Individuals and Society2 Week 5 Question 1. Subject: Terrorism Date: 6thJanuary 2020 1.Identify a recent newspaper article which discusses the issue of terrorism. You will also need to clearly state the name of the newspaper and the author(s) of the article. A newspaper article on The Guardian which is a British daily addressed the issue of indefinitely jailing terror offenders in need be. This article was published on Tuesday the 4thofFebruary.ThearticlewasauthoredbySimonMurphyandRowenaMason. According to the article, the public should be made to feel safe by convicting and jailing terrorists who put the safety of the general population at risk. 2.Identify the sociological perspective being used to discuss the issue of terrorism. The authors of the article wrote that the government was facing legal challenges relating to the proposed emergency legislation after the Streatham attack. According to the article, Michael Gove a senior cabinet minister argued that Islamist extremists were categorized differently from other offenders and they must therefore not be released before the Parole Board in the UK deems them safe to be on the streets. These offenders according to Gove should be indefinitely locked up to protect the public and prioritizing public safety until these offenders are completely de-radicalized. In the current system, an offender can be released halfway through their sentence but the new proposal aims at ensuring that the public is safe before such offenders are released. However, this legislation could be
Individuals and Society3 potentially challenged in court because experts warn that it is retrospective. Terrorism is sometimes perceived differently in society. Different social perspectives can beusedtodescribeterrorismandtheyincludefunctionalistperspective,conflict perspective, and interactionist perspective. The issue of terrorism in the article by Simon MurphyandRowenaMasonisaddressedusingthefunctionalistperspective.This perspective argues that society is made up of different systems that work together to maintain the balance of the entire society. For example, the family offers a way of reproduction and nurturing children; education is a way of transferring knowledge and culture; politics offers a way of governance; economics deals with the production and consumption of food and other goods and services; religion provides for moral guidance (Lawler, 2015). This article, therefore, uses the functionalist perspective because the government plays an important role in holding the perceived terrorists in jails until they are deemed harmless. Through education during their jail terms, these offenders undergo de-radicalization to ensure that they get rid of their terrorist ideologies. The safety of the public is prioritized to ensure that these offenders do not come back to harm or potentially kill members of the public. 3.In which way does this perspective explain terrorism? The functionalist theory explains terrorism as a deviation from the normal occurrences in society. This perspective argues that terrorism is a function given that it brings individuals who perpetuate it together thus bringing a feeling of solidarity among the extremists (Bartolucci and Gallo, 2015, p. 21). Terrorism is a dangerous activity and society must use it to reassert social norms into individuals. This will make people make the right choices
Individuals and Society4 that can be used to bring social changes thus leading to a healthy society. Terrorism compels the society to come up with better ways of protecting itself and that is why this article talks about the indefinite jailing of terrorists to protect the general public. References Bartolucci, V. and Gallo, G., 2015. Terrorism, system thinking and critical discourse analysis.Systems Research and Behavioral Science,32(1), pp.15-27. Lawler, S., 2015.Identity: sociological perspectives. John Wiley & Sons. Week 6 Question 2. Subject: Mental Health and Contemporary Society Date: 13thJanuary 2020 1.Identify a sociological perspective on mental health. Sociological perspectives on mental health argue that different individuals will experience similar levels of mental illness or health if they are placed under the same circumstances. Sociological perspectives regard mental health as an aspect of social circumstances such as levels of social support, life events, and stressful circumstances. One of the sociological perspectives on mental illness gender stereotype. More men are experiencing difficulties in dealing with mental illness as compared to women because of the pressure of living up to their masculinity. This pressure causes stress among men thus leading to mental illness.
