St. Francis Xavier University
Department of Sociology
Sociology 100: Introduction to Sociology – 2011-12
Dr. John Phyne
Annex 110A
Phone: 867-2313
e-mail (jphyne@stfx.ca)
Office Hours: Tuesday: 12:30 to 2:00 PM; Thursday: 12:30 to 2:00 PM; Friday: 10:30
AM to 12 Noon, or by appointment
Outline for Test Five
Date: Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Evaluation: 12.5% of your final grade.
Format: Three essay questions worth 50 marks each. All students must complete
question 1. You have a choice of answering question 2 or 3.
Requirements: The examination will cover class lectures up to, and including, the class
on Thursday, March 8, 2012. Your performance on the examination will be based on
your ability to combine materials from class lectures and the following required readings.
If it is not here, you are not responsible for it:
1. Gender Inequality
New Society
Monica Boyd, ‘Chapter Seven: Gender Inequality: Economic and
Political Aspects’, pp. 154-178.
Society in Question
Julie Ann McMullin and John Cairney, ‘Chapter 14: How Gender,
Class, and Age Affect Self-Esteem’, pp. 145-157.
2. Global Inequality
New Society
Anthony Winson, ‘Chapter Nine: Development and
Underdevelopment’, pp.206-224.
Society in Question
William I. Robinson, ‘Chapter 25: The Fantasy of Democracy and
Development’, pp. 321-323.
2
Issues to consider:
1. Discuss the gendered division of labour in the labour market. How does this
correspond to the gendered division of labour in the home? How are gender-based
inequalities reflected in the types of work that men and women do, and the types
of pay that they receive?
2. McMullin and Cairney argue that there is a relationship among class, gender,
aging and self-esteem. Discuss this relationship.
3. What factors serve to limit the participation of Canadian women in politics? What
strategies can be used to increase that participation? What factors have
contributed to the higher levels of political participation of women in Nordic
countries?
4. Discuss the modernization approach to development. What factors do
modernization theorists feel are necessary in order for developing countries to
modernize?
5. According to dependency theorists, colonialism and slavery are instrumental to
the reasons why countries in the Global South are poor. Discuss this argument.
6. The dependency approach to development consists of two variants. The first
variant emphasizes unequal exchange. The second variant emphasizes the impact
of class structures and class alliances between the Global North and the Global
South. Discuss the similarities and differences between these two variants of
dependency theory.
7. Diamond argues that geographical factors were influential in determining why the
Global North became rich and in a position to colonise the Global South. What
are these factors? What are the criticisms of the Diamond thesis?
8. What is meant by neo-liberalism? How does this approach reflect modernization
theory? According to dependency theorists, neo-liberalism has resulted in
growing inequalities between the Global North and the Global South and within
the Global South. Discuss this argument.
9. How have countries in the Global South and non-governmental organisations
responded to neo-liberalism?
10. Robinson argues that neo-liberalism tends to create more inequalities and
undermines democracy. Summarise this argument.
If you can answer these questions, you will be in a good position to write the
examination.