Core Sociological Concepts
Define "Social Norm"
Expected behavior within a society or group.
What is "status"?
A recognizable social position someone occupies (e.g., teacher, manager, president).
What is Intersectionality?
Coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw.
Examines how race, class, gender, sexuality, age, and ability intersect to create unique experiences of oppression or privilege.
Who was Karl Marx?
He was a philosopher who came up with Marx’s Conflict Theory
What is the push-pull theory?
Push-Pull Theory: People migrate due to 'push' factors (e.g., poverty, violence) and 'pull' factors (e.g., job opportunities, safety).
What is a Social Construct
An idea or concept created and accepted by the people in a society (e.g., race, gender).
Define "role"
The duties and behaviors expected of someone who holds a particular status.
What is Classism?
Classism: Wage gaps and limited upward mobility.
What is capitalist exploitation?
Capitalist exploitation happens when the rich or owners (capitalists) make money by paying workers less than the value of the work they do. The workers do all the hard work, but the owners keep most of the profit.
Define “refugee”
A refugee is someone who has been forced to leave their home country because of danger, such as war, violence, persecution, or natural disasters. They flee to another country for safety, often with no choice or time to prepare.
Define Sociological Imagination
The ability to see the relationship between personal experiences and broader social forces.
Explain “Path of Least Resistance”
to follow the easiest, most accepted route in social systems to avoid conflict or exclusion.
Name 2 types of oppression in the workplace.
White Privilege: More access to leadership, leniency in mistakes.
Sexism: Gender wage gaps, harassment.
Define “Stigma” (Goffman)
Stigma: A powerful negative label that changes a person's social identity.
What is Environmental Justice?
Environmental Justice is the idea that everyone, regardless of race, class, or background, should have equal access to a healthy environment and should not be unfairly affected by pollution or environmental hazards.
What is Social Structure?
The organized pattern of social relationships and institutions that together form the basis of society.
What does Johnson say about systems?
We are shaped by the systems we are in, but also have the power to reinforce or challenge those systems.
Define White Privilege
White Privilege: More access to leadership, leniency in mistakes.
What is internalized prejudice?
Internalized Prejudice: When individuals accept societal views about their inferiority.
Give an example of environmental injustice.
(e.g., Flint water crisis).
Give an example of how a social norm shapes behavior.
When someone sneezes, people usually say "bless you."
How do norms uphold systems like patriarchy or racism?
“Men should be the head of the household.”
➡ This can lead to women being expected to stay home or not take leadership roles — even if they want to or are good at it.
How do race and gender intersect in systemic oppression?
Race and gender intersect when someone faces unfair treatment because of both their race and their gender, not just one or the other.
Ex: A Black woman may face racism (for being Black) and sexism (for being a woman), but also a unique kind of discrimination that’s different from what Black men or white women face.
How does deviance affect people’s access to power and jobs?
When people act in ways that are seen as "deviant," like breaking rules or being different, society may treat them as less worthy or capable. This can make it harder for them to get power or jobs.
How do migration and informal economies connect?
When people migrate to a new country, they may struggle to find formal jobs because they don’t have the right documents, skills, or language abilities. This often leads them to informal economies, where they work outside of official job systems (like in cash jobs or under-the-table work).