Sociology 101: Development of Sociological Theory TA: Kirsten Paulus Email: Kirsten.Paulus@gmail.com Office: A55 Office Hours: Wednesday 12-2 (and by appointment) Housekeeping ● ● ● ● Attendance Midterm Exam February 10 Final Paper-- Outline example Questions/ concerns about the course Midterm Exam ● ● ● ● ● 10 questions, you choose to answer 4 Short answer (no MC, matching, fill in the blank, etc.) Content through Durkheim (not Weber, this will be on the final) ○ Not suicide or religion Study guide from Dr. Jepson Study guide of questions from discussion sections (both mine and the other TA) ○ Posted Tuesday How to organize your paper ● ● ● ● ● ● Pick one main theory/concept and stick with it; do not try to analyze multiple themes or theories from the class Literature review is important-- peer reviewed, scholarly sources from journals or books! ○ https://www.library.ucla.edu 4-6 page double-spaced paper At least 6 published sources authored by social theorists ○ Analyze within the larger context of the ongoing theoretical debate surrounding your chosen theory ○ Keep quotes brief; no long passage quotes Pick theory from given list in syllabus or ask Professor for permission The papers will be graded according to the following criteria: ○ 1) The ability to articulate a clear and concise understanding of the concept presented in the course ○ 2) The ability to find sources within the literature that have a close bearing on the concept ○ 3) The ability to compare and contrast (in writing) the ideas and claims of the different theorists. Sample Outline I. II. III. IV. Introduction: The study of women's health has evolved since the 1960s from a women's rights issue into a crucial aspect of biomedicine that not only provides women the unique healthcare they need and deserve but explains why women are sicker than men (morbidity)-in almost every society-- as well as the health disparities between racial/ethnic and SES groups among women. Concept studied in class A. Women's Health started with the WHM in the 1960s Origins of Women's Health A. Women are here to give birth and support the family 1. As long as she can do this, she isn't sick B. Women did not understand their bodies, sexual health needs, reproductive system, etc. C. Classifying women as "small men" (ie. Their bodies/health are not different than men) Development A. Women should be included in all medical studies- 1986 B. Women's Health Initiative- 1991 1. Understand morbidity and mortality in post-menopausal women C. Office of Women's Health (CDC)- 1994 D. Social determinants of health- 2003 1. Being a woman determines your health status!!! E. Health inequity- 2007 1. Between women and men 2. Among women Max Weber (1864-1920) Class, Status, Party ● Class ○ Weber identified three aspects of class: ■ a specific causal component of actors life chances ■ which rests exclusively on economic interests and wealth ■ is represented under conditions of labor and commodity markets ● Status ○ The likelihood that life chances are determined by social honor, or, prestige ○ Linked by a common style of life, and the attendant social restrictions ○ Generally associated with wealth ● Party ○ The organization of power and the struggle for domination ○ Reflect complex patterns of interest Max Weber (1864-1920) Formal Characteristics of Bureaucracy ● Essential characteristics (ideal): ○ a hierarchy where assignments flow downward and accountability flows upward ○ a division of labor ○ written rules ○ written communications and records ○ Impersonality ● He also identifies many dysfunctions ● Represent a fundamental change in how people relate to one another ○ Rationalization ○ Efficiency in performing tasks and improving the bottom line Max Weber (1864-1920) The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism ● A study of the relationship between the ethics of ascetic Protestantism and the emergence of the spirit of modern capitalism ● The spirit to pursue profit (in Capitalism) was given rise by Protestantism ○ Calvinists came to value profit and material success as signs of God's favor ○ However, once capitalism emerged, the Protestant values were no longer necessary, and their ethic took on a life of its own. ● Now locked into the Spirit of Capitalism ○ Argues the modern spirit of capitalism sees profit as an end in itself, and pursuing profit as virtuou ● Spirit of religion → Spirit of Capitalism ○ Protestantism was ONE contributing factor, though (do not get confused!) Max Weber (1864-1920) The Sociology of Charismatic Authority ● Weber defines charismatic authority as "resting on devotion to the exceptional sanctity, heroism or exemplary character of an individual person, and of the normative patterns or order revealed or ordained by him" ○ Charisma is a quality of an individual personality that is considered extraordinary, and followers may consider this quality to be endowed with supernatural, superhuman, or exceptional powers or qualities ■ Does not matter if these powers actually exist ● Considers charisma to be a driving and creative force which surges through traditional authority and established rules ● Unusual characteristics ○ Special gift of a leader, a particular style of speaking and acting, or extraordinary qualities ● But charismatic authority can easily degenerate into traditional authority Presentation Prep! ● ● ● ● Get into groups for 15 minutes or so and work on your presentation Remember, someone new needs to present to the class Shoot for 5-8 minutes ○ This can include discussion with the rest of the class Group 5 is going first! Discussion Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What are the three aspects of class? How does he define status, and how does he define party? How do the three compare and contrast to one another? How have formal organizations developed into what he refers to as a bureaucracy? What are Max Weber's ideal characteristics of a bureaucracy? What is, in Weber's eyes, the "spirit of capitalism"? (ie. What are the characteristics that make capitalism what it is). What is the relationship between capitalism and religion? How has that relationship evolved over time? (ie. Think about the involvement people had with religion before vs. now in a capitalistic society; how do they use religion to justify capitalism or consumption, etc.) What is charismatic authority and how does it function (ie. How do people gain it in the first place and what does it rely on for people to maintain their authority)? Name some examples of charismatic leaders; they can be from the past or present. I challenge you to think about both positive and negative charismatic leaders and the real meaning of charismatic authority when choosing these examples.
