Sociology
Made Simple
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Sociology: Made Simple covers issues being discussed in contemporary sociology. The book tackles Sociology with regard to its definition, social sciences, theories, and different approaches (i.e., positivism, functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and Marxist sociology). The text also discusses social class in Britain; family life in contemporary Britain; the main aspects of the sociology of education; and studies in youth culture. The effects of mass media, industrialization, work, poverty, welfare, state, politics, and distribution of power in the process of social control are also considered. Each chapter of the book is provided with lists of further reading. Students engaged in sociology course and general readers will find the book invaluable.
Table of Contents
Preface
1 What Is Sociology?
Sociology and the Social Sciences
Sociology and Science
Early Sociology
Emile Durkheim
Max Weber
Karl Marx
Different Approaches
Positivism
Functionalism
Symbolic Interactionism
Phenomenology and Ethnomethodology
Marxist Sociology
Two Sides of the Same Coin?
Where's the Evidence?
Positivist Research
Interpretive Research
Ethnography
In Conclusion
Revision
Further Reading
2 Social Class in Britain
Test Your Class-Consciousness
Subjective and Objective Definitions of Social Class
The Middle Class and the Working Class
The Upper Class
Income and Wealth
Economic and Cultural Definitions of Social Class
What About Women?
Does Class Count?
The Embourgeoisement Debate
Social Stratification
Distributing Resources
Marx' Theory of Class
Criticisms of Marx' Theory of Class
Max Weber's Theories of Stratification
In Conclusion
Revision
Further Reading
3 The Family
Human Nature or Social Convenience?
The Functions of the Family
The Family and the Economic System
Subsistence Economies
Socialist Economies
The Family in Socialist Societies
Capitalist Economies
The Family in Capitalist Societies
Family Problems
Changing Roles within the Family
Revision
Further Reading
4 Education
Informal and Formal Education
The Historical Context
Beginnings
Secondary Education for All
Views on Segregation
Tripartite Schooling
Research and Party Politics
Conservative Government
The Current Situation
The Social Functions of Education
Education and the Economic System
Education and the Social System
Education and the Political System
Education as an Agency of Social Control
Social Factors Affecting Educational Failure
In Conclusion
Revision
Further Reading
5 Studies in Youth Culture
Defining Culture
Subculture and Culture
Culture and Economics
The Creation of Culture
Adolescence and Culture
The Social Class Factors
Youth Culture
Why Study the Workers?
Ruling by Consent
The Swinging Sixties?
The Re-emergence of Class
The Response to Social Changes in the Fifties and Sixties
Youth Cultural Response: Mods and Skinheads
Youth Cultures in Context
Counter-School Culture
Girls and Youth Culture
In Conclusion
Revision
Further Reading
6 The Mass Media
One-Way Communication
The Media Business
Independent Television and Radio
The BBC
Broadcasting and the State
Areas of Concern
The Effects of Broadcasting
The Press
The Growth and Development of the British Press
Centralized Control
Indoctrination or IncoφOΓation?
What is News?
It Can't Be All Bad!
Revision
Further Reading
7 Industry and Industrial Change
The Industrialization of Britain
The Organization of Labor
Industrial Change
Industry and Capitalism in the North-East before the Second World War
Industrial Decline—A Regional Problem?
Industry and Capitalism in the North-East after the Second World War
Industrial Decline—An Inner City Problem?
The Class Factor
Capitalist Concentration
Government Intervention
The Impact of Science and Technology
Automation
Microelectronic Processors
A New Industrial Revolution?
Support for Small Businesses
The Pattern of Industrial Change—A Summary
Revision
Further Reading
8 Working Lives
The Definition of Work
Studies of Work
Job Satisfaction
The Influence of Work on Leisure Activities
The Culture of Work
Middle-Class Culture of Work
Working-class Culture of Work
Shop-Floor Culture
Cultural Weaknesses
'Enlightened' Management
The Professions
The Old' and the 'New' Professions
Professions and Other Workers
Professional Status and Social Respect
Sociological Disagreement
Professionalization
Social Work
Women in the Workforce
Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination
The Equal Opportunities Commission
Unemployment
Revision
Further Reading
9 Poverty and Welfare
State Intervention
The Discovery of Poverty
Industrialization and the Growth of Capitalism
The Turn of the Century
Poverty and Unemployment Between the Wars
The Beveridge Report
Women Dependants
Other Legislation
The Appointed Day
Post-War Developments
Definitions of Poverty
Absolute Poverty
Relative Poverty
Affluent Britain?
Housing
Rediscovering Poverty
The Government's Poverty Program
'Blaming the Victims'
'Blaming the System'
Cutting the Welfare State
Jobs Threatened
State Care or State Control?
Revision
Further Reading
10 Politics and Power
Power
The Distribution of Power
Ruling Class
EHtism
Pluralism
Power and the Ruling Class
Wealth and Income
Shareholdings
The Controllers of British Industry
Business and Government
Elitism and Power
Pluralism and Power
Legitimacy
The Pluralist Interpretation of Legitimation
The Process of Legitimation—A Marxist Analysis
Hegemony
Political Acquiescence
Politics and Power
Revision
Further Reading
Glossary
Index
Product details
- No. of pages: 302
- Language: English
- Copyright: © Made Simple 1982
- Published: January 1, 1982
- Imprint: Made Simple
- eBook ISBN: 9781483103716