F soc usic lecture seven

LECTURE SEVEN

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Effective from September 2015 | F_Soc USIC Sociology week 7 - Society

Contents

1. Review from Lecture Six2. Structure and Agency 3. Personal and Social Identity4. Primary and Secondary Socialisation?5. Conclusion6. Homework

sheffield.ac.uk/international-college*

sheffield.ac.uk/international-collegeIn order to fully understand sociological thinking and the origins of sociology we need to discuss the history of sociology through relevant past events, the influential sociologists that developed theories or ideas based on those events and the details of the sociological theories they established that are still used in sociological studies today. *


Review of Lecture SixLast week we discussed how social structures, including social institutions, order our lives. We also discussed the types of power that we encounter in our daily lives.

We examined the relationship between social structures and individuals, from Structuralist Functionalist, Marxist and Feminist perspectives.sheffield.ac.uk/international-college*

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Identity Identity refers to the sense that someone has of who they are and of what is most important about them. (Haralambos and Holborn 2013: 729).Identity involves making comparisons between people and establishing similarities and differences between them. Those who are believed to be similar share aspects of their identity.Important sources of identity are likely to include: nationality, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, religion and social class. Example: An individual can be British-Asian, heterosexual, female, Hindu and middle-class. sheffield.ac.uk/international-college*


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Types of IdentityTypes of identity:

Personal Identity: refers to how a person thinks about him/herself.

Social Identity: refers to how individuals are perceived by others.

Therefore personal identity is an individuals view of themselves while social identity is societys view of the individual.

sheffield.ac.uk/international-college*

sheffield.ac.uk/international-collegeIn sociology the most commonly discussed types of identity are:Personal identity-refers to how a person thinks about themselvesSocial identity-refers to how they are perceived by others.Therefore identity is an individuals internal view of themselves while social identity is societys external view of the individual. Jenkins (1996) argues that social identity is our understanding of who we are and of whom other people are. Identity involves making comparisons between people and establishing similarities and differences between them. Those who are believed to be similar share aspects of their identity. *


The concept of identity has become increasingly important in sociology due to the fast pace of changes and transitions experienced by the contemporary societies.Examples: gender roles, work patterns, technology, globalization, migration, environmental degradation etc. sheffield.ac.uk/international-college*The meaning of masculinity and femininity are less clear cut than they use to be. In early 20th century gender roles were very clear marked by the clothes men and women wore to the roles they played in society. Men worked and were seen as the breadwinners. Women stayed home and took care of the children and the home. These behaviours and actions enforced societies interpretation of masculine and feminine behaviour


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How are identities formed?There are two central questions about the formation of identities in the social sciences: How are identities formed?To what extent do we shape our own identities?

People actively shape and change their own identities, for example people have a great deal of choice about what social groups to join, through forms of consumption etc.

At the same time however, societal factors play a significant role.sheffield.ac.uk/international-college*

sheffield.ac.uk/international-collegeThere are two central questions about the formation of identities in the social sciences. The first asks: to what extent do we shape our own identities? How are identities formed? According to postmodernists people actively create their own identities, people have a great deal of choice about what social groups to join, and through shopping and other forms of consumption people can shape and change their identities. Identity is partially subjective but also partially external and dependent on judgment of others. For instance you may choose to support a certain sports team, but find it more difficult to make a personal decision about your gender identity. Or you may see yourself as a man but everybody else might see you as a woman. *


Structure and agency debateIdentity is formed through a combination of individual agency and structural restrictions.

Agency is the capacity of individuals to act independently and to make their own free choices.

Structure refers to those factors of influence e.g. social class, gender, ethnicity, culture, etc that determine or limit an individuals decisions. sheffield.ac.uk/international-college*



Identity and SociologyThere are different arguments proposing how identities are formed. George Mead (1863-1931) an American philosopher and sociologist argued that human development involves imagining the way others view us. Our identity is linked to the external identity others bestow upon us.

Erving Goffman (1922-1982) a Canadian-born sociologist and writer saw the social world as a play. Individuals put on a performance for others to convince them of who they are. By presenting themselves in particular roles individuals develop identities.

