Religion
Inside Toyland
Inside Toyland 2
Misc.
100
What does Robert Wuthnow mean when he says that the United States is becoming more secular?
He means that religion is leaving the public sphere, NOT that people are becoming less religious. We see this in that we no longer have prayer in schools, Ten Commandments outside courthouses, etc.
100
What happened during the deregulation of trade in 1978?
Manufacturers are no longer allowed to set prices for goods. As a result, there is increased competition among retailers to offer discounts and have the lowest price. Stores are forced to cut their profit margins & instead go for high volume of sales.
100
What assumptions did customers make about Williams (the author of Inside Toyland) based on her race?
Because she is white, they assumed she was a manager/supervisor and not a cashier.
100
What experiment was Ehrenreich trying to do in the "Nickled and Dimed" essay?
She was trying to see if it is possible to survive on minimum wage jobs.
200
Describe "spirituality of dwelling"?
God occupies a definite place that humans can also occupy. Emphasizes stability, formal rules that people are expected to follow, and membership in religious communities.
200
What is "character marketing"?
When advertisers use (cartoon) characters to market their products to children.
200
What is "corporate culture"?
The environment a business is trying to create and the values it promotes.
200
Why can Kevin Bacon connect to many other actors in just 6 steps, and other actors can't? What does this tell us about people's connections?
Kevin Bacon can connect to many actors because he has been in many types of films - big, small, independent, unsuccessful, sci fi, etc. This shows us that having a *variety* of connections is important - not just many people but many different types of people.
300
Describe "spirituality of seeking."
Individuals search for sacred moments, but these moments are temporary. Emphasizes change, making your own decisions and choosing among options, and making your own identity.
300
What is "interpellation"?
When employers hire someone based on race and/or gender stereotypes, and then that person is obligated to enact those stereotypes in order to keep their job.
300
According to the "Consuming Kids" film, how do advertisers use emotions?
The film notes that being a child and growing up can be scary and confusing, but having a beloved character (ie Elmo, Dora, etc) to grow up with can be comforting.
300
Explain the idea of "strength of weak ties."
Your "weak ties" are acquaintances you are not very close to. They are more useful for finding a job because they are not very similar to you, so they might have new information.
400
According to Pearce and Denton, why is there a problem with trying to compare different people as more or less religious?
Religion is multidimensional - it has many components, such as service attendance, how important you find religion for daily life, etc. Someone may be high on one dimension and low on another. In addition, different religions have different requirements, so it isn't useful to compare them.
400
What is a "ritualized script"?
Standard scripts that people use when they interact in predictable social situations. (ie, when you meet someone new, you say "nice to meet you")
400
What is a "mook"?
An immature man who behaves in a gross and childish way - used by advertisers to sell products to young men.
400
What are the two ways in which people find their friends?
Similarity and proximity.
500
According to Pearce and Denton, what is an "Assenter"?
Believe in god and do some religious practices, but religion is not very central to their lives.
500
What is the "matrix of domination"?
Not all people experience discrimination and oppression in the same way. It is shaped by the context of their race, gender, social class, sexuality, etc. (ie white women and black women do not experience gender discrimination in the same way because they experience either white privilege or racial discrimination concurrently).
500
According to Inside Toyland, how to retail stores use emotions?
Williams says that parents today sometimes feel guilty because they work long hours and don't spend as much time with their children. Toy stores exploit this to get parents to buy more toys.
500
What did Milgram do in his "chain letter experiment"? What was the result.
He asked people in Omaha, NE to send a packet to a stockbroker in Boston by passing it on to their connections. The packets got to the stockbroker in 5-6 steps.
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