Abstract This essay critically assesses the contribution of culturalsociology to the understanding of religion. It does this by first examining and summarizing how three "classical sociological theorists" (i.e.: Weber, Durkheim and Marx) see the nature of religion as a cultural form. It then looks at various recent theories of religion under globalization. The author then assesses the contribution that these cultural theories give to the understanding of real religious phenomena through examining whether they can help in an understanding of Islamic fundamentalism in general, and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Algeria specifically. The paper includes extensive use of quotes from the three theorists.
From the Paper "In fact, according to Giddens, Marx believed that religion is the "opium of the people" (Giddens, 1996, p464). In other words, Marx believed that religion defers happiness and rewards to the afterlife, teaching the acceptance of existing conditions in this life. This means that attention is diverted away from inequalities and injustices in this life by promising a better future in the Afterlife. In addition to this, Budd believes that Marx thought religion not only reflected the suffering of the working class, but offered a "fantasy escape" from that suffering (Budd, 1973). Marx believed that religion had a very powerful ideological element, and that religious beliefs and values often provide justifications of inequalities of wealth and power (Giddens, 1996). He further claims that religion often has ideological implications which serve to justify the interests of the ruling class at the expense of other subordinate classes (Giddens, 1996)."
Abstract This paper explores the changing role and the social perception of young males between twenty and thirty years of age by discussing Tony Dokoupil's article "Why I Am Leaving Guyland". The author refers to studies and statistics that show that a new pattern of social and cultural behavior has emerged where the age of which males were in involved in the "guy" culture of male friendship and concomitant testosterone related irresponsibility has been extended. The paper also addresses the sociological aspects to consider in this study.
Outline:
Brief summary
Sociological aspects
Social Institution: Marriage and the Family Sociological terms and their relevance
Social norms
Social Stratification
Socialization.
Social mobility
Anomie
Bibliography
From the Paper "The study points out that a new pattern of social and cultural behavior has emerged among this demographic, which is characterized by a shifting of the age at which males begin to integrate maturely into the larger society, get married and have children. While in the past it was usually men in their very early twenties who were in involved in the "guy" culture of male friendship and concomitant testosterone related irresponsibility, the recent social pattern indicates that this period of male" freedom" has extended and that many males in their late twenties and even early thirties are still following the same pattern of behavior."
Tags: social integration, social perceptions, culturesociologyfamily
Abstract This paper discusses the importance of the family unit and the influence that family has on a child's life. The paper discusses the writer's family unit. It examines the boundaries, rules, rituals and traditions that apply to the writer's own family through his/her nuclear family and extended family relationships.
From the Paper "Family Assessment Project A child's family is perhaps the single most important influence on his or her life. Children model their future relationships on those they see in childhood. They frequently carry the boundaries, rules, rituals, and traditions that they grew up with into the families that they head in maturity. The things that children carry into maturity can be both positive and negative, continuing on the heritage of a functional or dysfunctional family. This paper will examine the boundaries, rules, rituals, and traditions that apply to my own family through nuclear family and extended family relationships. My family of origin consisted of my mother, my father, one brother and three sisters. We had a close-knit family structure. It was essentially a closed family type, with rigid rules and predictable behavior. We did share affection with each other, but none of us were demonstrative in our affection."
Abstract The writer describes how he/she spent time over a several week period with two Hispanic families and attended several of the functions that are associated with the Hispanic culture; a family event, a church event and a cultural event. The writer reveals that while Americans pride themselves on privacy and personal space, the Hispanic population is connected by the togetherness and crowded conditions that they purposely set up. The writer concludes that the Hispanic culture is about love, celebration and enjoyment of life and asserts that many of us could learn from this.
Outline:
Introduction
The Experience
The Festival
Church
Conclusion
From the Paper "Anyone who watches the news is aware that the Hispanic population in America has grown to be the largest minority in the country. Every store has signs written in Spanish and English, every food item has instructions in both languages and there are several Hispanic radio and television broadcasts on at all times. There is no denying that the blending of the two cultures is inevitable and it is an exciting prospect."
