A way of identifying yourself
through personal aspects e.g. your
name
Social identity
Is how your sense of identity
is developed by the way
others see you.
How is it formed?
Primary Socialisation
The first type of socialisation that
happens, this occurs in the family
Secondary Socialisation
The second type of
socialisation that occurs,
this happens through
education and the media
etc
Social variables - CAGES
Class
The upper class, the middle class, the
working class
When judging someone on their social class you would take into
consideration; their income, possessions, lifestyle and norms and
values etc
Views on class
Feminism
Gender inequality; women earn less and gain
less power than men.
Working class women perform
unpaid labour such as running a
household
Marxism
Conflict between social classes caused by power
Upper class benefitted most
Functionalism
Society benefits everyone of all social classes
Needed to make society run smoothly
Postmodernism
Norms and values are always changing,
equality is improving.
The rise of gender diversity
Theorists
Parsons (1995)
Females have an
expressive role in the
house, whereas males
have an instrumental role.
Mac an Ghail (1994)
Focusing on hyper
masculinity among males
This includes policing their own and others sexualities, noting
the clear insecurity of the working class man as their identity as
the breadwinner and the masculine figure is lost.
Jackson (2006)
Women adopting laddish- a form of masculinity.
These women labelled as ladettes perform risky
duties like drinking and smoking.
Age
Seen as a stage in the life course; childhood, youth
and adulthood. These are socially determined and
structured.
Views on class
Feminism
Women are largely judged by
factors such as age.
Society favours young or young looking
women
Marxism
Ageist conflict is necessary
Adults have the most power and benefit most whereas children
are negatively treated
Functionalism
Age has no relation to social benefits
Adults and children
will remain to be
treated differently
to benefit society.
Postmodernism
Young people are taking over and possibly taking
advantage of their education to be taken more seriously
Technology is advancing by
young people
Theorists
Postman (1982)
The creation of the innocent child
A rise of parents protecting their children from
dangers such as sexuality and death
As technology is emerging the innocent child figure is disappearing
Featherstone and Hepworth (2005)
The media can positively and negatively change attitudes
of ageing.- more positive images occur as the population is
ageing
This is shown through retro fashions being mimicked in
today's society
Gender
Being male or female- this is said to have a huge effect on how
people view you
This links to the gender roles put in place within society for both genders. -
being feminine and masculine.
As society evolves the gender
roles begin to become less
relevant.
Gender roles have changed over time- women were previously
the housewife role and men being the breadwinner, however
women are more focusing on their careers
Views on gender
Feminism
Gender equality doesn't exist,
society is patriarchal
Secondary socialisation cam be harmful to women
(causes body image issues.)
Marxism
Pop culture distracts society from gender inequality
Conflict theory- gender inequality is necessary
Society benefits those in power (in
a patriarchal society) males benefit
most.
Functionalism
Society benefits everyone in different ways- no matter their gender.
Gender roles are vital in society, with the roles it allows society to run smoothly.
Post Modernism
Norms and values in gender are always changing- equality is improving
Gender diversity is widely emerging, altering gender roles.
Masculinity
2 types
Aggressive masculinity
Socially desirable
aggressiveness, desired by
working class
Hegemony masculinity
Socially desirable masculinity, desired
by middle class
Theorists
Parsons (1995)
Functionalist- gender is natural and reinforced
Ethnicity
Ethnicity relates to culture
and how we all have an
ethnic identity.
As society develops there becomes a
range of cultural characteristics that
make determining ethnic identity more
complex.
Views on ethnicity
Feminism
Supporting equality of all females- ethnicity
should not divide them.
Marxism
Ethnic conflict is
needed when there is
equality.
The ideal ethnicity - which in most western
countries is white people would be given the
most power and benefits in society
Functionalism
Society benefits all ethnicities
Certain ethnicities should remain unequal
to keep society running smoothly
Postmodernism
Equality is slowly improving
The creation of international movements for equality- Black Lives Matter
Theorists
Hewitt (2005)
Studied the negative
perception of
multiculturalism.
White working class people
were noted to defend their
ethnicities from ethnic
minorities
Winston James (1993)
Experience of racism unified identities of
African- Caribbeans
Their unified culture adopted the
label "black" to prevent racism in the
UK
Sexuality
Society and especially the
media seem obsessed with
images relating to
secuality.
Feminists in particular are concerned with the way in which women are portrayed through their sexuality.( As sexual objects for men to objectify.)
Views on sexuality
Feminsim
Heteronormativity is still the norm, women are
sexualised for men in the media- pornography and
prostitution.
Linked to domestic violence and rape in society.
Women are objectified and
treated as products of an
orgasm
Marxism
heterosexuality is the norm because it serves capitalism
It reproduces children to become
workers to later exploit.
Society is distracted by popular culture
Functionalism
Roles ensure society is running
smoothly , this includes the role
of heteronormativity
The traditional nuclear family is
believed to be best.
Post-modernism
Sexual diversity is
establishing
among society
Media starts normalising
homosexual relationships
Theorists
Rich (1980)
Womens sexuality is oppressed by
the patriarchy, this is by
objectification
Women take part in a compulsory heterosexuality, they are
socialised into heterosexual role for men, lesbian identity is
erased or seen as a threat to males or again objectified.
Weeks (1991)
"sexual identification is a strange thing"
Sexuality is more complex than other
aspects of identity
People may or may not participate in sexual
activity with those they are sexually attracted to