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unit 8

The document discusses the social construction of reality and its impact on perceptions of race, gender, and age, emphasizing that these categories are culturally created and can lead to inequality. It highlights how structural and cultural racism, along with gender roles, perpetuate discrimination and limit opportunities for various groups. Additionally, it examines trends in aging and different sociological perspectives on inequality, illustrating the complexity of these issues in society.

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brennan.sensiba55
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4 views

unit 8

The document discusses the social construction of reality and its impact on perceptions of race, gender, and age, emphasizing that these categories are culturally created and can lead to inequality. It highlights how structural and cultural racism, along with gender roles, perpetuate discrimination and limit opportunities for various groups. Additionally, it examines trends in aging and different sociological perspectives on inequality, illustrating the complexity of these issues in society.

Uploaded by

brennan.sensiba55
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

Social Construction of Reality and Its Impact on Statuses

 What it means: The idea that society shapes how we see the world and what we think is

"normal." Race, gender, and age aren’t fixed facts—ideas created by people and cultures.

 How it affects us:

o Race: Society’s ideas about race lead to stereotypes and unfair treatment.

o Gender: Expectations about being "male" or "female" affect what jobs people do

and how they act.

o Age: We label people as "young" or "old" and treat them differently because of it.

 Why it matters: Recognizing these man-made ideas helps us challenge unfair systems.

2. How Inequality Affects People Based on Gender, Race, Sexual Orientation,

and Age

 Gender: Women often earn less than men and are not in leadership roles as much.

 Race: People of different races often don’t get the same opportunities for jobs, schooling,

or healthcare.

 Sexual Orientation: LGBTQ+ people face discrimination in areas like marriage and

work.

 Age: Older people may struggle to find jobs, while younger people may be excluded

from decision-making.

 How we know: We see this in pay gaps, access to resources, and life expectancy

differences.

3. Examples of Structural and Cultural Racism


 Structural Racism: Rules and systems that lead to unfair outcomes, like certain

neighborhoods getting less funding for schools.

 Cultural Racism: Stereotypes and negative ideas about certain groups, like the way

media portrays minorities.

 How they’re connected: Unfair systems (like poor schools) often reinforce stereotypes,

and stereotypes make it harder to fix systems.

4. How Gender Roles Affect Men and Women

 For Women: Society expects them to be caring and quiet, which limits their careers (like

fewer women in science or tech jobs).

 For Men: They’re taught to be tough and hide emotions, which can lead to mental health

problems.

 Why it matters: These roles limit what people can do and reinforce unfairness.

5. Trends in Aging and Their Impact

 In the U.S.: More older people and fewer kids mean changes in healthcare, retirement,

and jobs.

 Around the World: Countries like Japan have aging populations, while others have

mostly young people.

 What this means: Societies will need more elder care and might face challenges in how

they manage workforces and resources.

6. How Different Perspectives Explain Inequality


 Functionalist: Inequality exists because every part of society has a role, like some people

doing harder jobs. Critics say this idea excuses unfairness.

 Conflict: Inequality happens because powerful groups take advantage of weaker ones.

This highlights unfair systems but doesn’t focus on individual choices.

 Symbolic Interactionist: Inequality comes from how people interact and treat each other

daily, like their language or behavior. This focuses on personal experiences but doesn’t

explain big-picture problems.

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