Abstract This paper presents a study to identify pertinent traits that characterize effective leaders in various societal settings. The paper relates that the mixed methodology used in this study is (1) a qualitative analysis of the relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature concerning the specific relationship between leadership styles, organizational culture and the larger society and (2) a review and synthesis of various case studies concerning the impact of leadership on cross-cultural organizational performance. The paper includes a summary of the major aims and objectives of the study and an analysis of implications for leaders and recommendations for organizations such as "treat all people fairly".
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Aims and Objectives
Significance of the Study
Rationale of the Study
Literature Review
Background and Overview
Definitions of Culture Table: Bureaucratic, Innovative and Supportive Organizational Cultures Table: Family-Owned and Operated Organizational Cultures Table: Masculine and Collectivist Organizational Cultures Cultural Aspects of Organizational Leadership
Relationship between Organizational Leadership and Society
Table: Types of Organizational Citizenship Behaviors
Table: Potential Reasons Why Organizational Citizenship Behaviors (OCBs) Influence Work Group And/Or Organizational Performance
Discussion
Chapter Summary
Methodology
Description of the Study Approach
Data-Collection
Sample
Setting
Ethical Considerations
Evaluative Action Plan
Instruments/Measurements
Chapter Summary
Results and Presentation of Findings
Discussion, Implications and Recommendations
Results and Presentation of Findings
Introduction
Sample
Studies
Table: Recapitulation and Summary of Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles Consulted
Setting
Ethical Considerations
Evaluative Action Plan
Table: Noblit and Hare's Meta-Ethnographic Comparative Method
Instruments/Measurements
Chapter Summary
Discussion, Implications and Recommendations
Introduction
Summary of Major Aims and Objectives
Implications
Recommendations
Limitations
From the Paper "These responsibilities frequently involve decision processes that are unstructured, complex, and ambiguous; the studies to date indicate that the outcomes of such decision processes can be affected greatly by the characteristics of the team and its members.
"Taken together, the foregoing suggests that an organization's culture is highly influenced by its top leadership, but workers play a reciprocal role by helping them achieve the organization's goals and keeping it competitive."
This paper examines the origins of sociology as well as the impact of the industrial revolution which changed the face of the social and physical environment.
Abstract The writer of this paper defines sociology as the study of society and social institutions. This paper explores the new discipline of sociology which began in the 19th century with the introduction of the industrial revolution in Europe. This paper describes how sociology is applied when studying various interaction patterns in both individual and group settings. The writer also discusses how various aspects of culture impact society.
Outline:
Definitions
The Development of Sociology The Origins
Early Sociologists
Subject Matter of Sociology Collective Behavior
Limited Social Interactions
Unclear Social Boundaries
Weak & Unconventional Norms
Culture Aspects of Culture Socialization
Social Structure
Social Institutions
Bibliography
From the Paper "The new discipline of sociology began to merge in the middle of the nineteenth century, in the contest of the sweeping changes the industrial revolution brought to Europe. No social changes in the history had been as wide spread or as far-reaching, as this information which is still taking place in the less developed nations of the world cried out for analysis and explanations. Industrialization threw into turmoil societies that had been relatively stable for centuries. New industries and technologies changed the face of the social and physical environment. Peasants left rural areas and flocked to the towns, where they worked as industrial laborers under appalling conditions."
Tags: society, study, culture, socialization, industrial, revolution, europe
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the topic of sociology and the family. Specifically, it discusses the potential issues facing a family that has a homosexual son. The paper discusses social issues for the family, such as condemnation from the religious and political communities, possible sanctions from the school district after complaints from parents, issues with the younger children from schoolmates and teachers and many other issues related to the community and support.
