The sociological perspective - Essay Example

THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE Do you think that sociologist should try to reform society or try to study it dispassionately? This passion of most sociologists to reform society and the social structure is unavoidable because of their drive to improve civilization based from their vast awareness and knowledge about it. However, it is better for them to passively observe and let humanity learn from the lessons in life. They can influence harmony and status quo by recommending theories that promotes preservation of society and social order, however I don’t agree that they should impose change when it is uncalled for. (Orenstein 3). 2. Of the three theoretical perspectives, which one would you prefer to use if you were a sociologist? why? Sociologists evaluate social occurrences at different levels and from different standpoints. Interpretations and generalizations are based on the micro level analysis, or the study of specific events or small social pattern, and on the macro level, or the analysis of large social patterns. Moreover, modern sociologists provided a framework to conceptualize the fundamentals of society through theoretical perspectives. a. Symbolic interactionist perspective- focuses in the use of symbols and face to face interactions. It considers the meaning of symbols and how they affect our everyday lives. b. Functionalist perspective- deals with the association between the fragments of society and the functionality of these aspects. It offers that each trait of the social order is interdependent and contributes to the entire functioning of the society c. Conflict theory- emphases on the negative and the unstable nature of society and encourages social change. Instead of focusing on maintaining social order, this theory promotes oppression of the poor and weak in order to force a social revolution by the rich and powerful (Orenstein 3-5). Among the three theories, the functionalist perspective is favorable as it upholds stability, order and productivity. Although it doesn’t promote active social change, it instead centers on social cohesion and solidarity in order to achieve the best for the society. 3. considering the macro-and micro-level approaches in sociology, which one do you think better explains social life? why? The functionalist perspective also best describes social life in the macro level approach since it involves the relationship between the function of small parts and the functions of the whole. In everyday life, people in the society are interdependent to each other and to the institutions that perform different roles. If one institution fails to deliver, then there will be adverse effect to the functionality of the others which is true in the actual setting. CULTURE 1. Do you favor ethnocentrism or cultural relativism? Explain your position.  From a cultural perspective, cultural relativism is the best approach to cultural communication. Unlike ethnocentrism which is reduced to the sum of similar individuals, cultural relativism celebrates recognition and acceptance of diversity. According to Tat and Popenici, “there is no normative truth, but only deeply rooted customs which vary to one place to another, customs which give birth to norms and values that are perpetuated through socialization.” (p. 219). Hence, members of different cultures should respect each other’s principles and customs even if some of those are deemed unacceptable or taboo. 2. Do you think that the language change in Miami, Florida, indicates the future of the United States? why or why not? The tolerance and acceptance to diversity is best seen in present day Miami, Florida. Most of the people there are using Spanish as their primary language. This change in language use is not surprising considering that most of the people residing in the area came from Hispanic or South American countries. However, I don’t think that this will actually change the future of the United States. Even if there are now several different languages spoken, English is still the main form of language that everybody uses to communicate. There may be diverse levels of English comprehension based on their subculture or ethnicity, but there’s still one universal language that everybody follows. 3. Are you a member of any subcultures? Which one(s)? Why do you think that your group is a subculture? What is your group's relationship to the mainstream culture? In sociology, a subculture is defined as a group of people with a different ethos which separates them from the larger ethos to which they are also part of. More so, its members are identified through a distinguishing and symbolic use of style, mannerism and association with territories, among others. Being a black American, I was hesitant at first to consider that my ethnicity follows a stereotype in fashion or music. Yes, it may influence a person but it won’t necessarily mean that people of the same color will automatically acquire such preferences. Yet, it is evident that subcultures arise within the black culture itself (Negus). HOW SOCIOLOGISTS DO RESEARCH 1. Should sociologist be allowed to do research on this reputable or disapproved behavior? On illegal behavior Why or why not? It will be beneficial if sociologists will conduct further studies about the black American subculture in order to ensure a better understanding regarding this concern through sociological research. Conducting researches especially on topics that are not widely popular, as well as those that are regarded as illegal or disapproved behavior will benefit us in comprehending the roots of such manners. 2. Why are the differences between good and bad sociological research? How can biases be avoided? Using an appropriate methodology in conducting the study is essential in order to avoid biases and erroneous interpretation, thus coming up with a bad research. On the other hand, a good sociological research can be measured by the significance of the questions presented and the methodology used to answer them (Kearl). 