Sociology: The Essentials

Front Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Brief Contents
CONTENTS
Boxes Maps (lists)
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
PART I: INTRODUCING THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
1 The Sociological Perspective
What Is Sociology?
The Sociological Perspective
The Significance of Diversity
The Development of Sociological Theory
Theoretical Frameworks in Sociology
Chapter Summary
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Debunking the Myths of Black Teenage Motherhood
UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY: Become a Sociologist
WHAT WOULD THEY SAY NOW?: Classical Theorists Reflect on the War in Afghanistan
KEY SOCIOLOGICAL CONCEPTS
CAREERS IN SOCIOLOGY
PART II: STUDYING SOCIETY AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE
2 Culture and the Media
Defining Culture
The Elements of Culture
Cultural Diversity
The Mass Media and Popular Culture
Theoretical Perspectives on Culture and the Media
Cultural Change
Chapter Summary
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Tattoos: Status Risk or Status Symbol?
UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY: The Social Meaning of Language
WHAT WOULD THEY SAY NOW?: Classical Theorists on Hip-Hop!
A SOCIOLOGICAL EYE ON THE MEDIA: The Blogging Culture
3 Doing Sociological Research
The Research Process
The Tools of Sociological Research
Research Ethics: Is Sociology Value Free?
Chapter Summary
A SOCIOLOGICAL EYE ON THE MEDIA: Research and the Media
STATISTICS IN SOCIOLOGY
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: The “Baby Einstein” Program: A Farce?
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: A Cop in the Hood: Participant Observation
4 Socialization and the Life Course
The Socialization Process
Agents of Socialization
Theories of Socialization
Growing Up in a Diverse Society
Aging and the Life Course
Resocialization
Chapter Summary
UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY: My Childhood (Bong Hwan Kim)
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Children’s Understanding of Race
5 Social Interaction and Social Structure
What Is Society?
What Holds Society Together?
Types of Societies
Social Interaction and Society
Theories About Analyzing Social Interaction
Interaction in Cyberspace
Chapter Summary
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Doing Hair, Doing Class
6 Groups and Organizations
Types of Groups
Social Influence in Groups
Formal Organizations and Bureaucracies
Diversity: Race, Gender, and Class in Organizations
Functional, Conflict, and Symbolic Interaction: Theoretical Perspectives
Chapter Summary
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Sharing the Journey
7 Deviance and Crime
Defining Deviance
Sociological Theories of Deviance
Forms of Deviance
Crime and Criminal Justice
Terrorism as International Crime: A Global Perspective
Chapter Summary
WHAT WOULD THEY SAY NOW?: Classical Theorists Reflect on Rampage Shootings
A SOCIOLOGICAL EYE ON THE MEDIA: Images of Violent Crime
UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY: The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison
PART III: SOCIAL INEQUALITIES
8 Social Class and Social Stratification
Social Differentiation and Social Stratification
The Class Structure of the United States: Growing Inequality
The Distribution of Income and Wealth
Analyzing Social Class
Social Mobility: Myths and Realities
Why Is There Inequality?
Poverty
Chapter Summary
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: The Fragile Middle Class
A SOCIOLOGICAL EYE ON THE MEDIA: Reproducing Class Stereotypes
WHAT WOULD THEY SAY NOW?: Classical Theorists Reflect on Social Class and Sports
9 Global Stratification
Global Stratification
Theories of Global Stratification
Consequences of Global Stratification
World Poverty
Globalization and Social Change
Chapter Summary
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Servants of Globalization: Who Does the Domestic Work?
UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY: War, Childhood, and Poverty
10 Race and Ethnicity
Race and Ethnicity
Racial Stereotypes
Prejudice, Discrimination, and Racism
Theories of Prejudice and Racism
Diverse Groups, Diverse Histories
Attaining Racial and Ethnic Equality: The Challenge
Chapter Summary
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AMERICAN APARTHEID
UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY: Race and Hurricane Katrina
11 Gender
The Social Construction of Gender
Gender Socialization
Gender Stratification
Theories of Gender
Gender in Global Perspective
Gender and Social Change
Chapter Summary
A SOCIOLOGICAL EYE ON THE MEDIA: Cultural Gatekeepers and the Construction of Femininity
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Eating Disorders: Gender, Race, and the Body
12 Sexuality
Sex and Culture
Contemporary Sexual Attitudes and Behavior
Sexuality and Sociological Theory
Sex, Diversity, and Inequality
Sex and Social Issues
Sex and Social Change
Chapter Summary
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Teens and Sex: Are Young People Becoming More Sexually Conservative?
WHAT WOULD THEY SAY NOW?: Classical Theorists Reflect on Sex and Popular Culture
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Is Hooking Up Bad for Women?
UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY: Gay-Bashing and Gender Betrayal
PART IV: SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
13 Families and Religion
FAMILIES
Defining The Family
Sociological Theory and Families
Diversity Among Contemporary American Families
Marriage and Divorce
Changing Families in a Changing Society
RELIGION
Defining Religion
The Significance of Religion in the United States
Sociological Theories of Religion
Diversity and Religious Belief
Religious Organizations
Religion and Social Change
Chapter Summary
UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY: Interracial Dating and Marriage
A SOCIOLOGICAL EYE ON THE MEDIA: Idealizing Family Life
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Men’s Caregiving
14 Education and Health Care
EDUCATION
Schooling and Society
The Sociology of Education: Theoretical Perspectives
Does Schooling Matter?
Education and Inequality
Educational Reform
HEALTH CARE
Health Care in the United States
The Sociology of Medicine: Theoretical Perspectives
Health and Inequality
The Health Care Crisis in the United States
Chapter Summary
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Homeroom Security
15 Politics and the Economy
POLITICS
Power, Politics, and the State
Power and Authority
Theories of Power
Government: Power and Politics in a Diverse Society
THE ECONOMY
Economy and Society
The Changing Global Economy
Sociological Perspectives on Work
Characteristics of the Labor Force
Power in the Workplace
Chapter Summary
UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY: Diversity in the Power Elite
DOING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: All in the Family: Children of Immigrants and Family Businesses
PART V: SOCIAL CHANGE
16 Population, the Environment, and Social Change
POPULATION
Demography and the U.S. Census
Diversity and the Three Basic Demographic Processes
Population Characteristics
Theories of Population Growth Locally and Globally
Checking Population Growth
Urbanization
THE ENVIRONMENT
Vanishing Resources
Environmental Pollution Disasters
The Pollution Continues
Environmental Inequality
Feminism and the Environment
Environmental Policy
SOCIAL CHANGE
What Is Social Change?
Theories of Social Change
Global Theories of Social Change
Modernization
The Causes of Social Change
Collective Behavior and Social Movements
Diversity, Globalization, and Social Change
Chapter Summary
Glossary
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References
Name Index
Subject INDEX
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World Map