From the Paper "In conclusion, in a perfect world, the sexual orientation of a prominent person's child should not matter in the overall scheme of things. However, in our world, which is far from perfect, it is an important sociological matter to some people. If the parents are loving and supportive, their own unit will probably remain intact and even grow stronger. Outside forces could create many sociological impacts on the family, from censure to even loss of careers. In addition, the altering of values inside the family may pave the way for sociological change in the family members in the future. As sociologist Noble states, "Today most people continue to spend most of their lifetime in nuclear family relationships though they undergo continuing changes in their aspirations and expectations as the structural and demographic circumstances of their lives change" (Noble, 1998). Thus, the two young children in the family may create families of their own that differ from the makeup of their own family, and recognize the diversity of society and family members. The sociological implications of the problem are many, and the family will have to weather them to stay together and nurture each other."
Abstract This essay contains varied responses to issues that concern a sociological study of Canadian Families. Included in this paper is a summary of research conducted by the writer (telephone surveys), and summary explanations of general issues that relate to families in Canadian society, such as family income, poverty and single-parent families, effects of stress and family crisis, and at-risk youth.
Abstract This paper briefly examines the sociological contretemps of Hickman's text, "Courtesans", and Glassner's text, "Culture of Fear". The paper reviews how the former addresses the sociological barriers which kept women in straitened and often unhappy circumstances, and it also looks at the sociological factors which contribute to Americans fearing the wrong things while ignoring those items which matter more.
From the Paper "Sociological Aspects to Courtesans and The Culture of Fear In Katie Hickman's Courtesans, the reader is introduced to the sociological realities women faced in eighteenth and nineteenth century society. Predominantly, these women gained fortune and security - if not power - by making themselves sexually available to powerful suitors. In effect, the social mechanism by which they profited was that of prostitution - although it was rarely used in describing them. Their education, their social pretensions and their involvement in the arts are also noteworthy and they are detailed below. Education, the arts, the social pretensions and the native inquisitiveness of these women all played a role in their formation. Sophia Baddeley, for example, received a "genteel" education (Hickman 34); Elizabeth Armistead was born into poverty and there does not appear to be any evidence that she received a "genteel" education (Hickman 83-85)."
Abstract This paper analyzes whether the policemen, or cops, the police personality, should be judged based on unique and individual traits or through socialization and experience. It takes the stance that police personality is heavily influenced by police culture, and therefore, leads people to view and perceive police traits according to their socialization and experience with the society and the police culture. It focuses on the sociological perspective of police personality and culture in order to illustrate how personalities are shaped according to an individual's exposure to his or her own culture or niche.
From the Paper "In order to understand the influential effect of police culture to police personality, a proper definition of "culture" and "police culture" is needed. In an article on police culture by Stephen Harrison entitled, ?Police Organizational Culture: Using Ingrained Values to Build Positive Organizational Improvement,? culture is defined as "the integrated pattern of human behavior that includes thought, speech, action, and artifacts and depends on man's capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations" (1998). ?Police,? meanwhile, is defined as an "agency of a community or government that is responsible for maintaining public order and preventing and detecting crime" (Microsoft Encarta 2002)."
Abstract This paper investigates sleep as a sociological process. The writer explains the methodology used, including an introduction, a literature review, and results of the findings. It looks at a history of the study of sleep and further examines modern-day literature on the topic. It finds that the sociology of sleep has its roots deeply planted in rational choice theory, in the sense that the human being must make a rational, coherent choice in weighing out the costs and benefits before deciding how much sleep to engage in on a particular occasion.
From the Paper "When I first decided to investigate sleep as a sociological process for the 2003 Sociological symposium, I had no idea where my research would take me or what I was getting into. I basically conducted my project as a research paper, finding an abundance of information regarding sleep within cultures, but finding an enormous lack of research regarding sleep in the field of sociology. Even studying sleep cross-culturally was a field left mostly up to anthropologists. As I continued to research various cultures and their methods of sleeping, I found there are very deep sociological implications for sleep. Thus my original research question was becoming more of a mystery than a solution: why is sleep not being researched within the field of sociology?"
