Introduction . Ralph B. McNeal, Jr., and Kathleen A. Tiemann.
Sociology is a fascinating discipline, which has theory, methods, and ethics to guide its work. Seeing the everyday world through the lens of sociology adds insight to our personal lives and to our understanding of human behavior. Welcome!
1. The Sociological Perspective.
The Promise, C. Wright Mills.
The promise of sociology is to develop the student's "sociological imagination" and come to understand how history and social structures affect personal behavior. C. Wright Mills give us many examples of how to connect "biography" and "history."
2. Culture.
Barbie Doll Culture and the American Waistland, Kamy Cunningham.
Barbie dolls have been a part of American culture for more than a generation, and the symbolic significance of this phenomenon allows us to see how gendered ideals influence the lives of all Americans.
3. Socialization.
The Effects of Extreme Isolation on Socialization, Kingsley Davis.
In this expert analysis of some unique events, we are able to examine the importance of social life to human functioning. The case histories of two young girls who were raised in relative social isolation bring to light the age-old discussion of "nature versus nurture."
4. Social Structure and Social Interaction.
Police Accounts of Normal Force, Jennifer Hunt.
In this fine piece of qualitative research we are introduced to the work lives of police officers and the separate worlds of the street and the department. Learning to live in both worlds requires support from other officers and a vocabulary that legitimates the use of force.
5. Social Groups and Formal Organizations.
Opinions and Social Pressure, Solomon E. Asch.
A classic experiment illustrates how powerful group pressure can be. What would you do if faced with the opportunity to stand alone, independent of the group, or to conform by following the group's conclusions? Even though we value independence, many of us would comply with the majority.
6. Deviance and Social Control.
Becoming a Marijuana User, Howard S. Becker.
Deviance, like most things, is learned. This creative research by one of the great names in the study of deviance shows us how people who are exposed to a drug must "learn" the process of getting high...that social factors are as important as the effects of the drug itself.
7. Social Stratification in Global Perspective.
Women in the Global Factory, Annette Fuentes, et al.
Globalization of the economy by multinational corporations brings into focus the roles of women in different societies. How will the employment of women in these factories affect their oppression and freedom? One would think that employment and emancipation go together...let's look more closely.
8. Social Class in the United States.
The Job Ghetto, Katherine Newman, et al.
Poor people, whom many Americans believe could have jobs if they wanted, find extreme difficulties in being hired. Class and ethnicity are factors that affect opportunities, regardless of the overall health of the economy in America, and solving this problem will likely require some massive intervention.
9. Inequalities in Race and Ethnicity.
Does TV Shape Ethnic Images? S. Robert Lichter, et al.
Television is one of our most cherished technological developments. TV is full of images of social life and the images often have an impact that we do not expect. Lichter and Lichter report their findings on how race and ethnicity portrayed on TV affect people's perceptions.
10. Inequalities of Age and Gender.
If Men Could Menstruate, Gloria Steinem.
Little in our lives is more "down to earth" than menstruation. A noted feminist uses humor to illustrate the relevance of power in understanding how men and women would approach this inevitable event. Power shapes ideology and ideology maintains gender inequities.
11. Politics and Economy.
The Big Tilt: Participatory Inequality in America, Sidney Verba and Kay Lehman.
The authors note the unequal participation of different social classes in American politics. The reader is brought into the discussion through interesting data showing how income affects American political involvement. If the interests of the lower and working classes are to be represented in American democracy, is there hope on this political horizon?
12. Marriage and Family.
Love, American Style, Lisa E. Phillips.
Love and marriage are alive and well in the USA. This fascinating examination of two generations' different approaches to family life tells how even as some things change, they stay the same. Can you find yourself or your values among the data on "Boomers" from the 70s and "Gen-Xers" from the 90s?
13. Education and Religion.
In Search of the Sacred, Barbara Kantrowitz.
As we have headed into a new millennium, how has religion in America changed? The infusion of spirituality and eastern thought into the everyday experiences of people suggests that we are entering into a new age, which is less traditional in its approach to religious life.
14. Population and Urbanization.
Is There a "There" in Cyberspace?, John Perry Barlow.
The advent of the Internet and virtual communities is among the most socially relevant changes on the landscape of everyday life. Will the connections we make with others online replace the sense of "community" so important to past generations? Barlow's ideas and experiences show some of the possibilities.
15. Social Change: Technology, Social Movements, and the Environment.
The McDonaldization of Society, George Ritzer.
By using one of the most recognizable symbols in the American landscape, Ritzer asks us to examine the impact that efficiency and rationality (exemplified by McDonald's) have had on our lives in other ways. Are we destined to continue this trend toward a convenient but meaningless future?
