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Introduction to Sociology

Sylvia Kimm (un.kimm@mail.mcgill.ca). Introduction to Sociology. Table of Content. Sociology (?) How it came to be! Marx - power Durkheim – suicide Weber – Verstehen Social issues Tocqueville – grassroots activism. Sociology?. Who studies this (?!). Common Misconceptions.

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Introduction to Sociology

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  1. Sylvia Kimm (un.kimm@mail.mcgill.ca) Introduction to Sociology

  2. Table of Content • Sociology (?) • How it came to be! • Marx - power • Durkheim – suicide • Weber – Verstehen • Social issues • Tocqueville – grassroots activism

  3. Sociology? Who studies this (?!)

  4. Common Misconceptions • No job … • Frowned upon • Radical • Difficult

  5. But sociology is really about… • Sociology: scientific study of ppl in groups – the relationships btw ppl and the social structures they develop (Sproule) • Goal of sociology = to understand social behavior (how ppl interact) • Study – individuals, families, communities, nations – social issues

  6. How it came to be.. (Origin) • West – Middle East – East • Philosophy, IbnKhaldun, Confucius • Auguste Comte (1798 – 1857) • Emile Durkheim (1858 – 1917) • Sociological method, sociology as science • Suicide (1897)

  7. Approaches to Sociology • Structural functionalism (Durkheim) • Like the organs of the body – serves a function • Social problems are temporary – illness • Conflict theory (Marx) • Power holds society together • Competition, conflict bring in change – class conflict

  8. Approaches to Sociology continued… • Symbolic interactionism(Weber) • How individuals learn about their culture – internal motivation • Feminist sociology (Smith) • Women and gender inequality in society • Social roles of men & women • Domestic violence, date rape, stalking

  9. Karl Marx (1818 – 1883) • Born and raised in Germany • Collaborated with Friedrich Engels • Positivist - social laws • Dialectical Materialism • Historical Dialectic • Thesis vs. Antithesis = Synthesis • Materialism • Historical stages

  10. Karl Marx continued… • Power (diff forms of power) • All controlled by the capitalists • State – either instrumental or relatively autonomous • Revolution was inevitable • Material hardship & class consciousness

  11. Emile Durkheim • Focus on consensus not conflict • What holds societies together • Society = organism • Focus on social unity • Collective conscious, rituals • Society far IMP than individuals • Society as…god? (darker side of consensus)

  12. Durkheim continued… • Civil society • Focuses on norms of civility and active associational participation • Identity politics • Nationalism – common political identity • Common experience, education, common culture

  13. Durkheim continued… • Suicide • men than women • single than married • without children than with children. • Protestants than Catholics and Jews. • soldiers than civilians. • in times of peace than in times of war • Scandinavian countries. • education level

  14. Max Weber (1864 – 1920) • Degree in law but extensively studied economics, history, classics, and more • Periods of severe mental illness • Unlike Marx – social world is too complicated! • Interested in power • The Rise of the West • Protestant ethics • Bureaucracy (Dark side of bureaucracy) - Iron cage

  15. Weber continued… • Types of authority: • Charismatic Authority – Martin Luther King Jr., Hitler, Mussolini • Traditional Authority – Emperor, King • Legal-Rational Authority – President, politicians

  16. Social issues! • Racism • Documentary film – Race: the Power of an illusion • Immigration • Documentary film – Who Get’s In • Peace movement • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGw6k7PUmiA • Gender development • Honor crimes, acid attacks • SNS – post-modern world • Post-modern workplace settings

  17. How can I make an influence? • Individual vs. Bureaucracy • Robert Michels – Iron Law of Oligarchy

  18. You too can make a difference! • Alexis de Tocqueville - Associationism • Marx – communication among proletariats • Grassroots activism/ movement • Arab Spring • Liberian Women’s Peace Movement • McGill – Tuition protest (?!)

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