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Individuals and Society5 2.Who is the key thinker of your chosen perspective? Mental illness is believed to be one of the leading contributors to the global burden of disability and diseases. Men and women have different socially constructed responsibilities and roles that define their status and power. These roles and responsibilities interact with biological differences to contribute to the differences witnessed in mental health between the two genders. Gender-based roles in adolescents and adults have proven that girls and women are more prevalent in mental illness as compared to boys and men (Busfield, 2017, p. 32). Other studies have also proven that men are more prevalent to mental illness due to the burden of responsibilities that they have to carry. This shows that there is no huge difference in the overall prevalence between men and women. The key thinker in this perspective is, therefore, both genders. 3.What are the two (2) key points used to explain mental health? Mental health can be best described as being in a state of a continuum where an individual is either mentally well or mentally ill. Some of the factors of a continuum in mental health include stresses, life circumstances, and genetic make-up of individuals. Two key points used to describe mental illness include mental disorders such as anxiety and depression; states of positive mental health (Grob, 2019, p. 288). A mentally healthy individual is able to build and maintain relationships, be confident themselves, and be in control of their emotions. 4.What are the disadvantages of these perspectives? Social perspectives on mental health argue that mental illness or wellness is a social construct and it is affected by societal occurrences such as poverty, discrimination, violence, and substance abuse (Vaughan and Hogg, 2013). These are very accurate
Individuals and Society6 arguments because the said factors are major contributors to mental health among individuals. It is, however, important to note that these social perspectives have some disadvantages in how they describe the idea of mental illness. One of the disadvantages is that it does not take into consideration other major contributors such as biological factors and other unavoidable circumstances like accidents and traumatic injuries. It is important to note that social perspectives and any other factors collectively contribute to the mental health status of an individual. References Busfield, J., 2017.Men, women and madness: Understanding gender and mental disorder. Macmillan International Higher Education. Grob, G.N., 2019.Mental illness and American society, 1875-1940(Vol. 5316). Princeton University Press. Vaughan, G.M. and Hogg, M.A., 2013. Social Psychology. Frenchs Forest. Week 7 Question 3. Subject: Gender Date: 20thJanuary 2020 1.Which sociological perspectives explain the issue of gender? Sociological perspectives that explain gender issues include functional, conflict, and interactive perspectives. According to the social perspective, gender roles are meant to maximize social efficiency. This perspective considers society to be a complex system with
Individuals and Society7 different parts that work together to promote stability (Giddens and Sutton, 2013). The functionalist perspective additionally argues that gender inequalities are in existence to help in the division of labor where some roles are specifically meant for a particular group of individuals. This division of labor aims to maximize efficiency and resources. Conflict perspective, on the other hand, argues that men are the dominant gender and must, therefore, subordinate women so that they can maintain privilege and power in society. According to this perspective, different social groups struggling for dominance compete for the same resources where men attempt to maintain power at the expense of women (Giddens and Sutton, 2013). This theory suggests that social problems are created because dominant groups suppress and exploit the less dominant groups. 2.Give one example where women are oppressed by their gender. Women experience discrimination most of the time and reports suggest that women in male-dominated workplaces experience high levels of discrimination. This oppression does not only apply in workplaces but within society at large. For example, in most African cultures, women are excluded from their parents’ inheritance. Most African cultures believe that only men should be allowed to inherit any property belonging to their deceased parents. This is a clear form of discrimination that is perpetuated by patriarchy to ensure that male dominance is maintained and that women keep being subordinates in society. This is a gender inequality that is discriminatory against women just by the mere fact that they are women. 3.What are the similarities between the two (2) sociological perspectives you have identified?
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Individuals and Society8 Functionalist and conflict perspectives are two different sociological perspectives but one of the fundamental concepts that make them similar is that they both logically explain the behavior of groups of people in society based on their gender, age, ideologies, and social status among others (Judge, 2012). Additionally, both these perspectives acknowledge the fact that there exists a relationship between individuals and systems. Therefore, they both explain that there is a relationship between the societal system and gender inequality. Reference Giddens, A. and Sutton, P.W., 2013. Sociology. edition. Judge, P.S., 2012.Foundations of Classical Sociological Theory: Functionalism, Conflict and Action. Pearson Education India. Week 8 Question 4. Subject: The role of religion and science in society Date: 27thJanuary 2020 1.Which two (2) sociological perspectives are critical of the role of religion in society? Functionalist,conflictandinteractionistperspectivesareallinfluentialintryingto understand religion. The most important sociological perspectives in religion include functionalistic and conflict perspectives. According to functionalism, religion is important
