Understanding Human Behavior Through Sociology

Whereas in recent decades major strides toward gender equality have been made, sociologists are quick to point out that much remains to be done if inequalities in the United States are ever to be eliminated. Behind much of the inequalities seen in education, the workplace, and politics is sexism, or prejudice and discrimination because of gender. Fundamental to sexism is the assumption that men are superior to women.

Everyone in the world has a theory about why something happens or how it happens, but in sociology there are many different types of theories that often contradict each other. Theory is defined as “a statement of how and why specific facts are related” (Macionis, 2013). Most theories explain why people act in certain ways and explains why a person in a group may act different than someone that is alone. When building sociological theories most sociologist ask their selves two different questions: “What issues should we study?” and “How should we connect the facts?” (Macionis, 2013). By answering these questions the sociologist is led to a road map, or a theoretical approach. Theoretical approach is described as “a basic image of society that

Sociology is the study of groups of people and how society interacts with them. There are many people out there that have done research or contributed in some way to sociology. Not just on people, but things like religions, countries, genders, race, and many more. Many things play in the role to form us and our society. Here in America, we have Trump as our president and we eat burgers and french fries, but over in japan they grow lots of their own food and eat it like potatoes with vegetables and chicken. Different things happen around the world and we just can’t seem to think there is other things out there than what we just do or what we call ourselves and so forth. We don’t think about how our society affects us and how we affect society.

Dichotomies among dominant and subordinate groups in society have been devised to create advantages for the dominant groups in society. These dichotomies are necessary to maintain the structural power of the dominant group (Hackman, 2013), and one dichotomy in society is based on gender. For the social category of gender, the men are the dominant group, and women and transgender people are the subordinate group (Kirk & Okazawa-Rey, 2013). Hence, the dominant group of men creates a system of sexism, which “serves to privilege men, subordinate women, denigrate women-identified values and practices, enforce male dominance and control, and reinforce forms of masculinity that are dehumanizing and damaging to men” (Botkin, Jones, & Kachwaha,

Inequality between different groups of people within the United States is concerning for many sociologists and society in general. One of the main inequalities throughout the United States is gender inequality. Gender inequity is found in all past and present societies. It takes the form of patriarchy. From the patriarchal point of view, gender inequality can be traced back to biological differences in early societies (“Steven Goldberg on Patriarchy” 2006). This inequality is present in society through many different forms, including job segregation, the gender pay gap, and a great difference in women’s political representation (Joan Acker, 1989).

The United States has overcome many challenges as it grows; however, it is still far from perfect. One main idea that still exists is social inequality, specifically racial, ethnic, and gender. Before I begin I want to define the three terms I presented above. Ethnicity is “the cultural values and norms that distinguish the members of a given group from others “ (Giddens et al. 293). Race is the “differences in human physical characteristics used to categorize large numbers of individuals” (Giddens et al 293). Lastly, is gender, which is the “social expectations about behavior regarded as appropriate for the members of each sex. Genders refers not to the physical attributes distinguishing men and women but to socially formed traits of masculinity

"Live your life at the point of impact, moving at the speed of life, we are bound to collide with each other." A sociological concept is a way sociologists develop a certain and unique way for understanding the world around us because of one 's specialized training. How one approaches society leads to making different types of discoveries that some to various conclusions. These individual perspectives can tell one something about what one is trying to understand. A sociological concept is affected by the personal experiences of the sociologist, his or her interests, abilities, opportunities, and the specific historical circumstances. It is the guiding principal that attempts to explain and predict the social world in which we live.

During my time as an undergraduate, I majored in philosophy but intentionally selected courses that would further my knowledge on my range of interests in social justice and law. As I started to engage and learn about theories of intersectionality, social and structural inequalities and constructs, I grew angry at the world we have created for ourselves to live in. I understood that the injustices imposed on people at the dangerous intersections of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, and ability are frequent and widespread. The oppressive forces that have allowed for the creation of such injustices have not only routinely excluded and silenced the voices of many groups of people, but have destroyed countless lives.