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) an Austrian neurologist believed that childhood experiences, often unconscious, were vital for the development of identities in adulthood, particularly gender and sexual identities. sheffield.ac.uk/international-college*


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Identity and CultureIdentities can be formed through the cultures and sub-cultures to which people belong, however, different theoretical viewpoints see the relationship between culture and identity in different ways.According to Structuralist views identity is formed by peoples involvement in particular cultures and sub-cultures.e.g. people who identify themselves as Christian would be expected to have a strong Christian Identity.

Post-modernist theories, however, stress the diversity of factors influencing identity.For example one could identify himself/herself as Muslim, secular, feminist, liberal and multicultural, vegetarian etc.sheffield.ac.uk/international-college*


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Effective from September 2015 | F_Soc USIC Sociology week 7 - Society Effective from September 2015 | FY10 Sociology week 2 - Society

Identity & Socializationsheffield.ac.uk/international-college*Socialization describes the process of how we are taught the behavioral rules we need to become both a member of a particular society/culture and a competent social individual.Through socialization, the individual learns the culture of their society. Young children for instance are expected to learn the roles, norms and values they will need to function in society from their family and school; these elements are not inherent in children but taught.


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Two forms of Socializationsheffield.ac.uk/international-college*Primary Socialisation: takes place within the family where children learn common goals, appropriate behaviour and gender roles.Secondary Socialisation: takes place outside the home, mainly in schools and in the community. Here children learn to treat each other according to certain rules that apply to everyone (e.g. sharing, respect) and to conform to these rules. Parents and teachers become socializing agents and have the responsibility for preparing children for adult society. Differences in adult backgrounds means that not all children are raised with identical norms and values.Differences in culture, language, values, beliefs, norms and traditions can influence the socialisation processes.


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sheffield.ac.uk/international-college*In some instances where children are not socialized at all they fail to show the social and psychological development expected from a socialized child (e.g. walking upright, talking, etc.

Genie was a 13 year old girl from California who was discovered having never been socialized by her parents. In 1970 Genie was found by authorities to have been locked in a room, having never been spoken to or nurtured by either of her parents. Genie could not walk upright, speak and was developmentally delayed because she had been abused and neglected all her life. Watch Genie Wiley - TLC Documentary (2003) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjZolHCrC8E


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Summary This week we learned about the significance of social structures and agency on human behaviour. We also discussed how beliefs, values and norms influence an individuals identity. Identity refers to the sense that someone has of who they are and of what is most important to them. Important sources of identity are nationality, ethnicity, sexuality, gender and social classThere are two types of identity: Personal Identity and Social IdentityIdentities can be formed through external influences or socialization, stemming from culture. Debates on identity enable us to gain greater awareness into why people behave the way they do and what factors cause people to behave they way they do, how people are socialized, how they perceive themselves and how society perceives them.sheffield.ac.uk/international-college*


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Review lecture and prepare questions for seminar oneRead Giddens pp.334-344 available on MOLE.Homeworksheffield.ac.uk/international-college*


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*In order to fully understand sociological thinking and the origins of sociology we need to discuss the history of sociology through relevant past events, the influential sociologists that developed theories or ideas based on those events and the details of the sociological theories they established that are still used in sociological studies today. *

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*In sociology the most commonly discussed types of identity are:Personal identity-refers to how a person thinks about themselvesSocial identity-refers to how they are perceived by others.Therefore identity is an individuals internal view of themselves while social identity is societys external view of the individual. Jenkins (1996) argues that social identity is our understanding of who we are and of whom other people are. Identity involves making comparisons between people and establishing similarities and differences between them. Those who are believed to be similar share aspects of their identity. *

*There are two central questions about the formation of identities in the social sciences. The first asks: to what extent do we shape our own identities? How are identities formed? According to postmodernists people actively create their own identities, people have a great deal of choice about what social groups to join, and through shopping and other forms of consumption people can shape and change their identities. Identity is partially subjective but also partially external and dependent on judgment of others. For instance you may choose to support a certain sports team, but find it more difficult to make a personal decision about your gender identity. Or you may see yourself as a man but everybody else might see you as a woman. *

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F soc usic lecture seven

Education

Transcript of F soc usic lecture seven