3. Is it right or ethical for sociologists to not identify themselves when they do research? To misrepresent themselves? What if identifying themselves as researchers will destroy their access to a research setting or to informants? Sometimes, it is easier for a sociologist to misrepresent himself in order to gain truthful data from respondents. According to Goode, “certain kinds of deception are necessary to gather certain data in certain settings.” (p. 11). Though traditionally deemed unethical, deliberate misrepresentation by sociologists in conducting researches is now acceptable. GLOBAL STRATIFICATION 1. How do slavery, caste, and class systems of social stratification differ? In sociology, social stratification is defined as the "classification of persons into groups based on shared socio-economic conditions ... a relational set of inequalities with economic, social, political and ideological dimensions." (Barker 436). a. Slavery- form of stratification where people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. It is attributed to human cruelty under a system that takes away any right or privilege of a human being. b. Caste system- a hereditary and unbounded. It excludes no one, with each caste possessing a distinctive way of life and norms exclusive for each class. c. Class system- involves of individuals who share a common situation in the economy. It can be distinguished as the privileged class or wealthy people with distinctive lifestyles, the middle class or the public servants, professionals and traders that can afford education and domestic help from their limited income, and the working class or those who are engaged in manual labor or routine unskilled work (Shibutani 184-185). 2. Why is social stratification universal? It is a universal way of life for every culture has a version of ranking or labeling of people based on certain characteristics. 3. How do elites maintain stratification (keep themselves in power)? The downside of stratification is that the ranking of people may be passed on to their offspring and therefore, they will also be considered to possess certain trait which they don’t have in actuality. This is the reason why elites maintain stratification over the years. 4. What shifts in global stratification seems to be taking place? Why?  There is a significant shift in class stratification that can be observed today due to the worldwide campaign of automation. New criteria may be introduced in the future which will categorize groups of people as knowledgeable in technology and those who are not. (Shibutani 201-202) RACE AND ETHNICITY 1. How many races do your friend or family thinks there are? Do they think that one race is superior to the others? What do you think their reaction would be to the sociological position that racial categories are primarily social? Most of my friends can immediately think of three to five races of humankind such as White, Black, Latinos and Asian but consider all of them equal. They would probably be surprised when I tell them that racial categories are primary social. 2. A hundred years ago socialist W.E.B Dubois said, "The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line- the relation of the darker to the lighter races." Why do you think that the color line remains one the most volatile topics facing the nation?  Color line remains one of the most volatile topics facing the nation which is inevitable for the reason that “skin color is assumed to be synonymous with racial distinctions. That is, skin color is not just a trait, but it is the trait which defines between population differences.” (Khan). This is the widely misconception that we still need to change in the 21st century. There is only one race, which is the human race, and it is only subdivided by ethnic groups. Awareness and education is the key to finally put an end to the use of race as a socially constructed concept. 3. If you were appointed head of the U.S Civil service Commission, what policies would you propose to reduce racial-ethnic strife in the United States? explain the sociological principles that might give your proposals a higher chance of success  If I will have the opportunity to be appointed as head of the U.S Civil Service Commission, I will definitely propose policies to reduce racial-ethnic strife in the United States such as devising effective intervention programs to eliminate occurrences of racial conflict entirely or to eliminate the bases of racism. For instance, the word ‘race’ and other negative description must be dropped when describing the ethnicity or social classification of a person. This idea is supported by the symbolic interactionist perspective where people are considered to act according to their subjective interpretation of symbols. Verbal communication is considered as symbols, thus the words that we use in conversing have a strong impact on our being once interpreted. When the use of politically incorrect connotations of race is eliminated, then the negative racial attitudes will be avoided, if not abolished (Orenstein 3). SOCIAL CLASS IN THE UNITED STATES 1. The belief that the United States is the land of opportunity draws millions of legal and illegal residents to the United States each year. How do you the material in this chapter support or undermine this belief? United States is considered as a land of opportunity and is still drawing a lot of immigrants from all over the world. Amidst the decline in the economy in the past three decades and the recent widespread job loss, the demographic transformation on America in a competitive world saves it from losing its edge (Meyerson). 2. How does social class impact your life? Since social stratification is not popular in America, each individual is given equal rights and opportunities. However, having a debt free life and a stable job with adequate salary to provide the necessities of the family are essential to achieve a comfortable life nowadays. 3. What social mobility has your own family experienced? In what ways has it affected your life?  With the weak economy, a lot of families, including ours, are now experiencing a shift to lower preferences in order to survive. We need to work hard, tighten our budget, formulate efficient ways to save resources and look forward to a stable future. Works Cited Barker, Chris. Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice. n.d. Web. 17 June 2012. Goode, Erich. “The Ethics of Deception in Social Research: A Case Study”. Qualitative Sociology: 11-33. Vol. 19, No. 1. 1996. Print. Kearl, Michael. The Research Paper. 2004. Web. 16 June 2012. Khan, Razib. Skin Color is Not Race. Discover Magazine. 14 May 2009. Web. 17 Jun 2012. Meyerson, Harold. No Longer the Land of Opportunity. The Washington Post Online. n.d. Web. 17 Jun 2012. Negus, Keith. Popular Music in Theory: An Introduction. n.d. Web. 17 Jun 2012. Orenstein, Ashley D. Sociological Theory: Classical Statements. 6th ed. Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Pearson Education. 2005. Print Romanian Philosophical Studies. Vol. 6. CRVP. 2008. Web. 17 Jun 2012.Tat, Alin & Popenici, Shibutani, Tamotsu. “Social Processes: An Introduction to Sociology”. Campus (Almeria). Vol. 325. University of California Press. 1986. Print. Stefan. “Romanian Philosophical Culture, Globalization, and Education”. Teeter, Bethany. A Sociological Perspective. University Readers. 2009. Web. 16 Jun 2012. Read More