Sociology essay

Submitted By macyjoclimer
Words: 1362
Pages: 6
Open Document
Macy Climer
Sociology
July 6, 2015
Mean Girls

Sociology is the study of human social life, groups and societies. The sociological perspective is a perspective on human behavior and its connection to society as a whole. It invites us to look for the connections between the behavior of individual people and the structures of the society in which they live. Typically, we tend to think of our society as just natural. We don't think about how it affects us and our behavior. The sociological perspective is one in which we do not do this. Instead, we look at our society and the way it is set up. We ask how that society affects us. In this way, the sociological perspective helps us to understand how society is important in shaping our everyday lives. This definition tells us that sociologists look for general patterns in the behavior of particular people. Although every individual is unique, society shapes the lives of people in various categories very differently. We begin to see the world sociologically by realizing how the general categories into which we fall shape our particular life experiences. Seeing the strange in the familiar, sociological perspective reveals to us the initially strange idea that society shapes what we think and do in patterned ways. The sociological imagination is defined as the capacity to see how sociological situations play out due to how people differ in terms of their places in given social or historical circumstances. It is a way of thinking about things in society that have led to some sort of outcome, and understanding what causes led to that outcome. By applying sociological perspective, we are likely to become more active and aware and to think more critically in our everyday lives. Some benefits are that

it helps us assess the truth of “common sense”, helps us see the opportunities and constraints in our lives, empowers us to be active participants in our society, and helps us live in a diverse world. Mean Girls, Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) has never known what "high school" truly meant. She lived her first 15 years in the African jungle, home-schooled, living life with only her parents and the animals of the wilderness, knowing all of the rules of survival. However, when she moves out of Africa, she has to learn the rules of high school, a jungle in itself. She instantly makes friends with two sweet teenagers, Damian and Janis, who, in the terms of the high school, were in the "out crowd." Soon she meets the Plastics, the three crude, beautiful, popular girls, consisting of Regina, the unofficial leader, Gretchen, Regina's full-time follower, and Karen,
"one of the dumbest people you will ever meet." They immediately let her into their group, but
Cady, wanting to keep her first friends, is unsure. The two convince Cady to keep her relationship with the Plastics, only so that they can know their dark secrets. However, events turn for the worse when Cady falls for Regina's ex-boyfriend, Aaron Samuels. When Regina finds out, she seeks revenge of Cady by taking Aaron back. When Cady finds out, what began as a game to discover secrets turns into a plan to destroy Regina. Now, Cady, Janis, and Damian plot together to bring Regina's status down. However, as Cady spends more time with the Plastics, she, too, begins to become one.
1. Social Structure: Social organization based on established patterns of social interaction between different relationships regulated through accepted norms and shared values;

2. Social-Conflict Theory: Patterns in society that benefit some people while hurting others;
The “plastics” show off their wealth which make them superior to the students who aren’t as wealthy and that causes conflicts between social groups.
3. Race-Conflict Theory: Inequality of people with different race and ethnic categories; Cadys first day at American high school was questioned why she wasn't black because she was from Africa.
4. Culture: The way we think, how we act, and what we own; Mean
Show More

Related Documents: Sociology essay

Sociology Essay

What is Sociology? Discuss the key sociological concepts and perspectives and apply one perspective to an area of your professional practice. The primary purpose of this essay is to discuss sociology. Some definitions will be discussed as well as sociological concepts and perspectives. A sociological perspective will also be applied to the area of Health and Social Care provisions. According to Marsh and Keating (2006) “Sociological is regarded as an essential part of training courses for teachers…

Words 1264 - Pages 6

Sociology Essay

Sociology 110.67 Chapter #1 Essay Sociology is very plainly defined as the study of human society. While this may sound like a very straight forward and basic definition, society is actually a very complex system that is designed to help shape all of us in various ways throughout our lives. Society helps to shape our thoughts, emotions, the way we behave and perceive things, and can even help us to better understand ourselves as individuals. In a sense, it is a sociologists’ job to help determine…

Words 817 - Pages 4

Sociology: Sociology and Symbolic Interactionism Essay

Simone Johnson February 24, 2014 Sociology Paper #1 Sociology Sociology embarks on our everyday life. Throughout this essay, I will be giving examples from a series of youtube videos and everyday situations and explain how they are entwined with Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 5. These chapters touch on the subjects of Language, Symbolic Interactionism, Sociologist Research and Mass media/Peer Groups. Prime examples from rappers and normal people living day by day will be used to explain how they relate…

Words 653 - Pages 3

Sociology Essay

might account for social order, and discuss the extent to which you find those explanations convincing. Social order is one of the most central aspects of sociology. Two main factors are necessary for the existence of social order: predictability of society and cooperative behaviour of individuals (Hechter and Horne, 2003). In this essay I will describe how ‘values and norms’ and…

Words 1989 - Pages 8

Essay on Sociology: Sociology and Childhood

Sociology Examine the ways in which childhood can be said to be socially constructed (24) It can be argued that they are many ways in which society has indeed socially constructed childhood. This has not happened in just the last 10 years, this has happened over many centuries. In this time society has changed how childhood is structured and how children are treated and is still ever changing with the influences from different cultures and different sides of the world. Because of Cross-cultural…

Words 783 - Pages 4

Sociology: Sociology and Socialization Essay

Sociology Week 3 Assignment July 3, 2013 Socialization is the process by which individuals gain the knowledge, language, social skills, and value to conform to the norms and roles required for mixing into a group or a community. It is also defined as a combination of both self-imposed which means the individual wants to conform, externally-imposed rules, and the expectations of the others. There are several agents that pertain to socialization…

Words 498 - Pages 2

Sociology and Class Essays

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY Spring 2015 Instructor: Wan-Ning Bao Sociology R100 Office: CA 303H Section 11090 Office Hours: T/R 1:30 - 2:30 PM Tuesday 12:00 - 1:15 PM Telephone: (317) 274-2665 Thursday 12:00 - 1:15 PM E-mail: wbao@iupui.edu Location: CA 225…

Words 1903 - Pages 8

Sociology: Sociology and Sociology Sociological Perspective Essay examples

What is Sociology? Sociology is the study of society. Sociology applies to our everyday lives. There are hidden markers in society that tells us who we are and how we interact with others. It is the study of human behavior, collective action, interaction and the consequences of actions and interactions. Sociology is about pulling back the curtain to expose what is going on. It also help de-familiarize things. It is a particular way of studying the world. It’s the Systematic study of social…

Words 346 - Pages 2

Sociology and Deviance Essay

“Becoming a deviant involves a social process of definition”. The purpose of this essay is to show how this sociological perspective can assist in understanding drug taking in society. In the essay I will discuss the notion of deviance and will demonstrate that people do not become deviants on the strength of their behaviour alone, but by the sanctions of a society whose norms that the offender has deemed to have violated. I will examine approaches to deviance through biological, psychological…

Words 2079 - Pages 9

Sociology Essay

an organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes. a body of individuals living as members of a community; community. the body of human beings generally, associated or viewed as members of a community: the evolution of human society. a highly structured system of human organization for large-scale community living that normally furnishes protection, continuity, security, and a national identity for its members:…

Words 544 - Pages 3