SOC101YSOC101YIntroduction to SociologyIntroduction to Sociology

Professor Robert BrymProfessor Robert Brym

Lecture #2Lecture #221 Sep 1121 Sep 11

Course WebsiteCourse Website

http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/soc101y/brym

Culture is the sum of socially transmitted ideas, practices, and material objects that people create to overcome real-life problems. Culture gives us guidelines for how to act.

A society exists when people interact and share culture, generally in a geographically delimited area.

Hero’s Aeolopile, 1Hero’s Aeolopile, 1stst century century c.e.c.e.

The Atanasoff-Berry The Atanasoff-Berry Digital Computer, circa Digital Computer, circa

19391939

Ethnocentrism involves judging another culture exclusively by the standards of one’s own.

Cultural relativism is the belief that all elements of all cultures should be respected as equally valid.

Prevalence of Prevalence of Cliterectomy in AfricaCliterectomy in Africa

Prevalence over 90% in: Egypt Guinea Eritrea Djibouti Mali Somalia Sierra Leone

Canada’s Foreign-Born Population by Continent of Birth, 1981-2031

Foreign-born Canadians as percent of population*

1881 14.0%1931 22.2%1981 15.8%2006 19.8%2031 26.5%

* Percentages were read from a graph and are therefore approximate.

Years from Invention to 25 Years from Invention to 25 Percent Market Penetration Percent Market Penetration (year of invention in (year of invention in parentheses)parentheses)

38

32

18

14

7

0 10 20 30 40

World Wide Web (1991)Cell phone (1983)

Personal computer (1975)Microwave (1953)

VCR (1952)

Years to 25 percent market penetration

In the long run, do you think the In the long run, do you think the scientific advances we are making will scientific advances we are making will

help or harm humankind? (percent help or harm humankind? (percent who say who say ““will helpwill help””))

0

20

40

60

80

100

Sweden India Canada USA China

Percent

Postmodernism involves: The eclectic mixing of

cultural elements from different times and places;

the erosion of authority; and the decline of consensus

around core values

Rationalization is the application of the most efficient means to achieve given goals and the often unintended, negative consequences of doing so.

A bureaucracy is a large, impersonal organization composed of many clearly defined positions arranged in a hierarchy. It has a permanent, salaried staff of qualified experts and written goals, rules and procedures. Staff members strive to achieve goals more efficiently.

Approximate Income, Cost and Approximate Income, Cost and Profit per SOC101 Student, U of T, Profit per SOC101 Student, U of T, 1993 and 20101993 and 2010Year 1993 2010Classes 4 1Students 1,000 1,400TAs 12 7A. Tuition income per student $415 $1,250B. Personnel cost per student* $265 $165Net income per student (A-B) $150 $1,085Net income per student, 2010 $

$200 $1,085

* Excludes overhead

Consumerism is a lifestyle that involves defining one’s self in terms of the goods one purchases.

Early 80s: Inventor of gansta rap

ICE-T (Tracy Marrow)ICE-T (Tracy Marrow)Now: Detective Finn,Law and Order SVU

Six marriages took place in Six marriages took place in Hampton (population: 2,000) in Hampton (population: 2,000) in 2010. Twelve marriages took 2010. Twelve marriages took place in Sussex (population: place in Sussex (population: 3,000) in 2010. In which town is 3,000) in 2010. In which town is the marriage rate higher?the marriage rate higher?

1. Hampton2. Sussex3. Both the same4. Impossible to say with the given

information

Hampton marriage rate:6/2,000 = m/100,0006 x 100,000 = 2,000 x m600,000 = 2,000mm=300

Sussex marriage rate:12/3,000 = m/100,00012 x 100,000 = 3,000 x m1,200,000 = 3,000mm=400

We want to compare marriage inthe two towns but the frequency ofmarriages is influenced by the size of the town. We must therefore“standardize” or “control for” size . We do this by calculating rates –the number of marriages for every 100,000 residents (m).

When we solve for x, we arrive atthe marriage rate, that is, the the number of marriages per100,000 residents. This allows us to compare marriage in the two townsas if they were the same size.