Individuals and Society9 because it serves several societal functions. It is alleged that religion and society coexist for their existence and values. It is important to note that religion is used to provide answers to mysterious questions that involve spirituality as well as being an avenue for social interaction and emotional comfort (Courses.lumenlearning.com, 2020). Religion offers social networking and social support for different people to come together and share values and ideas. The conflict perspective, on the other hand, argues that religion is an institution whose aim is to uphold forms of social inequality. This can be explained by using the example of the Vatican that is known to have huge amounts of wealth. Catholic priests, on the other hand, havesmallaverageincomes(Courses.lumenlearning.com,2020).Thisperspective, therefore, argues that religion is used to perpetuate the oppressive activities of monarchs and justify unfair social structures. 2.What are the differences between the sociological perspectives identified? The functionalist perspective argues that each societal aspect is important and serves a fundamental function in society. These aspects are believed to be essential for the survival of society. The conflict theory, on the other hand, argues that society is always in conflict resulting from an unequal distribution of resources, therefore, the dominant individuals oppress the subordinates (Thompson et al., 2016). Another difference between the two aspectsisthataccordingtofunctionalism,allelementswithinthesocietyare interdependent and work together for the stability of the society. The conflict perspective, on the other hand, addresses the issue of classism that creates a conflict between classes
Individuals and Society10 due to unequal resource distribution and this conflict may lead to social changes. 3.Discuss the different definitions of religion and the weaknesses of the definitions. Religion can be defined in two ways that include functional and substantive definitions. Substantive definition of religion argues that religion is about content where one is said to have a religion if they believe certain things and lack it when they do not believe these things, for example, believing in gods and spirits (Oman, 2013, p. 24). The weakness of this definition is that it defines religion simply as bizarre beliefs and a collection of primitive analogies and understanding about reality and nature. The functional definition, on the other hand, defines religion based on what it can do. For instance, when an individual believes that something can have an impact on their life socially or psychologically then that is religion (Oman, 2013, p. 31). This definition, however, leads to a radical misunderstanding of the origin of religion. 4.Give an example of the way in which religions influences human behavior. Religion is considered by some individuals as a rule book that prevents believers from acting in uncultured ways. It influences thinking patterns, self-identity, and the collective identity of an entire community. Religion influences human behavior by enforcing morality through the use of scriptures. For example, the bible talks about heaven, hell, and life after death. When these things are communicated to believers, they become fearful especially of hell and how it is talked about. No individual can honestly wish to go to hell. The bible scriptures, therefore, instill fear in them and they change their behaviors to correspond with the scriptures with the hope of going to heaven and enjoying life after death.
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Individuals and Society11 References Courses.lumenlearning.com. (2020).The Sociological Approach to Religion | Introduction toSociology.[online]Availableat: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sociology/chapter/the-sociological-approach-to-religion/ [Accessed 24 Feb. 2020]. Oman, D., 2013. Defining religion and spirituality.Handbook of the psychology of religion and spirituality,2, pp.23-47. Thompson,W.E.,Hickey,J.V.andThompson,M.L.,2016.Societyinfocus:An introduction to sociology. Rowman & Littlefield. Week 9 Question 5. Subject: Sociological perspectives on criminal behaviour Date: 3rdFebruary 2020 1.In what way is Charles Murray’s explanation of crime similar to Emile Durkheim’s explanation? They both believe that crime is a function of the society and that the society is made up of different structures that aim to hold it together and enhance its stability. These two perspectives are similar because they both argue that crime occurs due to some societal factors such as normlessness and the underclass.
Individuals and Society12 2.In which ways are these two (2) perspectives different? According to Charles Murray, the underclass is the major cause of crime in society. Additionally, this perspective argues that the only way of getting rid of crime is by making it extremely expensive (Cruickshank, 2013, p. 87). If potential criminals are made aware of the possible losses associated with crime in terms of financial costs and loss of liberty, then they can be deterred from engaging in crime-related activities. Emile Durkheim, on the other hand, argues that crime results from a condition of normlessness that may be caused by rapid social changes. He, additionally, argues that crime can be reduced by instilling social control and order that helps in creating social cohesion (TenHouten, 2016, p. 94). Durkheim further says that crime is important in society to initiate social change; an argument that critics may find very flawed. References Cruickshank, J., 2013. Social theory and the underclass: social realism or rational choice individualism?. InRational Choice Theory(pp. 84-101). Routledge. TenHouten, W.D., 2016. Normlessness, anomie, and the emotions. InAlienation and Affect(pp. 91-108). Routledge. Week 10 Question 6.