According to the guidelines, a program in Social Theory, Social Structure and Change examines the “interaction of social, political and economic structures and processes while learning how they affect the human experience (Undergraduate Areas of Study, n.d.).” I have decided to focus on issues concerning social justice in contemporary U.S. society, such that I might be better able to work to develop and implement programs that address these

This suggests that sociologists are more concerned in the way society segregates men and women to explain why gender inequalities occur and how changes can be made in order to make society a institute that is bases on each individual being treated equal regardless of age, sex or gender.

Throughout history we have made great strides towards gender equality but problems with sexism and discrimination still remain. In America, many people assumed that men and women were biologically different and should have different responsibilities. When the agriculture time was in effect, the women would have different jobs from the men. For an example, the men worked and brought home the essentials, and the women would stay at home, complete house duties and watch the children. These social constraints and guides become moral obligations to obey (Allen, p.199). According to Durkheim, “a group is moral if its behaviors, beliefs, feelings, speech, and styles, are controlled by strong group norms and viewed in terms as right or wrong” (Allen, p.131). This was the behavior that was supported by many people. It was a social fact and not argued to be changed. According the Durkheim, social facts are sui generis (Allen, p.199). Social facts are ways of acting and thinking, they embrace beliefs, practices, which eventually crystallize and limit the possible forms of individuals' actions and forms of consciousness (Allen, p.199).

When it comes to the topic of social problems, most of us will readily agree that the United States has its fair share of issues. Where this agreement usually ends, however, surrounds the question of where these problems originate. Whereas some are convinced that it is an individual’s problem, others maintain that it is the system-based issue (Eitzen et al., 12). Through the use of Social Problems by D. Stanley Eitzen et al. throughout this course, the authors discuss the causes and solutions of social problems such as the inequality towards sexual orientation, gender, race and poverty, from a systemic perspective. Although I agree with the author’s systemic view on those issues, I cannot fully accept putting blame solely on our social

Each year, millions of babies are born into families, not yet knowing what their lives will bring. Babies are born as male or female, as well as transgendered, bisexual, gay and lesbian. All are born into different racial and ethnic backgrounds, some of which are White, African, Asian, Hispanic, Chinese and many more. Born into a class or cast systems unknowing of the challenges yet to come and the stratifications they will face. No matter which factors these babies may be born into, each and every one will face some sort of stratification and inequality based on their society, and the way they are raised within it. Sexual orientation is just one factor of inequality in our culture, and I will discuss here how it affects job stratification and economic placement.

The authors of Race, Gender, Sexuality & Social Class emphasize the fact that the four systems of social inequality- race, gender, class and sexuality- are all socially constructed. Society has created social norms, and anything that goes against the perceived norms are frowned upon. The authors acknowledge that social expectations and arrangements have led the subordinate groups to lack access to information and resources that dominant groups control. (Ferguson 8). Specifically, members of oppressed groups lack access to medical care and education and experience high unemployment and poverty rates. As Ferguson points out, society has distorted or excluded the

In our society today, people still belittle women and treat them like second-class citizens. Women are just as important as men, if not better, and should be treated equally in society. I do acknowledge the fact that we are living in a heternormative society put upon us in the United States. As a heterosexual male, I see the bias, prejudice, and injustice that go toward gays, lesbians, transgenders, and woman. Even though some say we are moving into a post-feminism era, there is still much that needs to be addressed and changed. Things such as equal pay for equal work, workplace discrimination, and male generic language are some problems just to name a few. According to Gendered Lives, “sex discrimination is no longer a problem in the workplace, but they can’t explain why women earn less than men for equivalent jobs” (2011). In addition, popular politicians such as Barbara Boxer and Hillary Clinton “are evidence” that the playing field in politics is now level, but they don’t seem to realize that women only hold 17% of seats in the Senate and House of Representatives (Bennetts, 2012).