Sociology test 4 - essays PDF

Preview

Summary

essays ...

Description

1. an essay, describe the differences that distinguish high-income nations, middle-income nations, and low-income nations. Consider population size, land area, typical patterns of work, urban and rural residence, gender equality, and the extent of poverty. High-income nations have the highest standard of living, they have about 24% of the world’s population (p. 287). Middle-income nations have an average standard of living, they have about 62% of the world’s population (p. 289). Low-income nations have the lowest standard of living, and they have about 14% of the world’s population (p. 289). High-income nations consist of 76 nations including countries like the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. Middle-income nations make up 57% of the earth’s land area, which includes countries like Costa Rica, China, Ghana, and Syria (p. 286). Low-income nations make up about 16% of the planet's land areas, which include countries like Bangladesh, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (p. 287). Considering typical working patterns; high-income nations have the machinery and technology-intensive workplaces (p. 286). With the use of technology, these high-income nations can do work efficiently in a shorter period (p. 286). Individuals that live in these high-income nations usually live a comfortable life (p. 268). Individuals that live in middle-income nations usually work in industries (p. 289). People that live in low-income nations are mostly farmers who follow traditional farming systems with minimally modified farming technologies (p. 289). High-income nations have a high population of urban residents compared to rural residents; middle-income nations have 53% of its population living in urban areas and 47% in rural areas; while low-income nations have most of their people living in rural areas, with only 35% of the population residing in cities (p. 289). Individuals that belong to the high-income nation tend to own homes,

while most individuals from the middle-income nations own homes. In a low-income nation, individuals tend to rend or build mud houses (p. 289). Education and jobs are easily accessible in the high-income nations (p. 286). When it comes to the middleincome nation’s jobs are sometimes difficult to find, while in the low-income nations employment and educational opportunities are not easily accessible (p. 289). Gender equality exists in high-income nations, middle-income nations exhibit some level of gender equality; while low-income nations have high rates of gender inequality (p. 289). High-income countries have low poor populations that have a better living standard which means that they don’t face extreme challenges than other poor people (p. 288). In middle-income nations have an average number of poor people, and low-income nations register the highest number of poor people (p. 289). These individuals that live in lowincome nations stuff from diseases due to unsafe living conditions and lack of health care (p. 289).

2. Explain W. W. Rostow's modernization theory, noting its four stages. Explain the history of the United States in these terms, being as specific as you can about when this country entered each stage of development. What are criticisms of modernization theory? Modernization theory is used to explain the process of modernization that nations go through as it transitions from traditional to modern society (p. 296). Rostow’s modernization theory states that by the development of technologies nations can achieve an abundance of wealth (p. 296). The four stages of this theory are the traditional stage, take-off stage, drive to technology maturity, and high mass consumption (p. 296). In the traditional stage, this is where individuals uphold their spiritual culture with the notion that their lives will never change (p. 297). Nations that are in the traditional stage have little individual freedom; they lack material goods but are very spiritual (p. 297). In the take-off stage, individuals start thinking and engage in trade and business activities forprofit purposes, some of which may be risky (p. 297). The drive to the technological maturity stage is the embracing of technology to enhance trade and business activities (p. 297). The goal in this stage is to achieve higher standards of living (p. 297). During this time educational opportunities, and training for jobs were available to help the advancement of the nation (p. 297). In the high mass consumption stage, this is welldeveloped economic systems in which individuals attain high living standards (p.2 97). In this stage, technology is used to achieve mass production and consumption (p. 297). These four stages can be seen in the United States through history. The United States was in the traditional stage about a century ago (p. 297). It proceeded to the take-off stage by the year 1820 (p. 297). The drive to technology maturity was witnessed in the year 1860

(p. 297). Finally, high mass consumption was attained by the year 1900 (p. 297). Some criticisms of the modern theory are that; the theory doesn’t apply to poor nations whose conditions are even worsening as time goes by; it doesn’t account for the hindrances (mostly from developed countries) that poor countries face while trying to attain development; it separates the poor and affluent societies, yet some rich societies developed using the resources of the poor; it is ethnocentrically biased; and it purely blames poor nations for their problems (p. 297)

