Sociology Ch. 2 Culture Values in U.S. Society

Value Clusters: Def.- Values that fit together to form a larger whole. Values are not independent units, one may need to consider other interrelated values that, when combined, constitute a value cluster in order to grasp the full dimension of any particular value or values. As example, to fully understand success as a core American value, one might want to examine the value cluster that surrounds success. This may include a number of interrelated values, such as hard work, education, efficiency, material comfort, and individualism. -Success is attributed to the individual’s efforts; lack of success is blamed on his or her faults.

Value Contradictions & Social Change: Value Contradictions: Def.- Values that contradict one another; to follow the one means to come into conflict with the other. -meaning- if two or more values contradict each other, it is impossible to follow one without violating the other.

Examples in American History: You can not claim freedom, democracy or equality- and still have racism or sexism - Civil War -Women’s Suffrage Movement

Emerging Values A value cluster of four interrelated values; - Leisure - Self-fulfillment - Physical Fitness - Youthfulness is emerging in the United States. A fifth core value is also emerging - Concern for the Environment

Culture Wars: When Values Clash Changes in core values are met with strong resistance by people who hold them dear. They see the change as a threat to their way of life, an undermining of both their present and their future. - Efforts to change gender roles -Support of alternative family structures *Traditionalist strictly defend historical ideals Today’s clash in values is so severe that the term culture wars has been coined to refer to it.

Values as Blinders Just as values and their supporting beliefs paint a unique picture of reality, so they also form a view of what life ought to be like. As example, people in the United States believe that America is a land of “equal opportunity”- often people are “blinded” to real life impediments, discriminations and inequalities- that millions of Americans face.

2009 Poverty Thresholds, Selected Family Types Single Individual Under 65 years$ 11, years & older $ 10,289 Single Parent One child$ 14,787 Two children$ 17,285 Two Adults No children$ 14,366 One child $ 17,268 Two children$ 21,756 Three children$ 25,603

How does poverty differ across subgroups? The poverty rate for all persons masks considerable variation between racial/ethnic subgroups. Poverty rates for blacks and Hispanics greatly exceed the national average. In 2009, 25.8 percent of blacks and 25.3 percent of Hispanics were poor, compared to 9.4 percent of non-Hispanic whites and 12.5 percent of Asians. Poverty rates are highest for families headed by single women, particularly if they are black or Hispanic. In 2009, 29.9 percent of households headed by single women were poor, while 16.9 percent of households headed by single men and 5.8 percent of married-couple households lived in poverty. There are also differences between native-born and foreign-born residents. In 2009, 19.0 percent of foreign-born residents lived in poverty, compared to 13.7 percent of residents born in the United States. Foreign-born, non- citizens had an even higher incidence of poverty, at a rate of 25.1 percent. How many children live in poverty? Children represent a disproportionate share of the poor in the United States; they are 25 percent of the total population, but 35 percent of the poor population. In 2008, million children, or 20.7 percent, were poor. The poverty rate for children also varies substantially by race and Hispanic origin.

“Ideal” versus “Real” Culture Many of the norms that surround cultural values are only partially followed. Differences always exist between a group’s ideals and what its members actually do. Ideal Culture: Def.- the ideal values and norms of a people; the goals held out for them. Real Culture: Def.- the norms and values that people actually follow.

Differences always exist between a group’s ideals and what its members actually do. Sociologists use the term, “ideal culture,” to refer to the values, norms, and goals that a group of people considers worthy and important What people actually do, however, often falls short of their ideals; consequently, sociologists call the values and norms that people actually follow “real culture.”

Cultural Universals Considering the amazing variety of human cultures around the world, are there any cultural universals- values, norms, or other cultural traits that are found everywhere? Cultural Universals: Def.- a values, norm or other cultural trait that is found in every group.

Cultural Universals Small Group Activity Create a list of what you feel George Murdoch was theorizing about- what events / activities need to take place in every type of culture? -list paper & marker

To explore this question, anthropologist George Murdoch drew up a list of a number of universal activities; - Courtship - Marriage - Funerals - Games - Laws - Music - Myths - Toilet Training

Sociobiology: Def.- a framework of thought that views human behavior as the result of natural selection and considers biological characteristics to be the fundamental cause of human behavior.

Sociologists believe: -the cultural components that guides human behavior, concluding that social learning & social experiences are the primary determinants of human behavior. Sociobiologists believe: that human behavior is primarily determined by natural selection and genetics. Sociologists and Sociobiologists disagree over the fundamental underpinnings of human behavior.