Warm-up What do you think is the importance of a society in the field of sociology?

In what ways to you think poverty affects a society? Warm-up In what ways to you think poverty affects a society?

In your owns words… What is the definition of “society?”

Types of Society A society is composed of people living within defined territorial borders who share a common culture.

Hunting and Gathering Societies Hunting and gathering society survives by hunting animals and gathering edible foods. Characteristics: Nomadic Small in population Cooperation and sharing are key No social class Family is the only institution

Horticultural Societies A horticultural society solves the subsistence problem primarily through the growing of plants. Characteristics: More permanent settlements Multicommunity societies Family more key More complex division of labor Trade possible

Pastoral Societies In pastoral societies, food is obtained primarily by raising and taking care of animals. Characteristics: Migration still needed, but with some permanent villages Male dominated More complex division of labor Trade possible

Agricultural Societies An agricultural society subsists by growing food, but with the use of plows and animals. Characteristics: More food per unit of land due to the plow Animals allow more people to engage in noneconomic activities Cities built Other occupations appear

Agricultural Societies (cont.) Political, economic, religious institutions appear Government replaces the family group King or emperor rules Social classes Economy based on trade Monetary system Separation between religion and government

Time Line of Societies - 1

Time Line of Societies - 2

A Show of Hands Which technology do you think has made the biggest impact on our society? 1. Personal computers 2. Assembly lines 3. Robots

Basic Features of Industrial Societies The industrial society is one that is dependent upon science and technology to produce its basic goods and services. When societies shift from agricultural to industrial, some of the structural changes are: A loss of simplicity and a gain of scientific knowledge Animal and human labor is replaced by machines (mechanization) Urbanization—the movement from the country to the city Families function differently

A Conversation with Two Sociologists Tonnies’s view—two types of society: Gemeinschaft = community; a society based on tradition, kinship, and intimate social relationships. Gesellschaft = industrial society; weak family ties, competition, and less personal social relationships. Durkheim’s view: Social solidarity is the degree to which a society is unified or can hold itself together in the face of obstacles.

A Show of Hands The following are characteristics of mechanical solidarity EXCEPT 1. Group placed above the individual 2. Pressure for conformity 3. Needs filled by a variety of people 4. Tradition and family important

Major Features of Postindustrial Society In a postindustrial society, the economic emphasis is on providing services and information rather than on producing goods through basic manufacturing.

Major Features of Postindustrial Society (cont.) Five features of this society, according to Daniel Bell: For the first time, the majority of the labor force are employed in services rather than in agriculture or manufacturing. White-collar employment replaces much blue-collar work. Technical knowledge is the key organizing feature in the postindustrial society. Technological change is planned and assessed. Computer modeling is relied upon in all areas.

Social Instability in Postindustrial Society Historian Francis Fukuyama believes that the transition to a service economy has increased social instability in nations undergoing this change. However, he sees current indications of a return to social stability because humans find it difficult to live without values and norms.

Create your own Society-what type of society would you want to live in? Are you a preindustrial society? Postindustrial? Hunter-gathering? Etc… Do you have a class system? What is it? How is it structured? Does your society have statuses and roles? How does your society deal with poverty?

Stratification Systems In societies, groups of people are ranked in terms of their access to resources and life chances. Ex: slavery, caste systems, and estate or feudal systems Stratification systems in complex industrial societies tend to be based on social class. Although there are no legal barriers to social mobility in class stratification systems, mobility within the economic and prestige hierarchy is often quite difficult.

Class Inequality in the United States Sociologists indicate class stratification by measuring the disparities in income, wealth, occupational status, and educational attainment among groups in our society.

Class Inequality…cont’d Social class also affects people's culture, self- worth, and life chances. Images of social class in the mass media affect and reflect conceptions of wealth and poverty. Though more than half the population is working class or poor, images of these groups are usually negative or nonexistent.

Social Class in Magazines

Social Class in Television

Social Class in Movies

Middle Class-Downward Mobility Large proportion of American population is located in the MS, whose members are increasingly experiencing downward social mobility. Expectation of upward mobility is so ingrained in our culture that the downward mobility of the MS often has negative consequences

What are some causes of downward mobility?

Poverty the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions

Poverty…cont’d Poverty in the United States is related to the overall distribution of economic resources. The gap between rich and poor is growing; disparities in wealth are even more striking

Poverty…cont’d Who and where makes up the poorest of Americans? Racial and ethnic minorities people in rural areas and in the South single mothers and their children

Has Poverty Helped Society? It is beneficial for the rest of society in that it provides our economy with a reserve pool of labor, it keeps wages low, and it creates needs for many occupations and services. Socially, the poor provide others with a sense of moral worth and superiority, and reinforce the validity of values.