Race: Social Construct vs. Biological Determinant

Is the Biological Understanding of Race Still Relevant?

Race as a biological category has not completely disappeared, even though the science behind it has been debunked. Some Trump supporters and elements in the far-right spectrum of politics still believe some races are inherently predisposed to commit violent and criminal acts. Also, some organizations and so-called philosophers push pseudo-theories to justify racial disparities when it comes to economic well-being.

Are the Problems Associated

Read More

Sociological Perspectives: Gender, Race, Class, and Environment

Gender

  • Social roles
  • Interactions: Heterosexual relationships
  • Goffman: Always on stage
  • Bathroom: Unequal access
  • Career: Role expectations
  • Women as “open persons”
  • Women’s jobs
  • Double consciousness
  • Doing the self through gender
  • Deviance when behaving differently
  • West & Zimmerman (Doing Gender): Quote emergent / Differences between girls and boys / Gender display / Gender accountability
  • Mitchell Duneier & Harvey Molotch: Street people harassment / Civil inattention
  • Thorne & Luria: Preadolescent
Read More

Marx’s Capital: Analysis of Capitalism and Communism

Capital: Marx’s Most Important Work

Capital, the most important work of Marx, begins with an analysis of the merchandise. This has a double value: use value and exchange value. The use value of merchandise is based on the quality of the commodity through which it fills a need rather than another. The exchange value of goods is the amount of socially necessary labor to produce it. The exchange of goods is not so much a relationship between things as a relationship between men. Work (labor force) is

Read More

Diversity Competency: Understanding Cultural Differences

What is Diversity Competency?

Diversity Competency is possessing the cultural knowledge and understanding to serve diverse communities effectively.

Four Host-Ideologies

  • Multiculturalism Ideology: Recognizes and supports people of diversity in maintaining or promoting their diversity, provided that their practices do not clash with the laws of the nation.
  • Civic Ideology: Subscribes to the multiculturalism ideology principles but does not support state funding to maintain and promote ethno-cultural diversity.
Read More

Sociology, CSR, and Management Theories

Sociology and Society

Sociology is the study of human social relationships and groups. It describes the laws that govern social phenomena. A society is a set of individuals who share the same culture, customs, and rules of legal organization.

Stakeholders

Internal: employees, managers, owners, workers.
External: suppliers, communities, government (tax), competitors, shareholders, customers.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

CSR involves integrating social, economic, and environmental factors into

Read More

Social Collectives: Groups, Networks, and Organizations

Four Kinds of Social Collectives That Shape Our Actions

  1. Social groups
  2. Networks
  3. Formal organizations
  4. Whole societies

Social Groups: Primary and Secondary

  • Primary Group: Shapes attitudes, behaviors, and social identity. A small social group whose members share personal and lasting relationships (Cooley). Conformity is an integral part that ensures group cohesion. Primary groups exert more pressure to conform than secondary groups. Emotional intimacy ensures similar beliefs.
  • Secondary Groups: Large and impersonal,
Read More