3. Describe the trend in global inequality over the course of the last century. Is the world getting richer or poorer? Is inequality getting greater or smaller? Based on where we have been and where we are now, predict where the world may be a century from now. What prediction would modernization theory support? What about dependency theory? What do you think will happen? Why? Over the last century, global inequality has increased (p. 274). This is because although poverty is being alleviated, the rate of economic growth of developed countries is rapid compared to that of the developing world (p. 270). This means that despite the economic growth in both worlds, global inequality continues to increase (p. 270). The world is getting richer and poorer at the same time. This is because developed nations continue to enjoy services, in terms of food and exportation of natural resources, at the expense of developing the poor nations. Therefore, global inequality is getting bigger as time goes by. A century from now, the world will probably be developed but inequality will still exist between the rich and poor nations. The modernization theory predicts that global inequality will reduce if poor nations adopt technology and mechanization in their industries (p. 296). The dependency theory predicts global inequality will reduce if rich nations allow poor nations to develop fully using their available resources (p. 266). I think that global inequality will increase in the future. This is because currently, both the rich and the poor nations understand that the poor nations have the potential to develop. However, this will be a threat to the economy of rich nations. Thus, while poor nations try to develop, rich nations try to keep the development to the minimum to protect themselves.

4. Boswell and Spade investigated fraternity culture on one campus with respect to sexual mores. In a well-written essay, summarize their findings. What factors contributed to the variance they found among fraternities with regard to the treatment of women? What would contribute to a safer and more conducive campus atmosphere? What questions are raised by their findings? Be specific.

The investigation by Boswell and Spades had two different categories of fraternities high-risk and low-risk (p. 232). At the high-risk parties, there was a varying ration of men and women (p. 233). At these high-risk parties’ men would treat women with less respect by degrading them by judging their bodies (p. 234). In comparison to these high-risk parties, women at low-risk

parties were treated with respect; for example, at these parties, the bathrooms were cleaned and well supplied. (p. 233). At the high-risk parties, the bathrooms were dirty and didn’t have supplies (p. 234). The social setting at low-risk parties was friendly, men and women socialized, while at high-risk parties the men and women were separated into small groups, and the social setting was less friendly. At the high-risk parties, individuals were less respectful of other partiers, for example, men in small groups would degrade women, and the men were more hostile (p. 234), while at the low-risk parties everyone was respectful of others; for example, men would apologize for pushing others (p. 234). A safer and more conducive campus atmosphere should have settings that promote interactions among campus students in a peaceful manner. This will encourage the students to establish good relationships and thus, not participate in the rape culture. Females should ensure that she is surrounded by her friends at all times especially if she is intoxicated so that they can ensure she makes responsible decisions. The school board should implement stricter rules to ensure that everyone is safe at all times. There should be a harsh punishment on the fraternities if there is a rape. If rape does happen there should be resources provided to help the individual. Their findings raised the following questions: why do men and women and men attend fraternity parties knowing the history associated with the rape culture? will limiting the alcohol affect the attitudes of men towards women at these high-risk parties, and another question is that men knowing their attitudes when intoxicated why do they let themselves act in such a way (p. 242). 5. Mark Colvin writes of his experiences during a (famous) prison riot at the Penitentiary of New Mexico. His study emphasizes that the riot was the result of several social factors. In a well-written essay, discuss these various factors and weigh the potential importance of each with regard to the outcome. What might be done to prevent such episodes?

One social factor that was motioned by Mark Colvin that could have led to the prison riot is the removing of the prison programs and reducing the inmate’s privileges (p. 246). To get back their programs and privileges, the prisoners planned a peaceful protest so that their voices could be heard by the administrative staff (p. 246). The administrative staff broke up the protest violently by tear gassing the housing units (p. 246). Another social factor that could have led to the prison riot is the poor administration and the number of organizational changes that came with five new head wardens (p. 246). With these five new head wardens’ different rules were created and this led to inconsistencies in the security procedures and disciplinary actions against inmates (p. 246). The prison offers used their power to take advantage of the prisoners; they started a “snitch system” (p. 247). The prison officers threatened the inmates or promised them things live early parole to gain names of individuals that were involved in the strike (p. 247). If the inmate refused to comply with the officers’ request, they put a snitch jacket outside of their cells, which threatened their lives. The snitch system broke up the solidity among inmates (p. 247). To prevent such episodes in prison, it is important to set up regulations that ensure that prisoners equally access their basic requirements and also attend rehabilitation programs where possible. Harsh regulations should also be put into place to ensure no officers uses his power as an advantage. Another method to prevent this is that proper cameras system should be put into place that monitors officers and prisoners all the time to ensure no one steps out of line....