Can be categorised by actual age or by the
stages in life e.g. childhood, youth, adulthood
etc however these stages are socially
constructed and when each stage starts and
ends is varied from person to person
Childhood- Socially constructed. Uk Culture sees childhood as a
period of innocence, vulnerability and dependence. However in some
cultures childhood is not really a concept as children often get
married or become child soldiers at a young age (or work)
Youth- Between the ages of 12-25. Period of time in
which the person transitions from a child to an adult,
mostly associated with rebellion and resistance (UK).
Adulthood/ Middle Age- normally categorised by career and family, as most people
during this stage will move into their own home form relationships and have children
becoming independent from their parents. Middle age is associated with those in their
40s-50s, has quite negative connotations e.g. midlife crisi
Old age- Normally associated with those of
retirement age, 65-80. Also mainly negative links e.g ill
health and deterioration of physical ability.
Age relates to chronology and stages, such as
adulthood and childhood in a persons lifetime
Views
Feminism- Women are judged by factors such
as age. Society generally favours those of a
young age/ younger appearance
Marxism- Adults have the most power and
therefore get the most benefits, children are
negatively treated in society , but ageist conflict is
necessary
Functionalism- Age has no social benefits,
children and adults should get different
treatment to benefit society
Post Modernism- More children are being taken
seriously, younger people are taking over due to
the use of technology
Labelling Theory- Youth are now breaking away from the expectations of
generations before them, therefore they are negatively labelled as deviant.
Impression Management- Young people act in a polite way in public possibly as
a front, many young people have different aspects of personality that they show
according to who they are with i.e. family, friends. Looking Glass Self- young
people would look up to older people, and as adults have a higher status they
will take on their views and behaviours
Gender
Something that is fluid and ever changing
Males- the expectations of masculinity are
changing constantly and are different
according to varying cultures
Two types of Masculinity- 1)Aggressive
Masculinity linked to working class. 2)Hegemonic
Masculinity linked to socially desirable middle
class
Females- the way in which women are seen have
changed over the past 100 years (Appearance Behaviour
and roles)
Nurture
Primary and Secondary Socialisation
Radical Feminists- Believe gender is
socially constructed by a
patriarchal society leading to
inequality
Ann Oakley- Manipulation, Canalisation,
Verbal appellation and Different activites
(this leads to the differences in genders)
Nature
Functionalists
Mens role in the family is due to thier
physical ability, but it is reinforced by
socialisation
Females have an expressive
role, this is mainly due to the
ability to have children but is
also reinforced by
socialisation
Encourages collective consciousness, so
GRS is a form of social control. Social
variables replaced by Consumption
Biological view
Social construct created to set
labels norms and values to a person
because of their biological sex
Measured through both Quant
and Qualitative Methods
Marxism
Gender supports capitalism, as
women reproduce maintain and
support Capitalism due to their
GRS
Through having children Capitalism is
reinforced through teaching their
children with the norms and values of
capitalism.
Post Modernism
Equality is improving as norms and values
in gender are always changing in todays
society. Gender diversity is becoming
visible; altering modern days gender roles.
Interactionism
Labelling
Rejecting roles can allow negative labelling.
Impression Management
People are convinced that they must put on an 'act' to be
accepted, Women are more appearance wise (dress up and wear
makeup). Men have mores sense of their actions, having to act masculine
Looking glass self
Women
are persuaded by the
different socialisation
agencies that they must
appeal in a certain way.
They judge by how others
percieve them so they
change aspects of
themselves to fit in.
Sexuality
Measured through both Quant
and Qualitative Methods
describes sexual identity,
attraction and experiences
which do not necessarily
align with the persons sex
and gender.
Women are sexualised in the
media ('beautified for the male
gaze')
Rich (1980)- argues womens sexuality is
oppressed by men in a partiarchal
society, through marriage, sexual
violence and the sexual objectification.
Sexuality is a label given to a person based on the category of
gender find another sexually or romantically attractive.
Heterosexuality is seen as the norm however homosexuality is
becoming more accepted
Feminism- Heteronormativity is still
the norm, women are sexualised for
men in the media.
Marxism- Society is distracted by popular culture,
distracts from issues with non-heterosexual
individuals. Conflict theory; heteronormativity vs.
diverse sexual orientation
Heterosexuality is the norm as it serves
capitalism, as it reinforces reproduction.
Functionalist- Roles ensure that society runs smoothly, this includes the role
of being a heterosexual. The traditional nuclear family is believed to be the
best.
Post Modernism- Sexual diversity establishing among society.
