Soc Final Exam PDF

Does the sexual division of labor reinforce women's status of "Other"? How would Simone de Beauvoir challenge women's position in the sexual division of labor? To answer this question, explain what the sexual division of labor is and how Simone de Beauvoir understood women's role of "Other". (WEEK10...

Does the sexual division of labor reinforce women's status of "Other"? How would Simone de Beauvoir challenge women's position in the sexual division of labor? To answer this question, explain what the sexual division of labor is and how Simone de Beauvoir understood women's role of "Other". (WEEK10) The sexual division of labor refers to the way tasks and roles are divided based on gender. Women are traditionally associated with the private sphere, doing reproductive labor like caring for children, elderly, and maintaining homes, while men dominate the public sphere, engaging in paid work and politics. This division is often justified by the idea that women are \"naturally\" suited for caregiving, rooted in biological differences. However, these roles have been shaped by social and historical forces, not biology alone. Despite modern changes like women entering the workforce and gaining legal rights, they still bear the burden of combining productive and reproductive labor, making them economically subordinate and culturally seen as inferior to men. Simone de Beauvoir challenges this setup in *The Second Sex*. She explains how women are positioned as \"Other,\" defined not by their actions or independence but in relation to men, who are considered the default or "neutral." While men are seen as subjects---free, autonomous beings---women are pressured to embrace their role as objects or \"things.\" This makes it tempting for women to flee their freedom by accepting societal roles like homemaking and motherhood as their primary identities. For de Beauvoir, this reflects women's oppression, which dehumanizes them by limiting their freedom and defining them by biological functions rather than by individual actions. De Beauvoir would argue against the sexual division of labor by rejecting the idea that caregiving is women's \"natural\" role. She would emphasize that being a woman is not about biology but about actions and social conditions. Women can transcend societal expectations by asserting their freedom and resisting the notion that they belong in the private sphere. For her, achieving true gender equality means dismantling the structures that maintain women's dependence and positioning as Other. 2. Allan Greer argues that settler colonialism is not an event but a structure. What does he mean by a "structure"? In what way is extractivism the latest phase of settler colonialism? To answer this question, you must define settler colonialism and explain how it continues to operate through extractive industries. (WEEK 11) Allan Greer argues that settler colonialism is not an event but a structure. By \"structure,\" he means that it is not a single moment in history, like when Europeans first arrived in places like Canada or Australia, but an ongoing system that shapes social and material relationships. This structure organizes society by continuously dispossessing Indigenous peoples of their land and resources while benefiting settlers. Settler colonialism involves not just physical conquest but also laws, policies, and cultural practices that reinforce this system over time. For example, reservations are a structural tool that physically separates Indigenous populations and undermines their political and social connections. Greer highlights that this system still exists today because Indigenous dispossession remains central to how settler-colonial societies operate. Greer also connects settler colonialism to extractivism, which he calls its latest phase. Extractivism refers to the exploitation of natural resources, like oil, gas, and minerals, in ways that harm the environment and Indigenous communities. This phase continues the process of dispossession because extractive industries often target Indigenous lands for resource extraction without their consent. For instance, building pipelines through Indigenous territories reflects the same structural logic of settler colonialism: removing Indigenous peoples from their land or ignoring their claims to it to profit settlers and corporations. Greer sees extractivism as a modern expression of the same goals settlers had historically---taking land and resources for economic gain. While the methods may differ (less direct violence, more use of legal and economic tools), the outcomes are similar. Settler states still depend on the dispossession of Indigenous lands, now framed as economic \"development.\" This shows how settler colonialism evolves over time but remains deeply embedded in the structures of modern society. 3. Wallerstein's world-systems analysis was a response to the development challenges in Third World countries. Why are Third World countries unable to achieve the level of "development" characteristic of First World countries? Answer this question through the idea of the world-economy (and the different structural positions connected to it). Use the documentary Controlling Interests: The World of the Multinational Corporation to illustrate your answer. (WEEK 12) NOOOOOOOOO Wallerstein's world-systems analysis explains why Third World countries struggle to achieve the level of development seen in First World countries by examining the structure of the world-economy. He divides the world into three zones: core, periphery, and semi-periphery. These zones are interdependent, but the relationship between them is unequal. The core countries, like those in the West, dominate global capitalism by controlling trade and exploiting the resources and labor of peripheral countries, which include most of the Third World. The semi-periphery acts as an intermediate zone, benefiting slightly from the core while still exploiting the periphery. Development, in Wallerstein's view, isn't something that happens independently in each nation. Instead, it's tied to the global system of unequal exchange established during European expansion in the 16th century. Peripheral countries supply cheap labor and raw materials to the core, while the core produces high-value goods and controls global finance. This flow of resources keeps the periphery dependent and underdeveloped. The documentary *Controlling Interests* shows how multinational corporations reinforce this system. These corporations, often based in core countries, dominate peripheral economies by extracting profits and paying low wages. They prioritize their own financial interests over local development, leaving Third World nations unable to build self-sufficient economies or compete globally. Wallerstein rejects modernization theory's claim that all countries can follow the same path to development. He argues that this perspective ignores the historical and structural realities of global capitalism. Development in the core depends on the underdevelopment of the periphery, meaning the current world-economy is designed to maintain inequality. Ultimately, Wallerstein's analysis reveals that the challenges faced by Third World countries are deeply rooted in a global system that prioritizes profits for the core over true global development. 4. What are, according to Ulrich Beck, "manufactured risks", and how do manufactured risks endanger people's health, the environment, property and commercial interests? Answer this question through the idea of the "boomerang effect". (WEEK 13) According to Ulrich Beck, "manufactured risks" are risks created by human actions, especially through industrial, technological, and economic modernization. Unlike natural risks like drought or famine, manufactured risks stem from decisions made by people, corporations, and governments. Examples include pollution, chemical contamination, and the long-term effects of industrial activities. These risks are invisible and require scientific tools and expert judgment to detect, making them hard to recognize until they cause harm. Manufactured risks endanger health, the environment, property, and commercial interests through what Beck calls the "boomerang effect." This concept highlights how risks created by modernization eventually affect everyone, even the powerful who initially benefit. For instance, pollutants released into the environment might accumulate in the food chain, impacting both the poor and the wealthy. While wealthier individuals can avoid some risks, such as by living in cleaner areas or accessing better healthcare, risks like smog or climate change cannot be entirely escaped. They strike indiscriminately, showing their \"democratic\" nature. The boomerang effect also impacts property and profits. Industries that damage ecosystems may face ecological expropriation, where their activities lead to the destruction of resources they rely on, reducing land value and threatening future economic growth. For example, intensive farming practices may improve yields temporarily but degrade soil fertility over time, threatening agriculture itself. Beck emphasizes that these risks are a product of globalization and modern industry. While they disproportionately affect poorer countries---often turned into dumping grounds for hazardous industries---the consequences eventually return to wealthier nations through global systems like trade and food supply. The boomerang effect demonstrates that no one can remain completely shielded from the risks they create, forcing society to rethink its priorities and the true costs of \"progress.\"