DISCUSSION 1
Then, in one to two paragraphs address the following:
In sociology, we often use our “sociological imagination” to think about how our lives and the lives of others are influenced by things like gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion, or sexual orientation. Sociologist C. Wright Mills described one’s sociological imagination as being the ability to examine “the intersection between biography and history.” In this discussion, you will use your sociological imagination to think about how the life of someone living now would have been different 50 to 100 years ago.
After reviewing the resources for this module, select a famous figure from contemporary society (actor, musician, athlete, author, politician, etc.) and, using your own sociological imagination, imagine how different his or her life would have been if he or she were living 50 or 100 years earlier. Briefly discuss the person and the time period you’re imagining them in. Describe what those differences might be, paying particular attention to societal expectations (e.g., would a female primarily do domestic work in the home, or would she work in an office?) and characteristics that might be relevant (e.g., race, gender, class, occupation, marital status, etc.).
DISCUSSION 2 (TWO PARAGRAPH)
While culture refers to the way of life of a group of people, a subculture is a culture within a culture. A subculture is a social world that can be based on anything that draws individuals together and that has a distinctive way of life, as our textbook explains. Cosplayers, Red Sox fans, bikers, and hip hop fans are all examples of subcultures. Even the workplace can have its own subculture.
In this discussion, begin by selecting a subculture that you have learned about or to which you have had exposure. You may have learned about the subculture through television, through news coverage, or through your peer groups. Describe the cultural beliefs and biases of your chosen subculture, as well as some of their norms and taboos. Are there any positive or negative sanctions that one might be subject to for conforming to or violating a social norm?