Social constructionism

presence of social class division throughout society, whereby working class people consistently receive worse treatment across the range of services in housing, education and health (Moore, 2008,…

once thriving samurai class was disbanded in 1876 and class equality was established. In 1872 Japanese efforts grew stronger as under a system of conscription peasants were allowed to become part of the modernization process. All men of the various social classes were required to give three years of military service. By the 1890’s, Japan became militarily capable for territorial expansion and giving herself the power of an imperial state. This can be seen when Britain and Japan formed an…

Bourdieu stresses the importance in reflexivity while conducting social research. The sociologist must at all times be aware of their own habitus, their position of thought and in life and how bringing this to research will affect the research outcome. According to Bourdieu it is impossible for our objectivity to remain unbiased and unprejudiced due to our preconceived habitus. It is only by maintaining such a continual vigilance that the sociologists can spot themselves in the act of…

socialisation. Socialisation is talking to other people. There are two types; primary socialisation which occurs in the family and is the first form of socialisation encountered, and secondary socialisation which progresses beyond the family in various social settings such as nursery, school, and work. Therefore, norms (how people are expected to behave) are created. People are expected to have the right values and beliefs. Values are things that we believe to be important. For example, someone…

In 1976 , the wealthiest one percent of Americans owned 19% of all the private material wealth in the US Today, they own over 40% of all wealth. Their share now exceeds the wealth owned by the bottom 92% of the US population combined. (Edward N. Wolff, Top Heavy: A Study of Increasing Inequality in America Twentieth Century Fund: 1995). From 1976 till the present , the power of the wealthy has increased greatly meaning their power has increased as well. When a certain group constantly gains…

primary and secondary. The primary agents of socialization enforce these unofficial rules of society, they are the family and our peer groups. This is how, as Durkheim claimed the moral codes are implanted. The Family functions as an institution of social control by socializing individuals as to accepted and expected norms, values and standards of behaviour of the wider society. If we conform we are praised, but if we deviate from these accepted values we are punished. This punishment may take…

South Boston from the eyes of Good Will Hunting Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s first production Good Will Hunting, is a movie about an orphaned teenager from South Boston struggling to stay out of jail. unbenounced to most, Will is a mathematical genius, but has meager motivation to showcase his talents to the world. South Boston has harbored Will from seeking opportunities to his genius and plagued him with low expectations that surround him. The movie portrays low class struggles of South…

a political activist around the time of the Industrial Revolution (Scott & Marshall, 2009:443). His political ideas were often rejected, but his work often had real sociological insight as his writing was based in the economics within society its’ social institutions (Giddens, 2009:18). His work as a whole was focused on conflict, centered around class divisions and relations, and as such much of his work is based in capitalism, the division of labour and its effect on the individual. Marx saw…

Society is a collection of individuals living in an ordered community that provides protection for all who reside in it. However, individuals do not directly consent to this system, but rather give tacit consent. As such, the question must be asked: “What was the period called before tacit consent was present in society?” Many political philosophers, such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean Jacques Rousseau have called the period before society “the state of nature.” Hobbes, Locke, and…

Easy access to firearms is an increasingly serious threat to U.S. public safety and will remain so in the future if gun control is not a main concern for the federal government. The current loose regulation of guns is not enough to protect Americans citizens, as evidenced by the increase in gun related crimes in the United States. Congress should promptly approve President Obama’s proposal for a new assault weapons ban and a more stringent system of background checks for gun purchasers.…