The current distribution of wealth and income in the United States has many people wondering what the underlying reasons are behind this growing inequality. First we must recognize the differences between wealth and income. Income is the amount of money brought into a household from various sources during a given period. Wealth is the current value of everything that a person owns subtracted from current debts. According to page 190 of our Sociology: The Essentials book the wealthiest 1 percent own 33 percent of all net worth; the bottom 80 percent control only 16 percent. The top 10 percent also own 88 percent of all stock; the bottom 40 percent own less than 1 percent of total stock holdings.
These numbers represent the vast inequality of wealth in the U.S. In fact according to our book, the United States is one of the most "unequal" nations in the world. So now you might be asking why is there so much inequality? Due to the current economic situation in the United States, more and more people are finding it harder to create their own wealth. Society is making it difficult to find good paying jobs as well as harder to afford a college education. Therefore most of the wealth in this society is inherited. There are people who make their way into the high class by their own success, however this is rare. Race also is a factor when looking at the current wealth distribution in the United States. Our book says that for every dollar of wealth held by White Americans, Black Americans have only 26 cents. During difficult times having the ability to draw on assets means those with better financially stability can better withstand these economic hardships.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sociological Theory of Sexuality
Chapter 12 in the book Sociology: The Essentials discusses sexuality; a topic that is normally intended to be a private matter, however certain topics that fall into this category, such as abortion, sex trafficking, and gays are often times a controversial issue that must be made public. I found this chapter in the book to be very interesting because it covers many different aspects of sexuality in our society, and the way it affects us.
The three major sociological perspectives take on different views regarding sexuality:
Functionalist theory encourages the nuclear type of family. This point of view believes sexual behavior is functional for society because it "prevents the instability and conflict that more liberal sexual attitudes supposedly generate" (Sociology:The Essentials 294). Functionalist believe that family values produce a sense of uniformity in regards to social order. According to an article from this link
http://socyberty.com/issues/assess-the-usefulness-of-the-functionalist-perspective-for-an-understanding-of-the-family-in-contemporary-society/ the functionalist view of social issues in society are that "every society needs rules about sex, for example for sex to happen it should be during a socially approved sexual relationship inside of marriage.
Conflict theorists on the other hand see sexuality as part of the power relations and economic inequality in society (Sociology:The Essentials 295). They say that sexual violence including rape and sexual harassment is the result of power imbalances between men and women. Conflict theorists say that the international sex trade is linked to poverty, the status of women in society, and economics. Lastly conflict theorists believe sexuality is an expression of great social intimacy.
Symbolic interaction theory interprets sexual identity as learned rather than inborn. This point of view believes that culture and society shape sexual experiences (Sociology: The Essentials 296). This link to an essay shows a symbolic interaction theorists perspective on sexuality: http://www.jstor.org/pss/1318338
These theories are the major theories used when addressing the topic of sexuality.
A very controversial issue throughout the world is the topic of gays and lesbians. Due to this controversial issue I think it is necessary to address what the Queer Theory is. The Queer Theory challenges the idea that only one form of sexuality is normal. Queer theory is a perspective that has evolved from recognizing the socially constructed nature of sexual identity. This theory interprets society as forcing these sexual boundaries on people (Sociology: The Essentials 296). Paul H. Fry from Yale shares a very interesting lecture of Queer theory with us, below is the link to this lecture.
http://academicearth.org/lectures/queer-theory-gender-performativity
Sex trafficking is addressed in this chapter. Sex trafficking is a very disturbing issue that is a relatively new term. Sex trafficking is where women are forced into sexual acts. This is sometimes linked to a form of slavery, it can involve debt or bondage. These women can be kidnapped or simply tricked into this situation by terms of promises such as marriage or money. According to a human trafficking fact sheet; http://www.dreamcenter.org/new/images/outreach/RescueProject/stats.pdf 27 million people are in this type of modern day slavery across the world. In addition the site also said that 800,000 people trafficked across international borders everyday. These numbers are so disturbing and devastating. It is unbelievable to me that even though the slavery that existed between African Americans and Caucasians is primarily over there is a fairly new type of slavery that needs to be better addressed world-wide so that we will be able to end this disturbing type of slavery.
