Module 1 SOCI 100: Understanding The Sociological Imagination FALL 2024 PDF

MODULE ONE UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION MODULE ONE Module One Objectives (no assigned reading) learn what sociology is identify key concepts/ideas ‘sampling’ sociology understand role of social factors origins/history of sociology ‘animals and human societies CLICK ON ICO...

MODULE ONE UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION MODULE ONE Module One Objectives (no assigned reading) learn what sociology is identify key concepts/ideas ‘sampling’ sociology understand role of social factors origins/history of sociology ‘animals and human societies CLICK ON ICON develop critical thinking skills BELOW FOR AUDIO MODULE ONE what is sociology? study of human groups & their interactions and complex interconnections. MODULE ONE sociological perspective A view of society based on the dynamic relationships between individuals and the larger society. MODULE ONE all social interactions and behaviours, social institutions, and social processes are of interest. MODULE ONE sociologists develop areas of research focus. e.g. socialization, culture, health and illness, gender, sex, religion, sport, politics and government……..etc. sociologists develop sociological theories to understand the topic of study. MODULE ONE C. Wright Mills (1916-1962). MODULE ONE personal troubles personal challenges requiring individual solutions. social issues challenges caused by larger social factors that require collective solutions. MODULE ONE quality of mind Mill’s term for the ability to view personal circumstance within a social context. MODULE ONE sociological imagination Mill’s term for the ability to perceive how dynamic social forces influence individual lives. MODULE ONE the sociological imagination connects the social context of personal & public events. for example, depression, homelessness etc. MODULE ONE cheerful robots people who are unable or unwilling to see the social world as it truly exists. --original context 1950s—American dream, advertising, new products/lifestyle. Mills: people unquestioningly accept the ‘dream’ --increased materialism --today? much worse. MODULE ONE e.g. fast fashion (class discussion on) https://observer.com/2022/12/after-a-uk-documentary- revealed-abuses-shein-says-it-will-spend-15-million- improving-labor-conditions/ MODULE ONE Peter Berger (1929-2017) ‘Institutions provide procedures through which human conduct is patterned, compelled to go, in grooves deemed desirable by society. And this trick is performed by making these grooves appear to the individual as the only possible ones.’ MODULE ONE Berger argues that ‘the first wisdom of sociology is this – things are not what they seem… Social reality turns out to have many layers of meaning. The discovery of each new layer changes the perception of the whole’ (Berger, 1963). MODULE ONE seeing the general in the particular look at seemingly unique events (particular) & recognize larger (general) features involved. e.g. homelessness. MODULE ONE Optional additional sources: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/5170- homelessness-how-does-it-happen https://www.homelesshub.ca/blog/employment- homelessness#:~:text=The%20stereotype%20that%2 0all%20homeless,or%20work%20in%20some%20cap acity. https://pnhp.org/news/medical-causes-of-home- mortgage-foreclosures/ MODULE ONE seeing the strange in the familiar the process of addressing (‘seeing’) how odd and even complex some of our social conventions are. This process allows us to understand how developments in society shape our personal, individual choices. MODULE ONE these concepts (and others) contribute to sociological thinking.  MODULE ONE WHAT MAKES YOU, YOU? ENGAGING THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION. MODULE ONE agency the ability of individuals to act independently and make their own choices. MODULE ONE structure relatively stable social arrangements that influence the choices and opportunities available to individuals. e.g. social institutions: education, government, religion, economy, family etc. MODULE ONE 5 key social factors i. minority status ethnic minority physical or mental disabilities or challenges. sexual minority. MODULE ONE ii. gender role of patriarchy whereby men control and/or have greater access to social, political and economic resources. MODULE ONE iii.socio-economic status (SES) income level education level occupation area of residence MODULE ONE ascribed status attributes—advantages and disadvantages— assigned at birth e.g. family income level MODULE ONE achieved status attributes developed throughout life as a result of effort and skill. e.g. grades on this course. STEPHEN KING: BORN POOR; NET WORTH $500 MILLION MODULE ONE iv. family structure higher income associated with two parent families. → influences wellbeing. MODULE ONE v. urban vs. rural access/exposure to: healthcare entertainment cultural events diversity (e.g. ethnic, religious, gender etc). MODULE ONE THE ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGY Three Revolutions 16th -19th centuries scientific