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1: Sociological Concepts, Intersectionality, and other Theoretical Perspectives

  • Page ID
    189692
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    • Section 1.1: Sociological Perspective and Sociological Imagination
      The social structure plays an integral role in the social location (i.e., place or position) people occupy in society. Your social location is a result of cultural values and norms from the time-period and place in which you live. Culture effects personal and social development including the way people will think or behave. Cultural characteristics pertaining to age, gender, race, education, income and other social factors influence the location people occupy at any given time.
    • Section 1.2: Defining Race, Ethnicity, and Identity
      While many people conflate the terms “race” and ” ethnicity,” these terms have distinct meanings for sociologists. The idea of race refers to superficial physical differences that a particular society considers significant, while ethnicity is a term that describes shared culture. Sociologists distinguish between the "biological" definitions of race vs. the social construction of race.
    • Section 1.3: Socioeconomic Status, Gender, Sexuality
      Identity shapes our perceptions and the way we categorize people. Our individual and collective views influence our thinking. Regardless of personal, cultural, or universal identity people naturally focus on traits, values, behaviors, and practices or behaviors they identify with and have a tendency to dismiss those they do not.
    • Section 1.4: Intersectionality
      Identity shapes our perceptions and the way we categorize people. Our individual and collective views influence our thinking. Regardless of personal, cultural, or universal identity people naturally focus on traits, values, behaviors, and practices or behaviors they identify with and have a tendency to dismiss those they do not.
    • Section 1.5: Sociological Theoretical Perspectives
      We can examine issues of race and ethnicity through five different sociological perspectives: functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, intersection theory, and critical race theory. As you read through these theories, ask yourself which one makes the most sense and why. Do we need more than one theory to explain racism, prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination?


    This page titled 1: Sociological Concepts, Intersectionality, and other Theoretical Perspectives is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Carlos Ramos.

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