Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Life Stories
Your Research
Broader Themes
Sociological
Concepts
Aspects of
British Society
Life Stories
Consumerism
Homosexuality
Masculinity
Religion
Child welfare
Festival culture
Youth culture
2.
to
Ian Tomlinson
to Anita Roddick
to Peter Tatchell
to Dizzie Rascal
to Michael Eaves
to Pete Andre
to Zaki Badawi
to Baby P
to Jordan Blackshaw
to Caroline Lucas
to Kerry Katona
to Levi Roots
to Bob Crow
to Shami Chakrabarti
Sociological Theories
Examines how society
is based on shared
experiences which act
like a social glue.
1.
Functionalism
Contrasting
Viewpoints
2. Marxism
Examines how society
is shaped by class
inequalities and class
conflict.
Sociological Theories
Examines how women
are disadvantaged by
mens dominance of
the economy, culture
and politics.
3. Feminism
Contrasting
Viewpoints
4. Postmodernism
Examines how
individuals are faced
with choices and
risks when deciding
on how to shape
their own identity.
1. Social solidarity
A sense of togetherness; whereby
members of society share similar values
and expectations about social life.
2. Value consensus
A general agreement about what
are the things of worth in society.
3. Interdependence
A state of balance between parts of
the social system. A change in one
institution will lead to changes
elsewhere.
4. Meritocracy
Society rewards individuals who
have talent and who work hard to
develop that talent.
5. Ruling Class
The group who have a powerful
influence over the rest of society.
Also known as the aristocracy or
bourgeoisie.
6. Class conflict
Beneath the surface of society
there is an ongoing struggle
between two groups because of
opposing interests.
7. Exploitation
Achieved by forcing the working
class to work beyond what is
necessary for survival and then
taking the excess profit from them.
8. Ideology
A set of beliefs which serve the interests
of the dominant group in society. Media
and schools disseminate these beliefs
as right and natural.
9. Patriarchy
Feminist sociologists claim that
society is built on male domination
and that men benefit from the
exploitation of women
Broader Themes
In A level Sociology there are certain themes that we will
look at again and again. One theme is;
1. Social Conflict
Broader Themes
A second theme is;
2. Social consensus
Your Presentation
Your presentation to the class must include the following
four headings;
Life Stories
Your introduction should include a basic biography of the
two people.
Sociological Concepts
You will need to identify and define two or three relevant
concepts that help you make sense of your life stories.
Step 1
Planning
Step 2
Focus on one aspect of British society
This is: _______________________________
Step 3
Identify two or three relevant sociological concepts that will
help you explain what the life stories tell us about British
society.
They are: ________________________________________
________________________________________
Step 4
Pick a broader theme that you think your life stories will
illustrate.
The broader theme is: _____________________________
Life Stories
Example
Stephen Lawrence
Bobby Sands
Died in prison in Northern
Ireland following a hunger
strike. He was a member
of the IRA.
Sociological Concepts
Conflict in Britain there is long history of struggle for basic
human rights.
Ideology the mass media often ignore and even
misreport the problems faced by many communities
across British society.