Individuals and Society13 Subject: The changing nature of families and childhood in society Date: 10thFebruary 2020 1.What is a child? According to biology, a child is any individual between birth and puberty. In most countries and legal settings, an individual is considered to be a child or a minor until they attain the age of 18. In sociology, a child may be defined as anyone between birth and age 20. Children are therefore a group of these individuals whereas childhood is their life stage (Leonard, 2015). 2.How would you define family? A family may be defined as a social unit that is made up of two or more individuals that may be related by marriage, adoption, or blood. These individuals normally have a shared commitment and the kind relationships they share are mutual. This is the most basic definition but to some people, a family may mean more than just being related by blood or marriage. There are several types of families that include nuclear family, extended family, complex family, single-parent family, and stepfamily among others. All these types of familiesaremadeupofpeoplewhoinmostcasesshareamutualfeelingand understanding. The strength of a family is in most cases measured during difficult moments when everyone is needed to stick together. 3.In which ways has the concept of family changed since the 1960’s? The current families are not what they used to be in the previous centuries. It is important to note that society has transformed and become more inclusive since the 1960s. In the
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Individuals and Society14 past, a family basically consisted of a husband, wife, and their biological children (Hussung, 2015). Additionally, most people who could legally get into marriages did so and only death could do them apart as the famous saying goes. It was very rare to see people divorcing in the pre 20th century. This was a very common culture and it led to the specialization of the roles of both the husband and his wife within a particular homestead. A wife’s role was primarily to help the husband both in housekeeping and raising children (Hussung, 2015). Married women were not allowed to own property. Husbands, therefore, were tasked with providing their wives and children with all necessities. However, the role of women started expanding since the 1960s and this brought about changes in family structures to what we witness in the modern world. Women have become more financially stable in recent years and this has resulted in increased tension within families(Castelloe, 2011). Additionally, the rate of divorce has massively increased in recent years because people are now more exposed and everyone understands that it is better to part ways some times for the benefit of everyone(Castelloe, 2011). Also, families have become more diverse in recent years with the legalization of adoption thus enabling parents who cannot have children to adopt some and start a family. Furthermore, unlike the past centuries, there has been an increase in single-parent families because nowadays people become parents even before marriage but when one party fails to share the responsibility of parenthood the other party has to carry all the burden. It is also important to note that children nowadays experience a lot of familial disruptions because the current crop of parents rarely agrees on anything. Constant fights and abuse affect the emotional wellbeing of children(Castelloe, 2011). The concept of family has also changed with the legalization of same-sex marriages and
Individuals and Society15 unlike the past, a man can marry and live with a fellow man. Similarly, a woman can marry and live with a fellow woman. They may then decide to adopt a child and call that a family. References Castelloe, M. (2011).Changes in the American Family. [online] Psychology Today. Available at:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-me-in-we/201104/changes-in- the-american-family[Accessed 24 Feb. 2020]. Hussung, T. (2015).The Evolution of American Family Structure. [online] Concordia University, St. Paul Online. Available at:https://online.csp.edu/blog/family-science/the- evolution-of-american-family-structure[Accessed 24 Feb. 2020]. Leonard, M., 2015.The sociology of children, childhood and generation. Sage. Week 11 Question 7. Subject: The physical health of the nation Date: 17 February 2020 1.How would you define the term ‘health’? Health can be defined as a state of complete mental, social and physical wellbeing. Health is not just an absence of disease or illness. According to WHO, every individual has a fundamentalrightofenjoyingthehighestlevelsofhealthwithoutanyformof discrimination(Who.int, 2020). The health of the general public is important in attaining
Individuals and Society16 peace and security. 2.Which ethnicity is understood to be most at risk of obesity? Black Africans are the most at risk for obesity according to studies in the United Kingdom and the United States of America (Harding et al., 2008, p. 163). 3.Why? Black Africans are at a higher risk of being obese due to several societal elements. Some of these elements include low income, lack of quality education, and lack of stable and affordable housing among other elements(https://www.apa.org, 2020). Due to lack of quality education among most black Africans living in the United Kingdom, healthy eating habits are not practiced and they end up eating junk food that lead to weight gain. It is important to note that any of the above mentioned elements can influence an individual’s wellbeing and their chance of living longer and healthier lives. These societal elements combined with other factors such as depression among blacks are some of the leading factors that cause obesity among black Africans. 4.What is the role of sociology in understanding health? According to sociology, a functioning society relies on the health and wellbeing of its people and the ability to control diseases and illnesses. Sociology helps in understanding that health is a condition of being well completely in terms of physical, psychological and economic wellbeing. Social concepts that help in understanding health include social structures and experiences. Social structures are normally made up of people and exist irrespective of whether or not an individual is aware of their existence (White, 2016, p. 131). These structures are external to individuals and independently exist even without the
