Sociologist Cheri Joe Pasco grew up in San Juan Capistrano, the southern part of Orange County California. After graduating from high school C.J. attended Brandeis University where she received her B.A. in Sociology in 1996. She later attended the University of California, Berkley where she got her PhD in Sociology. She is currently a professor at the University of Oregon where she teaches courses on sexuality, social psychology, deviance, gender and education. As a sociologist she is well known for her study of young adults, with whom she focuses mainly on gender roles, homophobia, sexuality and the effect of technology and media. Pascoe is well known for three of her studies, that each contributed to the world of Sociology. In each one her main form of research is though ethnography, this technique was best because she felt she was more able to explore the lives of teenagers better if she did it first hand**.
The first was a Frontline Interview on PBS called Growing Up Online. The project was a two-year study from 2001-2003. During these years she set her focus on boys and girls between the ages of sixteen to eighteen. She wanted to study the teenage culture around new media and technology. She looked at how they used the Internet, social networking, and cell phones, to observe how the use of these technologies change relationships.
Pascoe’s next major study was an eighteen-month research project, which produced the book Dude,You’re a Fag. The book is an ethnography the daily lives of teenage boys in a present day public high school. She finds that masculinity in teenage boys is defined by dominance and control. More so she talks about what she calls “fag discourse”, boys call each other hurtful names to further create domina...
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...ituation and the relationships between specific individuals in the army I would need to go into the field for a long period of time, eliminating personal bias and observing other perspectives. Through that type of study I would best be able to see all sides of the argument as well as the relationship between men and women in the military.
Both the functionalist theory and the conflict theory could shed light on the problem by looking at it with a macro view rather than a micro view. A functionalist would look at gender inequalities as a helpful way to divide labor that in turn maximizes resources and efficiency. The conflict theory is structural and can help us to better understand the power struggle between men and women which advocates for the situation. When there is conflict between a subordinate group and a dominant one things happen that create social change.
In Kimmel’s essay “’Bros Before Hos’: The Guy Code” he argues that the influence of society on masculinity is equal to or greater than biological influences on masculinity. In the essay, Kimmel uses various surveys and interviews to validate his argument. He points to peers, coaches, and family members as the people most likely to influence the development of a man’s masculinity. When a man has his manliness questioned, he immediately makes the decision never to say or do whatever caused him to be called a wimp, or unmanly. Kimmel’s argument is somewhat effective because the readers get firsthand accounts from the interviewees but the author does not provide any statistics to support his argument.
The teenage years are especially important in the establishment of social and cultural core principles that provide the base for further growth in the future. Sociologist C.J. Pascoe links her personal experience with scholarly research in her ethnography titled, Dude, You’re A Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School. Pascoe’s year and a half study at a Northern California School known as River High School sheds light on how bullying, power, and sexual innuendos are all components in the makeup of social life in Americas public schools. Her analysis of these components through observational data research is centered around the subject of the challenges associated with masculinity as well as sexual inequality, and the refinement of gender
“Tough Guise 2” is narrated by cultural theorist Jackson Katz who argues that the influx of violence, particularly male violence, is embedded within our society’s view of masculinity. Katz analyzes various points of interests that range from mass shooting, of which the majority are perpetrated by males, violence against women, and gay-bashing. What Katz empathizes in these key points is the fact these acts of what is known as masculinity can be linked back to all the violent, sexist, and homophobic messages adolescent males receive on a routinely basis from all aspects of virtual culture. From television, movies, video games,
‘Dude, You’re a Fag’: Adolescent Masculinity and the Fag Discourse - C. J. Pascoe 2005
Since the advent of the word “sexist”, the label itself has carried numerous negative connotations, regardless of whether or not it has been applied to the male or female set. This idea of the modern teenager became initiated by the proliferation of visible sex symbols in the 1950’s such as Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe and has since become increasingly more prevalent in American society. While the connotations may be well deserved, we as culture rarely seem to remember that most stereotypes are originated as a result of an observed pattern in the behavior of certain groups of people. John Updike is merely trying to embody the mind of the modern American teenage male in “A&P”, and not expressing his own opinion as to whether the thoughts going through Sammy’s mind are acceptable or not.
The movie, Tough Guise: Violence, Media and the Crisis in Masculinity produced by Jackson Katz and Jeremy Earp, deconstructs the concepts that create the social constructs of masculinity. Masculinity, a set of behaviors, roles, and attributes correlating to men, is earned, not given (Conley 190). Starting from television shows to children’s toys, the idea of masculinity has infiltrated their minds starting at a young age. Moreover, the concept of masculinity has physical attributes, such as muscles, a deep voice, and be able to protect themselves. Masculinity, for boys of any races, socioeconomic classes, or ethnicity, has grown up with the same stereotypical image of what a man should entail. Since many media outlets show that a form of masculinity
...ve begins generating rumors for male peers who do not qualify as a stereotypical male. For instance, Olive pretends to have sex with a male peer during a popular house party (Gluck, 2010). This imaginary hook-up benefits the male peer’s bullying dilemma. Again, gender policing occurs between men when masculinity is questioned (Kimmel, 2008). “One survey found that most Americans boys would be rather be punched in the face than called gay” (Kimmel, 2000, p.77). The gender police govern Olive’s and the male peer’s status in social standings. America’s obsession with sex disregards if a girl truly sleeps around.
