.