sociology

1. PERSPECTIVES

2. Three MainTheories
■ STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL = interlocking systems
■ CONFLICT = power struggles
■ SYMBOLIC INTERACTION = shared meanings

3. Structural
Functionalism
■ Society an organism
■ Manifest – Explicit & Clear Functions
■ Latent – Hidden functions
■ Could be dysfunctional and inviting change
■ ASK:What function does it serve?
EMILE DURKHEIM
TALCOTT PARSONS
Consider College Education
Training next generation
Latent function – delaying job market entry

4. Social Conflict
■ Hierarchies
■ How does society maintain these hierarchies
■ Lower levels can rebel/revolt causing social change
■ Ask:Who benefits?
KARL MARX
MAXWEBER
Consider College Education
Higher education, testing, admissions, construction
all big $$
Reinforces societal divisions
George W Bush went toYale so did George HW Bush

5. Symbolic Interaction
■ Shared meanings of symbols, language,
behavior
■ Meanings can change over time
■ ASK:What do others think it means?
GEORGE HERBERT
MEAD
ERVINGGOFFMAN
Consider College Education
■ Degree has symbolic value

7. Military Cut
Think about what? Who? Where? Why?
List what topics/questions each kind of
theorist ask.
Conflict: Where is the social inequality?
Functional: How does it contribute to social
stability?
Symbolic-Interaction: What are the shared
meanings?

8. Banned Books
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Mainstream voices
• “Moral” voices
• Keeps out stories of the
other
• Who’s calls for bans are
listened to?
Who Loses?
• Outsiders
Society benefits?
• Protects young readers
• Agreeing on the banned
reinforces group cohesion
Dysfunction?
Meanings?
• Changes over time what is
acceptable
• Used to be sex and Languge.
• Still that plus LGBT or
ethnically diverse views

9. Banned Books
Think about what?Who?Where?Why?
List what topics/questions each kind of
theorist ask.
Conflict: Where is the social inequality?
Functional: How does it contribute to social
stability?
Symbolic-Interaction: What are the shared
meanings?
CBS this MorningVIDEO

10. Banned Books
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Mainstream voices
• “Moral” voices
• Keeps out stories of the
other
• Who’s calls for bans are
listened to?
Who Loses?
• Outsiders
Society benefits?
• Protects young readers
• Agreeing on the banned
reinforces group cohesion
Dysfunction?
Meanings?
• Changes over time what is
acceptable
• Used to be sex and Languge.
• Still that plus LGBT or
ethnically diverse views

11. Start an interesting question list

12. Expensive
Weddings
Think about what?Who? Where? Why?
List what topics/questions each kind of theorist ask.
Conflict: Where is the social inequality?
Functional: How does it contribute to social stability?
Symbolic-Interaction: What are the shared
meanings?
VIDEO

13. ExpensiveWeddings
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Wedding Industry
• DeBeers and diamonds
• Prestige with beautiful
wedding
• Feminist perspective GIVING
bride away, still?
Who Loses?
• Those too poor for the
perfect wedding
• Those groups denied legal
marriage
Society benefits?
• Maintains wedding industry
• Reinforces the ‘specialness’
of marriage
• Reciprocal attendance
cements social bonds
• Reinforces family unity
Dysfunction?
• Overemphasizes wedding
over marriage
Meanings?
• Good = expensive
• Pinterest/Facebook
expectations
• Vows
• Personalized but just like
what seen online
• Bridezilla expectations

14. Pokemon Go
List what topics/questions each kind of
theorist ask.
Conflict: Where is the social inequality?
Functional: How does it contribute to social
stability?
Symbolic-Interaction: What are the shared
meanings?
VIDEO

15. Pokemon GO
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Corporate Game developers
• Phone companies
• App developers
Who Loses?
• Property owners
• Public spaces
• Those who are not welcome
in public spaces
Society benefits?
• Creates ‘common social
space’
• Shared social experience
Dysfunction?
• Public space cannot support
game – Lake Park
Meanings?
• Language understandable to
fellow players
• Cooperative game
• Shared rituals

16. Facebook
Think about what?Who?Where?Why?
List what topics/questions each kind of theorist
ask.
Conflict: Where is the social inequality?
Functional: How does it contribute to social
stability?
Symbolic-Interaction: What are the shared
meanings?
VIDEO
Picture: People are silhouetted as they pose
with mobile devices in front of a screen
projected with a Facebook logo, in this
picture illustration taken in Zenica
October 29, 2014 REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

17. Facebook
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Those with the most
followers
• Companies that collect data
• Alt news sources can be
distributed
Who Loses?
Society benefits?
Connections across the globe
between families and friends
Dysfunction?
• Time sink
• Loss of deeper connection
• Politics!
Meanings?
• Who likes and doesn’t like
• Who chooses what to share
• Facebook life vs real life

18. Baby Names
Think about what?Who?Where?Why?
List what topics/questions each kind of theorist
ask.
Conflict: Where is the social inequality?
Functional: How does it contribute to social
stability?
Symbolic-Interaction: What are the shared
meanings?
VIDEO

19. Baby names
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Those whose name signals
status
Who Loses?
• Those judged by an ethnic or
female name
Society benefits?
• Creates ‘common social
space’
• Shared social experience
Dysfunction?
• If knowing gender matters
than gender neutral names
cause dysfunction
Meanings?
• Confounds expectations
• Some considered inventive
others stupid
• Gender confusion/fluidity

20. Presidential
Debates
Think about what? Who? Where? Why?
List what questions each kind of theorist
ask?
Conflict VIDEO
Functional VIDEO
Symbolic-Interaction
AD examples DOG Whistle Body
Language

21. Political Debates
Conflict Function S-I
Who benefits?
• Two main parties
• Leading candidates
• TV stations (now)
Who loses?
• Third parties
Society benefits?
• Information for voters
• Moderated with questioners
• Gaeg
Dysfunctions?
• More theater than issues
Meanings?
• DogWhistle talk – on the
surface race-neutral but
heard as a race/ethnic
warning
• Interruptions
• Body language
• Code switching depending
on which group

22. Outliers, Chp 2
■ Compare notes
■ Compare summaries.
■ FOCUS: Quote lead in and explanation
■ Revise your summary
■ Consider your main agree/disagree