political industrial MODULE ONE I. SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION (1600s-1800s) natural sciences. ISAAC NEWTON (1642- 1726) reason, experience and observation. challenged religion MODULE ONE Auguste Comte (1798-1857) ‘father’ of sociology. application of natural sciences to social world. proposed that human thinking changes over time (advances of the mind). MODULE ONE Comte’s Law of Three Stages i. Theological Stage human ancestors to Middle Ages religious outlook: the world is an expression of God. supernatural explanations. MODULE ONE ii. Metaphysical Stage Renaissance up to Enlightenment period of questioning and challenging the Church. insights, self-reflection could explain the world. MODULE ONE iii. Positive Stage from Enlightenment on rules of observation, experimentation and logic. scientific explanations. sociologists would develop a science of society CHARLES DARWIN (1809-1882) MODULE ONE positivism theoretical approach that considers all understanding to be based on scientific inquiry. MODULE ONE Limitations of Comte’s Law of Three Stages only three stages? assumes we’ve achieved everything already. overly simplistic; competing view exist simultaneously. does not account for subjective experience. MODULE ONE II. POLITICAL REVOLUTIONS many philosophers inspired new ways of seeing society. →individual rights →importance of democratic principles. →shift away from divine right of kings →social responsibility →equality of opportunity MODULE ONE materialised in challenges to tradition… MODULE ONE American Revolution (1776) & French Revolution (1789). →both led to large scale social change MODULE ONE III. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION But first, early economies and societies: hunting and gathering --most of modern human history (i.e. 50,000 yrs). small mobile groups lightly exploit food resources for immediate consumption. MODULE ONE then, horticulturalism (approx 12,000 yrs ago) ◦ domestication of some animals and plants. ◦ production of surplus. ◦ stay in one area for longer periods. ◦ tool development. MODULE ONE and, pastoralism--same time frame tending herds of animals especially in Asia & Africa. usually nomadic. MODULE ONE Then between 1750 and 1850 in Great Britain… The emergence of the Industrial Revolution. changed almost all aspects of life. MODULE ONE Critical characteristics of the industrial revolution: rapid technological, economic and social changes. →development of the factory system. NEWCOMEN’S STEAM POWERED ATMOSPHERIC ENGINE MODULE ONE 2 key processes embody these characteristics i. industrialization shift from dependence on agriculture & handmade products to manufacturing industries. MODULE ONE ii. urbanization population shift from rural regions to the growing cities. MODULE ONE the industrial revolution created new social problems low wages poverty child labour MODULE ONE hazardous working and living conditions poor sanitation disease MODULE ONE rapid social change and new social problems inspired the sociological tradition. →examine nature of society & inequality. →how could these social issues be addressed? MODULE ONE Tackling Social Problems and Fostering Change Lewis Hine (1874-1940) American Sociologist and Photographer. (video and discussion in class) MODULE ONE SOCIOLOGY IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE globalization a worldwide process involving the production, distribution and consumption of technological, economic and sociocultural goods and services. MODULE ONE sociologists examine the gross inequalities stemming from the dominance of capitalism in the global economy. divide between the global north and global south. --developed countries own 80% of global resources. --exploitation of labour in developing nations MODULE ONE treadmill of production approach that asserts that capitalism’s endless growth and needs are at odds with protecting the environment (and people). MODULE ONE capitalism’s growth is insatiable, but the earth’s resources are finite. alternatives? e.g. triple bottom line model profit, people, and planet MODULE ONE profit--still make money! (traditional ‘bottom line’) people--social responsibility (‘people account’) planet--environmental responsibility (‘planet account’) MODULE ONE Speaking of the planet, we’re not it’s only inhabitants: Animals and Human Societies Critical Animal Studies at Brock University challenges existing systems of: MODULE ONE animal exploitation and oppression deconstructs the animal human binary rejects speciesism and anthropocentrism MODULE ONE speciesism the practice of privileging humans over other animals. Peter Singer: Animal Liberation (1975) All Animals are Equal (1989) MODULE ONE “The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? But rather, Can they suffer?” --Jeremy Bentham (18th C) “All the arguments to prove man's superiority cannot shatter this hard fact: in suffering the animals are our equals.” --Peter Singer (20th C) MODULE ONE anthropocentrism the view that human beings are separate from, and above, the rest of nature. PALM OIL INDUSTRY IVORY TRADE E MODULE ONE Final comments/