Introduction to Sociology - Test 2 Outlines and Essay Questions

Deviance

- What is the definition of deviance? What is the definition of a crime?


- What do functionalists regards as the positive and negative functions of deviance?


- What are the two key arguments of symbolic interactionists when it comes to deviance?


- What is meant by labeling theory?


- What is Sutherland’s theory about the cultural transmission of deviance?


- According to Becker, how do people become marijuana users?


- What has been the historical trend in violent crime rates since 1960? What has been the historical trend in property crime rates since 1960?


- How do property and violent crime rates in the U.S. compare to crime rates in other western industrialized countries?


- How many people are in prison in the United States?


- What is the conservative explanation for criminal behavior?




- According to conflict theorists, what are the reasons for the large number of poor and working class individuals in prison?




- In Chambliss’ ethnographic study, what are the key reasons why the “Roughnecks” are labeled as delinquents, but the “Saints” are not?

Gender

- What is main argument of structural functionalists about gender?

- What are the symbolic interactionists main arguments about gender?


- What are Kilbourne’s criticisms of the advertising industry?


- What is generally cited as the key difference between males and females when it comes to body image? What is “bigorexia”?


- According to Hall, what are the reasons for the increased adolescent male preoccupation with their body image?


- What is central argument of conflict theorists about gender?


- What is meant by the term “patriarchy”?


- Approximately, what percentage of women in the U.S. are victims of rape?


- What are the common myths about rape?

- What has been the trend in single and married women's employment over the last 40 years?


- What is the approximate size of the "gender gap" in earnings? (How much do women make as a percent of what men make?)


- What happens to the gender gap as women and men get older?

- According to contemporary structural functionalists, why is there a "gender gap" in earnings? i.e., what is the "human capital" explanation for the gender gap?


- According to conflict theorists, what are the main reasons for the gender gap?



- What is the earnings gap between never married men and never married women who are full-time workers?


SEXUALITY
- What does Seidman regard as the dominant “sexual ethos”/culture of intimacy” of the following eras?
- The Victorian era (1830-1890)

- The Modern Era (1890-1960) (When does the idea of homosexuality as a distinctive identity develop?)

- The Contemporary Period (1960-1980)

- The Postmodern Era (1980 – Present)

- What do sociologists mean when they talk about “sexual scripts”?

- According to Litewka, what are the three key elements of the male sexual script?

- According to Geertz and Hua, what are the key aspects of the Na “culture of intimacy”?


- According to Geertz and Hua, what are the reasons for the ultimate decline of the Na “culture of intimacy”?

- What has happened to rates of sexual activity amongst teens over the last 40 years? What are generally cited as the reasons for the overall increase in teen sexual activity?


ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR 2ND TEST

1. According to functionalists, what are the positive and negative aspects of deviance? Explain both labeling theory and Sutherland’s theory about the cultural transmission of deviance. Would you say that you and your friends have similar conceptions of deviance? What happened in the Zimbardo Prison Experiment (as seen in the video shown in class and pages 71-72 in Schaefer)? Do you think most people would "conform to deviance" in that sort of setting? Defend your answer.

2. Briefly discuss the size of the current gender gap in income. What are the structural functionalist and conflict explanations for the persistence of the gender gap? (Be sure to talk about the reasons, according to conflict theorists, why women are paid less for “equivalent work”.) Do you think the gender gap will decline significantly over the next 15-20 years? Why or why not?

3. Describe the “culture of intimacy” that exists in the Na Tribe as well as the reasons for its ultimate end of the “Na way of life”. Briefly summarize the trends in teen sexuality over the last 40 years. How does Denizet-Lewis characterize the suburban middle-class teen culture of intimacy in contemporary America? In your opinion, what is the most important thing that could be done to improve the overall teen “culture of intimacy” in America? Elaborate.

Readings Responsible For:
Schaefer: Chapters 4 and 7
Becker (pp. 235-242); Hall (pps. 31-35, 58, 62, 64-65); Plante (pps. 99-109);
Denizet-Lewis (pps. 30, 32-35, 54, 56, 58); Geertz (pps. 27-30)