Heteronormativity is breaking down, more rights to non
herterosexual individuals. The media starts normalising
homosexual relationships
Labelling- Non-heterosexuals
are given the label of their
orientation
Impression management- homosexuals
will conform to their social roles or create
a false persona
Looking glass self- non heterosexuals are
becoming more acceptable in western
culture, but many still worry about how
they are percieved
Ethnicity
Measured through
Qualitative Methods
National identity
Identity of the whole country
Which nation an individual identifies
themselves with
National identity is often shown through supporting your
national team in a sport, speaking that language or
displaying your pride by singing that countries national
anthem or waving their flag.
Nationality is the part of your
identity that determines your birth
place and your citizenship
Hybrid Identity
Someone's sense of who they are is
determined by two or more influences
E.g, Someones Nationality and identity
may be different (Identify as a British
person but also a Muslim; British and Asian
culture)
Is an identity formed with aspects made from
a mixture
Ethnic identity is made up of religion, language,
ethnic origin, skin colour and where we live.
Ethnicity relates to the sharing of similar
socialisation and culture within a group of
people in the same area.
Views on Ethnicity
Feminism- Supporting equality of
all females, ethnicity should not
divide them
Functionalism- Society benefits
everyone of any ethnicity, some
ethnicities should stay on uneven
grounds to keep society running
smoothly
Post Modernism-Equality is slowly improving
due to international groups fighting for ethnic
equality i.e. Black Lives Matter
Marxism- Conflict between people due to ethnicity is
needed, the ideal ethnicity should be given the most
power and benefits by society
Labelling theory- Western cultures label those with an ethnicity they
disagree with, which can be counted as racial slurs. These often develop to
harmful stereotypes. Impression Management- Communities of multiple
ethnicities keep to them selves and when put into a avoid harm. Looking
Glass Self- Ethnic minorities interact with others of different ethnicities
often, would rather gain perception of someone else due to their own
personal actions and their communities
Winston James (1993)- Experience of racism unified identities of
African-Caribbeans, their unifies cultures adopted the label black to
prevent racism in the UK
Identity means how your identity is shown in
society and seen by others. Social Action
(individual experience)
Class
Measured through
Quantitative Methods
Can be defined by a group
who share similar economic
status (annual income) and
social situation. Also seen
as a form of socialisation
some social classes
develop thier own norms
and values, cultures and
lifestyles.
This may affect how the
individual sees themselves and
others contributing to their
identity
Affects the circumstances of the childs upbringing and
relates to issues like health care, housing and the
education available.
Pierre Bourdieu
Believes that classes are determined by
Cultural, economic and social capital
Different types of Capital
Economic Capital-
Having Economic
resources such as
assets or cash
Social Capital- resources based on
being a member of a
group,relationship, having a network
of influence and support
Cultural Capital- The advantages that
someone has which gives them a
higher status in society. (Education/ Skills)
He argues that the most significant is Cultural
capital, which is passed on to the children
from the parents. (includes knowledge of high
culture and ettiquette ehich allows the
children to move up to high culture)
Views on class
Marxism- Capitalism ensures that women and the
proletariat occupy lower classes,
Feminism- Patriarchy places women in
lower class position
Functionalism- Meritocratic see class as fair
Post Modernism- CAGES replaced by consumption, as diversity
increases in how to gain wealth and income, the class system is
dismissed
Labelling theory- Class generates expectations of
behaviour, Impression Management- Those who are
considered to be in a certian class are expected to act a
cettain way- Cultural Capital, Looking glass self- They
conform to stereotypical activites and aspects to 'keep up
appearances'- Bourdon- Positional Theory.
Disability
Disability means to be differently abled;
this can be physically or mentally
Socially stigmatised as it seen as 'weird' to
differ obviously from the 'norm' (appearance
and natural ability
Views on Disability
Feminism- Everyone who has a disability should be
treated equally, but females with disability are treated
poorer then those who are able.
Marxism- Conflict; as being disabled is a
medical problem it clashes with the
able. Society benefits the powerful and
as able people are seen as normal they
are favoured.
Post Modernism- Disabled individuals are
becoming highly covered but in a positive
way. Also the advance in technology that is
aimed toward helping disabled individuals,
therefore helping them to blend into society
Functionalism- Society
can benefit both the able
and disabled, the disabled
are held below to keep
society running smoothly
Labeling theory- Their disability can become their master
status, which stops many other people looking past them
which makes disabled individuals feel uncomfortable in public.
Impression Management- People with disabilities have to act
more independent in public, but they will feel more
comfortable when they are alone or with close
friends/relatives. Looking Glass Self- disabled individuals know
that many people will only see them as their disability, which
makes them focus on what their impairments are rather than
what they are actually capable of.
Study on Disability- Gill
(2009) became disabled
from suffering from polio,
she claims that it is hard to
overcome previous beliefs
on the disabled once she
becomes disabled herself.