Abstract This paper examines how marriage and family are one of the most important areas of sociology, how society is brought up in a family context and how marriage is a very pervasive social institution. It looks at how, in modern European society, more women are working outside the home and demanding an equal share of the decision-making power in the family. It talks about the changing state of marriage and the family in modern European society and also adds the dark side of it. The aim is to show the reader the rapidly change of family and marriage which has become a very serious social problem and has led European society to crisis.
From the Paper "Marriage has become increasingly dissociated from parenthood. This has
happened in three main ways: the number of childless couples has been
rising, children are increasingly born outside marriage and the rising rate
of divorce separate children's parents (Sociology, 1999:380). The rate of families with dependent children has increased since the beginning of the 1970s (Social Trends, 1996:43) (fig 2). In 1961, 2 per cent of the population lived in households consisting of a lone parent with dependent children, but by 1998 this had increased to 7 per cent."
Tags: crisis, european, family, independent, marriage, society, thought, women
Abstract The paper outlines the storyline of the movie "Devil's Advocate" that illustrates how money can be the root of all evil. The paper shows how the main protagonist's change in social class and increase in power greatly alters his values and priorities. The paper emphasizes the roles that power, class, religion, social status and family play in one's life. The paper emphasizes that money and power is not worth the loss of everything and everyone one holds dear.
From the Paper "Hollywood may be known for scandals, drugs, and deviance but there is one thing they are good at: portraying reality. Films are one of the best sociological outlets to see the concepts of sociology in a clear cut way. Even though they are not usually realistic stories, films give people a way to watch and understand every aspect of a situation. Every facial expression, every gossiping conversation, every detail of the story is accessible throughout the film. They bring to light problems in society such as stereotypes and prejudices, different economic and social classes, and corrupt behavior; as well as help us understand the cultures and religions of the group being portrayed."
Tags: money, power, social, class, status, religion, family
Abstract George J. Bryjak and Michael P. Soroka's book "Sociology: Changing Societies in a Diverse World" comprises of fourteen chapters which provide an overview of social structure in the world. The paper provides a summary of the key concepts found in each chapter of the book in a clear and structured way. Several of the concepts summarized in the paper include modernization, Durkheim's four categories of suicide, popular culture and groups, prejudice and minorities.
From the Paper "Chapter Five Summary Key Concepts
Social inequality alludes to unequal distribution of goods and services among a portion of the population at a given time; social stratification refers to the permanent inequality, the permanent lack of equal distribution of goods and services ? a situation passed from generation to generation which has become the norm, or the value. The Davis-Moore functionalist approach is that social stratification is an inevitable result of the human condition; some will always have, some will always be among the ?have-nots.? In all societies, they argue, humans are best motivated to succeed when they are given the challenge of obtaining fame, fortune, and power; and the more vital the task, the smaller the number of people ? because only a few will have the ability to meet the challenge due to generations of stratification. Functionalism is like a "natural superiority" kind of system ? the strong will stay strong, the weak will struggle."
Abstract This paper examines a character in "ER" known as Kerry Weaver, a physician at the hospital, and the difficulties she faces as part of a same-sex partnership and as a non-traditional parent from the perspective of two sociological traditions. The first part of the paper uses the structural-functionalist approach, emphasizing the writings of sociologist Emile Durkheim. This part argues that Weaver's actions as both a lesbian life partner and a lesbian single parent are both dysfunctions that have a destabilizing effect on society. The next part then criticizes this position by using the conflict approach, applying Karl Marx's writings regarding the ideas and values of the ruling class to the case of gay and lesbian people.
From the Paper "The television show ER is one of the most popular and longest-running programs still on television. The episode aired April 8, 2004 focused on the personal life of attending physician Kerry Weaver, portrayed by actor Laura Innes. In this episode, Weaver's lesbian life partner Sandy Lopez partner dies in a fire. Lopez's family then takes the opportunity to file for custody of their infant son, who is Lopez's natural child. Weaver tries in vain to retain custody of her son. In the end, however, her efforts are fruitless. Since the law does not recognize same-sex partnerships, Weaver did not have any legal standing as a parent or spouse, she eventually lost custody of her son to Lopez's vindictive relatives."