The functionalism theory claims that society is a system of interconnected parts. This theory emphasizes the importance of stability and solidarity into society. The ideas from this theory try and identify the various parts or structures of society to see how they work and or function. With the functionalism theory, homelessness is considered a “must” for the society to operate. Every individual in society has a specific role. Homelessness is just looked at as nothing more but a social class which is needed. Most believe, that once someone is homeless, they will remain in that class for as long as he or she lives. If one ever does get the chance to move up in class, the change will be slow and gradual. The functional perspective is a perspective in which all different parts of society come together with the other social classes. This perspective is needed for society to go on. The conflict theorists view the society from a hierarchical point of view. In this perspective, individuals are subordinated to
There are three main theories of sociology; functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism. This paper will focus on two of those theories, functionalism and conflict theory. The objective is to delineate the assumptions of two out of the three theoretical perspectives and apply these assumptions to an analysis of social stratification. How this will be accomplished will be by comparing and contrasting their assumptions and by analyzing the two theories affect on social stratification. Then I will state my opinion on which of the two better fits my personal sociological views. Functionalism is many people's way to view the world sociologically. It states clearly that the objectivity of the researcher is necessary and can be accomplished. There are three main points, which make up a functionalist theory on sociological expression. The first point is that culture is made up of interacting, interdependent parts. Each of these parts has a function in maintaining the society as a system on the whole. The second point states that shared values and expectations(or beliefs) among the members of the society help hold the society together. The third point states that these systems have a need for stability and a need to try to keep all the parts working together congruously in a sort of system. Social change in this system is uncommon, and when it does happen, it is a very gradual change. Conflict theory is centered on the tension, or struggle that goes on in everyday life. There are many different parts, which make up the conflict theorist's view on the sociological perspective. The first main part is that society promotes general differences in wealth, power, and prestige. Wealth...
The issue of gender inequality will never truly be solved in the United States. This arises from differences in socially constructed gender roles as well as biologically through hormonal differences, chromosomes, and brain structures. Gender inequality is defined as unequal treatment or perceptions of individuals based on gender. One of the reasons for gender inequality is income disparities. Another reason is because of the positions in the workplace. Thirdly, the reason is because of beliefs that one another has. For these reasons is why these situations should be examined to get to the root of the problem.
What are the long term ramifications on society if gender inequality is not addressed, and how would a sociologist approach
Ø In particular with Durkheim’s work, it is too optimistic and maintains the idea of social solidarity as the main theme, and simply believes pathologies can be solved through simple social reform, ignoring any problems or conflict and the affects. Ø Marxists argue that the modern family is organised to support and benefit the ruling class and the capitalist economy, rather than benefiting all of society. In particular, they accuse functionalists for ignoring the fact that power is not equally distributed in society. Some groups have more wealth and power than others and may be able to impose their norms and values as less powerful groups.
middle of paper ... ... c. main differences of theories Functionalists and conflict theorists have contradictory views on inequalities. Functionalists have a positive outlook on inequalities, whereas the conflict theory believes that any type of inequality leads to a disruption in society. “Functionalists argue against the conflict theory approach by contending that people don't always act out of economic self-interest, and that people who want to succeed can do so through hard work.”
Functionalists take the position that the patterns of behavior that characterize a society exist because they are functional for that society. Social inequality is universal, so inequality must help societies survive. (Henslin, 2016, p.204) Conflict theory provides a third perspective on social life. Functionalists view society as a harmonious whole with its parts working together, where conflict theorists stress that society is composed of groups that compete with one another for scarce resources. (Henslin, 2016, p.18) Social stratification refers to the division of large numbers of people into layers according to their relative property, power, and prestige. It does not refer to individuals; it is a way of ranking large groups of people into
The theory of Structural Functionalism is centred around people coming together for the good of the equilibrium of society and that anything which undermines this would be seen as dysfunctions. Where as Conflict theory focuses on class and the conflict between the bourgeoisie (those who own the capital) and the proletariat (the workers who toil for low pay), believing that the only way for equality is for the proletariats to rebel against the bourgeoisie. The reasons for favouring the conflict theory argument is that arguably, changes in society only occurs through conflict, for example the Suffragettes movement which gave all women over the age of 30 the right to vote in 1918, driving the age gap down to 21 by 1921. The success of the Suffragettes