This following poems paints a very vivid picture of sex trafficking:
The three major sociological perspectives take on different views regarding sexuality:
Functionalist theory encourages the nuclear type of family. This point of view believes sexual behavior is functional for society because it "prevents the instability and conflict that more liberal sexual attitudes supposedly generate" (Sociology:The Essentials 294). Functionalist believe that family values produce a sense of uniformity in regards to social order. According to an article from this link
http://socyberty.com/issues/assess-the-usefulness-of-the-functionalist-perspective-for-an-understanding-of-the-family-in-contemporary-society/ the functionalist view of social issues in society are that "every society needs rules about sex, for example for sex to happen it should be during a socially approved sexual relationship inside of marriage.
Conflict theorists on the other hand see sexuality as part of the power relations and economic inequality in society (Sociology:The Essentials 295). They say that sexual violence including rape and sexual harassment is the result of power imbalances between men and women. Conflict theorists say that the international sex trade is linked to poverty, the status of women in society, and economics. Lastly conflict theorists believe sexuality is an expression of great social intimacy.
Symbolic interaction theory interprets sexual identity as learned rather than inborn. This point of view believes that culture and society shape sexual experiences (Sociology: The Essentials 296). This link to an essay shows a symbolic interaction theorists perspective on sexuality: http://www.jstor.org/pss/1318338
These theories are the major theories used when addressing the topic of sexuality.
A very controversial issue throughout the world is the topic of gays and lesbians. Due to this controversial issue I think it is necessary to address what the Queer Theory is. The Queer Theory challenges the idea that only one form of sexuality is normal. Queer theory is a perspective that has evolved from recognizing the socially constructed nature of sexual identity. This theory interprets society as forcing these sexual boundaries on people (Sociology: The Essentials 296). Paul H. Fry from Yale shares a very interesting lecture of Queer theory with us, below is the link to this lecture.
http://academicearth.org/lectures/queer-theory-gender-performativity
Sex trafficking is addressed in this chapter. Sex trafficking is a very disturbing issue that is a relatively new term. Sex trafficking is where women are forced into sexual acts. This is sometimes linked to a form of slavery, it can involve debt or bondage. These women can be kidnapped or simply tricked into this situation by terms of promises such as marriage or money. According to a human trafficking fact sheet; http://www.dreamcenter.org/new/images/outreach/RescueProject/stats.pdf 27 million people are in this type of modern day slavery across the world. In addition the site also said that 800,000 people trafficked across international borders everyday. These numbers are so disturbing and devastating. It is unbelievable to me that even though the slavery that existed between African Americans and Caucasians is primarily over there is a fairly new type of slavery that needs to be better addressed world-wide so that we will be able to end this disturbing type of slavery.
And to the Little Ones
Swiped from her village
sold for a dime by poor parents
to a rich global market
Taka’s 10-year-old bones rattle with fear.
Heart?
bound to earth – chained.
Beaten down to size in small back rooms
Spirit broken by westerners who promise the world
and leave her a lump of mud.
No breath…
No breath…
Can’t breathe in this tomb.
Taka’s humanity
her dignity
her soul
is battered and bartered
on the black market for a dime.
And pundits predict her body will be found
in a ditch in an alley
some – day.
sold for a dime by poor parents
to a rich global market
Taka’s 10-year-old bones rattle with fear.
Heart?
bound to earth – chained.
Beaten down to size in small back rooms
Spirit broken by westerners who promise the world
and leave her a lump of mud.
No breath…
No breath…
Can’t breathe in this tomb.
Taka’s humanity
her dignity
her soul
is battered and bartered
on the black market for a dime.
And pundits predict her body will be found
in a ditch in an alley
some – day.
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