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Individuals and Society17 knowledge of some individuals. Experiences are also a social concept that helps in understanding the health and health outcomes of an individual. This concept explains the subjective way of understanding how things operate. Sociology is therefore important in describing these concepts to improve the understanding of humans regarding their health and wellbeing. References Harding, S., Teyhan, A., Maynard, M. and Cruickshank, J. (2008). Ethnic differences in overweight and obesity in early adolescence in the MRC DASH study: the role of adolescent and parental lifestyle.International Journal of Epidemiology, 37(1), pp.162- 172. https://www.apa.org. (2020).Ethnicity and Health in America Series: Obesity in the African-AmericanCommunity.[online]Availableat: https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/african-american/obesity [Accessed 24 Feb. 2020]. White, K., 2016.An introduction to the sociology of health and illness. Sage. Who.int. (2020).Constitution. [online] Available at:https://www.who.int/about/who-we- are/constitution[Accessed 24 Feb. 2020]. Week 12
Individuals and Society18 Question 8 Subject: Effects of globalism and multiculturalism Date: 24thFebruary 2020 1.What are some of the positive effects of globalisation? Globalization can be described as the interdependence between economies, populations, and culture due to cross-border trading and interactions. It is important to note that globalization has had several positive impacts on the lives of many individuals and the growth of many countries. One of the advantages of globalization is the introduction and growth of a global market. Globalization encouraged countries to produce and specialize in products that were available in their local markets (Ibrahim, 2013, p. 87). Because different nations produce different products, countries are able to trade since no country can be self-sufficient. Another positive effect of globalization is cross-cultural management where countries can adopt cultures from each other. Most nations prohibited women from attaining education in the past but globalization has led to the borrowing of other cultures and most women now attain education. Another impact of globalization is technological advancements with developing countries borrowing skills and technological growth of established nations. 2.What are some of the issues with ‘outsourcing’ jobs? Some of the issues that are experienced due to outsourcing include the following. Firstly, most organizations have set expectations on how things should theoretically work. However, this may not be the actual case and when outsourcing for jobs, time may be required for
Individuals and Society19 adaptation. Another issue is organizational culture. It is important to know that outsourcing normally has an impact on the culture of an organization because one hires someone from a differentsettingandculture(AugmentHR,2020).Anotherissuewithoutsourcingis adjustment to processes with most organizations not willing to start working together immediatelyafterhiring.Finally,decisionmakingisanotherissuebecauseinternal employees may feel that they have the authority to make decisions and this may create conflicts with the outsourced employees. 3.What is your definition of “culture?” Culture can be defined as the knowledge and characteristics of a given group of individuals that share a similar geographical locality. These characteristics can involve language, social habits, religion, food, clothing, and arts among others. There are different types of cultures that include the western culture, eastern culture, African culture, middle east culture, and Latin culture among others. 4.Why is cultural diversity important? It is important to note that countries, schools, workplaces, and places of worship are made up of people from different cultures and ethnicities. Culture is what shapes the behaviors and identities of individuals. Cultural diversity is thus important because it enhances learning where individuals learn and borrow from other cultures (Mead, 2012). Once people have an understanding of each other, they can learn and understand different perspectives that the world offers. Therefore, it becomes easier to fight bias and cultural stereotypes. It is additionally important to note that cultural diversity helps individuals in respecting other people’s ways of living to help in building relationships that are based on trust, respect, and
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Individuals and Society20 understanding (Mead, 2012). Cultural diversity also improves a peaceful coexistence in society especially when people from different cultures understand and respect each other. References AugmentHR. (2020).4 Common Outsourcing Problems and How to Overcome Them | AugmentHR.[online]Availableat:https://www.augmenthr.com/blog/4-common- outsourcing-problems-overcome/[Accessed 24 Feb. 2020]. Ibrahim,A.A.,2013.TheimpactofglobalizationonAfrica.InternationalJournalof Humanities and Social Science,3(15), pp.85-93. Mead, M., 2012. Cultural diversity.The New Nurse Educator: Mastering Academe, p.235.