Respond to each question. Your responses should be a minimum of 2 paragraphs or 1,600 characters per question.
1. Social stratification refers to the unequal ranking of rewards and power for certain groups in society. Do you believe that people can live without stratification?
2. Should serious female offenders be allowed to maintain regular contact with their children or should separation be considered part of their punishment?
3. If prejudice is a personal thing, and we know each of us have the capabilities to control our thoughts and therefore control our behavior/actions, then what are the reasons that cause us to be prejudiced? What makes people prejudiced toward individuals or groups, when they have little or no contact with the individuals or groups?
4. What are your feelings about the participation of women in traditionally male occupations, such as workers on construction sites or oil rigs?
5. Would you or have you considered cohabiting with someone before marriage? What is your view of the growing rates of cohabitation in our society? Discuss your view of whether this is a positive or negative trend. How do you feel this trend is shaping the future of families?
6. Make a case for or against affirmative action.
7. Reflect on all the jobs you’ve ever had — volunteer as well as paid — and consider what you liked about each. Think about any ambitions you had in your youth that got derailed by practical considerations. Identify how you spend your discretionary income. That will help you see your priorities. What types of jobs would combine your passions with your background and skills?
8. What features of your social life can you change to reduce the health effects of stress in your life?
9. How should developing countries best deal with the problem of high population growth?
10. Using the sociological imagination that you have gained in this course, what are some positive steps that you believe might be taken in the United States to make our society a better place for everyone? What types of collective behavior and/or social movements might be required in order to take those steps?
