Sociological Perspective Lecture One Sociological Perspective

The Sociological Perspective Sociology seeks to understand the relationship between the individual and society.

C Wright Mills: Sociological Imagination A quality of mind that allows us to connect: “Personal troubles of the milieu” with “Public issues of social structure” Examining these relationships gives us the knowledge to understand society, our place in it, and the ability to make changes

HIV/AIDS Globally Almost 39 million people around the world are living with HIV – slightly more than the population of Poland. Nearly two-thirds of them live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa has been hit hardest by HIV. UNAids and the WHO no longer talk of a single African epidemic but of highly varied outbreaks across the continent. Starting in the late 1970s and early 1980s, HIV spread in a band from West Africa across to the Indian Ocean, before moving to the southern countries where its grip is now strongest. South Africa has the most cases in the world, with five million. Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland have the highest percentage of people who are HIV positive. Lesotho now has the highest rate Examples: HIV/AIDS and iPod HIV: How can we explain the fact the higher rate of HIV among Southern Africans? What is the relationship between an individual contracting HIV and the larger society? Individual choices but within a context. How can we explain why a rural mother in Africa contracted HIV? Less power Husband migrates for his job Poverty, poor nutrition, health care, etc. Global inequality is one of the primary reasons for the unequal distribution of HIV/AIDS globally Although we are taught that HIV is the consequence of individual actions, we see that the social context play a significant role Poverty leads to a compromised immune system and the susceptibility of individuals to acquire the virus and develop AIDS

Understanding and Explaining HIV/AIDS Cultural Explanations Social Structure Explanations Political Explanations Individual Explanations

Social Consciousness Wrote during a time of social change and challenges to authority – 1960 – 1970s This greatly influenced his writings and you can see that his ideas about sociology emphasize ‘skepticism’ more than Mills ideas… Sociological perspective is form a consciousness that enables us to see "reality" behind the "facades" Sometimes there are major historical events or changes that expose them…for example, Hurricane Katrina unmasked the poverty and racism that still permeates the South and urban areas…people and news papers began talking about these issues. Debunking A sociological perspective debunks commonly held notions and taken-for-granted ideas… Race and Hurricane Katrina that it is in fact alive and well… “It can be said that the first wisdom of sociology is this – things are not what they seem.” Social construction of reality He was also interested in how we construct reality and “truth”…for example we may believe that the differences between the genders are true and real…we do not construct them, but they just exist… Therefore, sociological questions look beyond what is commonly accepted or officially defined goals of human actions… And to ask sociological questions is to: Like the sociological imagination, social consciousness helps us understand ourselves… Berger says that social-consciousness is self-consciousness… “Society does not stop at our skins. Society penetrates us as much as it envelopes us” In fact we can’t….. We cannot separate our understanding of ourselves from an understanding of society or think of ourselves without social reference Can you think of an aspect of your own identity that is not based on a social category or social referent? The Sociological Perspective is: A quality of mind; a way of understanding everyday life Used to reveal how the context of society shapes our lives and the lives of others Sociology shows us how ‘reality’ is socially constructed and context specific Social consciousness is self consciousness Another sociologist, Peter Berger, believes that we need a social consciousness or “A form of consciousness that enables us to see the "reality" behind the "facades." He asks us to critically examine the things that are familiar to us as unfamiliar “It can be said that the first wisdom of sociology is this – things are not what they seem.”

Practicing Social Consciousness Have you ever asked yourself: Why do women shave their legs? Why is it normal in our culture for women to shave their legs and not men?

Asking How & Why (and when) with Social Consciousness When did this ideal emerge? How did this ideal emerge? Why did this ideal emerge?

The Origins of Sociology The sociological discipline emerged at the end of the 19th C at the intersection of 3 major revolutions Scientific Revolution: idea that we can objectively study society Democratic Revolution: idea that ‘the people’ are responsible for making decisions that shape and change society (not God) Industrial Revolution: created significant and lasting changes in society and people’s daily lives

Karl Marx (1818-1883) Association of Marx with Communism obscure his contribution to sociology and his ideas. Communism is a later application of his ideas. Marx focused on the economic relations of society as the source and solution of social conflict He believed that social scientist’s task is to analyze and explain conflict, which drives social change

Emile Durkheim (1858-1918) While Marx was concerned with the source of conflict in society, Durkheim wondered what tied people to each other and society Focused on division of labor in society Durkheim believed that the social scientist’s task is to analyze and explain solidarity and the mechanisms through which it is achieved

Max Weber (1864-1920) Weber believed that the structure of society could be explained by observing the behavior of people in society that supports that structure and the ideas/values that motivate those actions. Focused on how society became rationally organized Weber believed that social scientist’s task is to explain the course and consequences of social action He was concerned with social actions and the meaning people attach to their behavior.

Why are the DWEM’s still relevant? Early sociologists studied the rapid and far-reaching changes that brought by Industrialization; these changes are the foundation of the society we live in today Globalization – cultural, social, and economic interdependence Post-Industrial society – economy based on services and education Rationalization – dominance of value-rational thought/action Division of labor and specialization – jobs, education, geography