Techniques of majority group domination and the responses of minority groups are discussed. Various reasons for the different rates and patterns of assimilation are explored. Explores current perspectives on the situations faced by women and men, primarily in the United States. Examines issues such as the impact of sex and gender on socialization, the construction of knowledge, intimate relationships, paid work, family relationships, health, and issues of change. Focuses both on logic and practice of social research.
Students choose a number of mini-projects or a major research project.
SO151 Examines the development of mass media as dominant cultural forms within advanced industrial societies in the 20th century. Emphasizes critical understanding of the sociohistorical development, the underlying assumptions, and the social implications of the advance of mass media. SO151 Considers the range of theoretical explanations for the pervasive violence between husband and wife. Particularly examines the research on wife battering and the implications of this research for programs and policies assisting both the victim and the abuser. SO151 Examines the prevalence, causes, and social implications of physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect forms of child abuse in society.