Final Revision Document for Sociology 1502.

SOC1502 - Understanding South Africa: Families, Education, Identities And Inequality. Sociology in South Africa was initially  Directed to the solution of local social problems  Combined with social work courses  Centered on the alleviation of poverty  Focussed on race relations 2. The foll statements reflect the study of Sociology  It is about all aspects of life  Studies both the abstract and unobservable as well as the concrete and observable  Studies interactions between people as well as institutions such as the economy  Concerned with understanding social change and the historical forces that bring about this change 3. The first universities to start teaching Sociology were (1932-`1937)  Stellies  Uct  Wits  Pretoria 4. Sociologists  Have a particular interest in groups because social life is carried out in a group context  Study both conflict and peaceful coexistence between people  Study interactions between people as well as institutions such as the economy and education 5. Concerns within the discipline of sociology in SA were  The research activities of Afrikaans and English speaking sociologists during the apartheid era  Study of South african society and its institutions  The race / class debate S - The study-notes marketplace Downloaded by: zodwantsie99 | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace a. Statification has to do with  Structured inequality  Being priviledged or not  Differences regarding access to power within society  Differences regarding ones status in society b. CLASS is  An indication of social ranking  The basis for patterns of consumption  An indication of access to means of production  A potential social actor c. The following are related to Karl Marx’s idea of Stratification  Surplus Value  Exploitation  Labour power d. Social Stratification is characterised by  The division of societies into rankings based on priviledge, prestige and power  Stuctured inequalities between different groups of people  Caste, slavery and estates in earlier societies The word stratification is derived from the word strata or levels. I often think of a ladder or staircase to help me assign social groups, such as race, ethnicity or class. In this tut we will focus on class. The hierarchy is indicative of inequality in modern society with some classes on the top (upper class) in the middle (working class) and the lower class (poor). Each class offers opportunities to move up or down the social ladder. This is referred to as mobility. Mobility is indicative of an open social system compared to a closed social system like the Indian caste system, were if one is born into a certain caste one dies in this social position. e. KARL MARX believed that  Stratification and social inequalities play an important function of maintaining order and stability within society  Modern societies are characterised by interdependent and co-operative class relations based on the division of labour within society. f. TALCOTT PARSONS believed that  In modern societies, race relations are predominantly exploitative and conflictual  Class conflict is a basis for social change and progress in human history. g. Social Mobility is basically  Ascribed status based on a persons own efforts to move up in society by studying hard, working hard and doing well for themselves.  Upward mobility is possible in a class system- (OPEN)  In an open system of stratification, a persons position is determined by achieved status S - The study-notes marketplace Downloaded by: zodwantsie99 | Distribution of this document is illegal S - The study-notes marketplace h. The CASTE System is a stratification system that is closed- there is NO upward mobility  Slavery  Caste  estate i. OPEN FORMS OF STRATIFICATION- mobility  Class j. Class is basically  A system people are born into.  They are able to influence their class position to a certain extent, by working hard, moving up in society  The nature of social relationships is impersonal  Class hierarchies are amongst others- defined by the jobs you have- a doctor has a better class than a teacher  Positions in class hierarchies are allocated in terms of common patterns of consumption. (what you buy, what you eat/wear ect)  CLASS- Indication of social ranking  A basis for patterns of consumption  Indication of access to means of production  A potentional social actor.