Part 1
For this discussion, you must read Chapter 7 of the text, Sociology: Beyond Common Sense, and watch the two videos, Social Class in America 1957 McGraw-Hill text-films [Transcript ] (an old video but great example) and How Class Works - Richard Wolff Examines Class . Then, review the document, Knowledge of Hidden Rules of Social Class.
Read through the descriptions of daily activities and commonplace knowledge for lower, middle, and upper class people. Print it out and place an ‘X' next to the things you know how to do [you can also just note your ‘X' marks], and look to see how many ‘X' marks you have in each category [If you don't have children, use yourself and your siblings as a reference group.]. This will help you gain insight into the taken for granted or hidden knowledge you need to survive in various social classes. After completing these tasks, consider the following questions:
• Social Class in the US How would you categorize the types of knowledge? How and where would someone acquire and learn this knowledge? How do you gain access to the people and places this can be learned? Is this access generally equal in the US?
• You as a Social Being On which questionnaires did you have the most and least marks? Were you surprised by the outcome? Do you have equal access to the people and places required to acquire knowledge you currently do not have?
• Conclusions What conclusions can you make about the nature of the hidden knowledge necessary to be successful in each social class? Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length.
Part 2
For this discussion, you must read Chapter 8 and Chapter 9 of the text, Sociology: Beyond Common Sense, the article The ‘Pink vs Blue' Gender Myth , and watch the three videos, Social Construction ,[Transcript ] RACE: Are We So Different? , and A Girl Like Me [Transcript ]. [Note that A Girl Like Me uses words or language that are considered profane, vulgar or offensive by some viewers.
Ashford University does not condone such content that may be objectionable; however, the video is being used due to its impact and education value in understanding social construction.] After reviewing these resources on varied perspectives of social construction, consider the following questions:
• What is social construction?
• Which example from the resources provided did you find most compelling in building your knowledge of social construction?
Describe it and explain why you found it most useful. Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length.
Part 3
This assignment is closely related to the final Research Paper in Week Five. Please review the instructions for that paper before beginning this assignment.
For this Week Three assignment, you will present demographic data on the city, town, or county where you currently live in preparation for the Research Paper, which is due in Week Five. To do this, you will perform secondary data analysis by visiting the US Census Bureau's American FactFinder . Identify the various social and economic characteristics (i.e., education, population, housing, race, gender, age, income, etc.) of this locale and report the statistics. You can also check government websites for your state, county or city for data.
Then, using the statistics you report, identify your findings of social stratification or social inequality found in this locale as highlighted in the reading in the text, Sociology: Beyond Common Sense, for Week Three.
In other words, what does the data tell you about the social stratification and social inequalities found in your locale? Be sure to choose a locale that you have access to, as you will be conducting in-person observations in this locale for the Research Paper due in Week Five. If you are currently living outside of the U.S. or will have difficulties physically accessing a location in the U.S., please contact your instructor for additional instructions. Your demographic report should follow the following structure:
• Introduction (including the locality chosen and general socio-economic info on your locality)
• At least five body paragraphs presenting the social or economic characteristics and specific data for the locality (please state both numbers and percentages if available). In this section of your paper, be sure to present statistics related to education, population, race, gender, age, income (and poverty), housing, as well as any other factors you think relate to the stratification and/or inequality in your chosen locale. Examples of how data can be presented:
o A table of all the variables you found (if you select this option, please do not copy and paste tables from the American Factfinder website. Rather, create your own table with all of your variables). [Insert/Table in MS Word; add as many columns and rows as you like]: Location: [examples]San Diego, Kern County, etc... Percentage Number (n=) Population (male): 45% 45,000 Population (female) 55% 55,000 Median Income $40,000 % of Population with College Degree 30% 30,000 o Or a bullet point list of all the variables you found. Location: Population:
? Male - 45% (n=45,000)
? Female - 55% (n=55,000)...etc.
• At least two body paragraphs describing how the statistics you report relate to social stratification and social inequality (use your text, Sociology:
Beyond Common Sense as reference). In other words, think about what picture the statistics paint about the type of social hierarchies and inequalities that exist in your locale. (Hint: Think about stratification and inequalities based on race, gender, age, social class, etc. Finding statistics about education, income, housing, etc. by race/gender/age can be useful places to make these observations).
• Conclusion (summarize the socio-economic status of your locality based on your findings and related discussions on social stratification and social inequality )
• Reference page. The paper must be four to five pages in length and formatted according to APA style. You must use at least five resources from the Census website. You must use your text to support your work on social stratification and social inequality. Cite your resources in text and on the reference page.