Kaylee LeDuc

SOC 105
December 7, 2015
ASSIGNMENT 8
1. Sociological imagination is a term coined by C. Wright Mills, the vivid awareness of
the relationship between personal experience and the wider society." An example of
sociological imagination would be a jury imagining themselves in the situation of a
victim, being capable of shifting from their typical perspective to that of someone
elses.
2. The three main theoretical perspectives in sociology are symbolic interactionism,
functionalism, and conflict theory. It is important to look at certain aspects of society
from different perspectives to gain a better understanding of how some parts of the
world fit together and how they work.
3. traditional society?
4. Studying society is risky-people attempt to keep secrets, people are afraid of
information, and people do not want to reveal all of the nooks and crannies of their
lives. One must always be cautious of the validity and reliability of their research.
5. Globalization is the process of the international world becoming more integrated,
through advances in technology, communication, and travel-people are becoming
more interconnected with and aware of each other than ever before. For some parts
of the world, it allows more opportunity and education. For others, it brings about
more oppression and undermines certain held values.
6. Ethnocentrism is the use of ones own culture as a yardstick for judging the ways of
other individuals or societies, generally leading to a negative evaluation of their
values, norms, and behaviors. Ethnocentrism usually causes people to arrogantly
believe their way of doing things is better than others, leaving them ignorant to other
ways of life and with a negative view of other societies. Cultural relativism is not
judging a culture, but trying to understand it on its own terms. Cultural relativism is
generally preferred, but more difficult to arrive at.
7.
8. Sex is the biological characteristics of a person, while gender is the social
characteristics. Society does not like ambiguity, and everyone is subsequently put
into a box depending upon their gender, which usually is assumed to aligned with
their sex. Form these assumptions come specific gender roles derived from harmful
stereotypes, and when people do not fit these specific bodies, they are faced with
oppression and confusion from those in power.

9. Race is derived from the physical characteristics that distinguish one group from
another, but it also is defined by several total myths that are socially constructed.
Most stereotypes that are founded in race are fruitless and debunked, finding little to
no foundation in biological or social facts. Due to these beliefs, certain races are
seen as superior while others are seriously oppressed, and denied certain rights.
10.
A persons social class defines their opportunities for education, occupation,
virtually any other aspect of their lives. Social class is difficult to overcome, and if a
person is born low, it is unlikely that they will be able to grow beyond the opportunities
that come with their class. It is obvious that certain classes receive better
opportunities to better their lives, and those without obvious opportunity would have to
work extra hard to change the outcome basically handed to them by their social class.