Theories & Perspectives
Which theory views society as a system of parts working together to maintain stability?
Functionalism
Who is known as the "father of sociology"?
Auguste Comte
What is the primary agent of socialization for young children?
Family
Which branch of feminism focuses on reforms through law and policy?
Liberal feminism
What is society?
A group of people who share a defined territory, culture, and way of life.
Which theory focuses on gender inequality and power differences between men and women?
Feminist perspective
Which early female sociologist translated Comte’s work and advocated for social reform?
Harriet Martineau
Give one example of secondary socialization.
Learning behavior at school, adapting to workplace roles, joining a sports team.
Which feminist theory links women’s oppression to capitalism?
Marxist feminism
Define manifest function and give one example.
Manifest function = intended and recognized purpose of an action or institution. Example: School teaches academic skills.
A factory owner exploits workers for profit. Which theory best explains this?
Conflict theory
Which sociologist introduced the concept of "social facts" and studied suicide?
Émile Durkheim
What is the difference between norms and values? Give one example of each.
Norms = rules/expectations for behavior (e.g., shaking hands when greeting).
Values = shared beliefs about what is good or important (e.g., honesty, respect).
Radical feminism sees inequality as rooted in ___________.
Patriarchy
Latent functions are unintended outcomes. Give an example of a latent function of social media.
Building unexpected friendships, spreading misinformation, or shaping language.
How would symbolic interactionism explain the use of emojis in online communication?
Emojis are symbols that people use to convey meaning in interactions; their interpretation depends on shared understanding.
Explain how Max Weber’s concept of Verstehen (“understanding”) is used in sociological research.
Sociologists must interpret social behavior by understanding the meaning people attach to their actions, e.g., studying religious rituals from participants’ perspectives.
A new student enters high school and learns how to adapt to the school rules, slang, and peer expectations. Which type of socialization is this, and why?
Secondary socialization, because the student is learning norms/roles outside of the family.
Give an example of how patriarchy affects education opportunities.
In some societies, boys are prioritized for schooling while girls are kept at home, limiting women’s educational access.
What does symbolic interactionism say about the role of symbols in everyday life?
People attach meanings to symbols, and these meanings shape behavior (e.g., a wedding ring symbolizes commitment).
Compare functionalism and conflict theory in how they explain social inequality.
Functionalism sees inequality as serving a purpose (motivating people to fill roles), while conflict theory sees it as a result of power struggles and exploitation.
Émile Durkheim studied suicide to show it was more than an individual act. What sociological factors did he identify, and how do they influence suicide rates?
Durkheim found that social integration and regulation affect suicide rates. Too little integration (egoistic suicide), too much integration (altruistic suicide), too little regulation (anomic suicide), or too much regulation (fatalistic suicide) all shape the likelihood of suicide.
Explain the relationship between society and culture using an example.
Society = organized group of people who share territory; Culture = the shared values, beliefs, and practices. Example: Belizean society shares culture like food, language, and festivals.
Compare Marxist feminism and liberal feminism in how they would address the wage gap.
Marxist feminism: wage gap is tied to capitalism exploiting women’s labor; solution is restructuring the economic system.
Liberal feminism: wage gap results from discrimination and lack of equal rights; solution is legal reforms, equal pay laws, and workplace policies.
Explain how the concept of equilibrium fits into functionalism, using an example from school or family life.
Functionalism sees equilibrium as balance and stability. Example: In a school, teachers, students, and administrators work together; if one part fails, adjustments restore stability.