Week 2: Social Structure
What is the structure of the community where you live?
Do you live within a crowded city, where the only familiar faces are those of your family, friends, and colleagues?
Do you live in a small town or village where you have never met a stranger?
No matter where you live, social influences have shaped the structure of your community, and it functions based on the expectations of those who live there. While “generally accepted” social influences and expectations become social norms most people follow, there is no one-size-fits-all social existence. As a result, social norms left unchallenged can lead to social issues within a community where the needs of some members go unaddressed.
This week, you will continue to develop your sociological imagination while exploring various perceptions of social issues based on labeling theory. You also will examine the influence of social norms on social issues.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Apply the sociological imagination principle
Examine perceptions of deviance through the lens of labeling theory
Explore the influence of social norms on a social issue
Descriiption Due Dates
Discussion
Post your initial posting by Day 3.
Respond to your classmates by Day 5.
Walden Check BoxNote: As you complete this first Discussion, be sure to reference the Discussion Rubric.
Assignment
Submit Assignment by Day 7.
Walden Check BoxNote: As you complete this first Assignment, be sure to reference the Assignment Rubric.
Learning Resources
Readings
No Author. (2016). Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World. University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing.
Chapter 3, “Culture”
3.2. “Elements of Culture” (pp. 77-81, up to “Values”)
Chapter 7, “Deviance, Crime, and Social Control”
7.2. “Explaining Deviance” (p. 209 – Table of Sociological Perspectives of Deviance)
Media
Arab News. (2018, June 23). Saudi Arabia lifts ban on women driving [Video]. YouTube.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 3 minutes.
Also note: Closed captioning is available on this video.
Sociology Live! (2015, November 6). Labeling theory [Video]. YouTube.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 5 minutes.
Also note: Closed captioning is available on this video.
TEDx Talks. (2010, November 9). TEDExChCh – Linh Do – Defying social norms for social change [Video]. YouTube.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 11 minutes.
Also note: Closed captioning is available on this video.
Discussion: Challenging Social Norms
Can you think of a behavior or life choice that is considered “normal” only because it is a common practice or occurrence that has become generally accepted by society?
Behaviors and life choices considered “common” or perceived as “normal” are known by sociologists as social norms. Behaviors and life choices that are less common are sometimes viewed with scrutiny or skepticism.
Individuals who live outside of the confines of social norms may choose to adjust and remain in good standing within society. It is worth noting, however, that persistence outside of the norm can foster positive social change.
Inventions like the internet, electric vehicles, and even the introduction of electronic currency such as Bitcoin all came about through the willingness of individuals to challenge social norms.
For this Discussion, you will explore social norms related to your chosen social issue. You also will examine who is affected by these social norms, including who benefits from them and what might happen if these social norms are challenged.
Click the link for Linh Do’s TED talk, Defying social norms for social change:
TEDx Talks. (2010, November 9). TEDExChCh – Linh Do – Defying social norms for social change [Video]. YouTube.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 11 minutes.
Also note: Closed captioning is available on this video.
By Day 3
Post at least a 2-paragraph response to the following prompts:
Briefly describe the social issue you selected in Week 1.
Explain what social norms are related to the social issue and who is affected by these social norms.
Explain whether anyone benefits from these social norms and how.
Describe what might happen if these social norms were challenged.
Support your response with information from this week’s Learning Resources.
TIP: Resources in the classroom are already listed in the correct format. Feel free to copy from the classroom and paste the resources you use in your response to the bottom of your submission.
