Sociology Portfolio

Introduction

Sociology is essentially the study of the human experience (also known as microsociology) as it pertains to societal and cultural norms (also known as macrosociology) through the lens of various social theories. These theories include:

Functionalist perspective: society is viewed as a system of interdependent and interrelated parts (Thompson & Thompson, 2019).
Conflict perspective: society is composed of diverse groups with conflicting values and interests using economic determination and, differentials in power and authority (Thompson & Thompson, 2019).
Feminist perspective: studies, analyzes, and explains social and cultural phenomena based on gender perspectives (Thompson & Thompson, 2019).
Symbolic interactionist perspective: states social meaning arises through social interaction and rests on three basic principles: human beings act toward things based on the meanings they attach to them; meanings are derived from social interaction with others; meanings may be changed or modified through the processes of interaction and interpretation (Thompson & Thompson, 2019).

I believe that sociology is important because it forces you to think outside of your societal norms and cultural beliefs. What is normal for one culture, may be an insult to another. For example, the use of certain words may be ok to use in some societies, but is considered taboo to use in others. Having the ability to recognize that not all societies operate with the same cultural norms is an important step to understanding why societies function the way that they do. Sociology creates a safe place where society and culture can be observed without judgement. It’s the bridge between cultures that seeks to understand, and accept each other’s social norms in the event that they conflict with each other.

Understanding and respecting the customs and traditions of other cultures and religions is also a key factor in diplomatic relations between countries. The U.S. military teaches diplomatic relations by briefing soldiers and sailors on local customs and traditions so that we don’t unintentionally offend anyone. For example, when women in the U.S. military are deployed to Islamic countries, they are instructed to wear long sleeved shirts and pants when interacting with the locals out of respect for their cultural beliefs.

At the start of the semester, students were asked to provide their perspectives on a variety of social issues. Below you will find my initial perspective from the start of class, followed by an evaluation of these issues from one or more of the sociological perspectives listed above:

What do you see as the primary reasons people commit property crimes like theft or burglary?

Personal Perspective

There could be so many reasons why people steal, but I think the primary one has to be greed. Look at our government today, there is so much open corruption happening it makes my head spin. And a close second (especially in today’s economy) would be desperation. Times are tough and groceries are expensive! I know there are people out there deciding if the last of their paycheck should go for food or gas. When you can’t pay for one, then you steal the other.

Conflict perspective

My personal opinion on this topic hasn’t really changed, but after learning about the different theories I realized that my line of thinking comes from the conflict perspective. Our current political climate has become a struggle between the rich and powerful, and the struggling and destitute. While the majority of the U.S. population is struggling to make ends meet and pay for necessities, the rich and powerful are lining their pockets and holding events that only they can afford. It is very reminiscent of the French Revolution.

The conflict perspective says that this type of deviant behavior is a consequence of the inequality and unfair distribution of power between the rich and the poor (NU Editorial Contributors, 2021). The conflict perspective also views deviants as innovators and drivers of change using the act of defiance as a means of expressing a grievance (NU Editorial Contributors, 2021).

Why is monogamous marriage seen as the only correct form of marriage in the United States?

Personal Perspective

I think this is due mostly to religion and the patriarchy’s need to control women and own children. Maternity is clearly defined, but women can also have multiple sex partners making it difficult to distinguish who a child’s father could be. The best way to ensure that you are the father is to make sure she doesn’t procreate with anyone else.

Conflict and Feminist Perspectives

My personal perspective on monogamy comes from both a conflict and feminist perspective. Females have been forced to follow rules dictated by men based on the male perception of what gender-specific roles should be. Women have been conditioned for thousands of years to believe that their self-worth is tied to their ability to secure and maintain a male partner. This patriarchal narrative has deprived women of the right to choose the relationship style they prefer; and has led to a double standard where it is socially acceptable for men to have multiple sex partners at the same time, while women are shamed for having multiple sex partners (Jenkins, N.D.). Rules such as monogamy were adopted to reinforce the need for a male-dominated world that exploits women in an effort to control who they have children with.

The conflict perspective believes that early society was based on communism where there was no such thing as private property and wealth (UKEssays, 2017). Over time private property and wealth became more important, with males being the primary owners (UKEssays, 2017). In order for their property and wealth to be passed to the next generation men needed to verify the legitimacy of their heirs, so the concept of marriage and monogamy was introduced as a way to control women and ensure their legacy (UKEssays, 2017).

The feminist perspective views faithfulness as artificial for men, and natural for women (Jenkins, N.D.). Monogamy has historically been about possession, and is the patriarchy’s core expectation of women (Jenkins, N.D.). To enforce this expectation, a system of social conditioning was created to reward women that conformed to this expectation, and punish those that don’t (Jenkins, N.D.). The loss of control over a woman’s sexuality generates fear because it threatens the male sense of entitlement to her romantic attention (Jenkins, N.D.).

Why do you think some states are creating laws to reinforce notions of binary gender (i.e., that people are born as either male or female)?

Personal Perspective

I think this boils down to confusion, fear, and maybe a little bit of hatred. Sexuality and gender as they are defined today is very different from when I was growing up and what I was taught. It appears confusing when you first glance at how they are defined by today’s standards. The information is new, therefore largely unknown and people fear what they don’t know, and hate what they fear.

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

My personal perspective on binary gender is reminiscent of symbolic interactionism which affirms that gender is produced, maintained, and interpreted by daily interactions, and shared meanings (Kaul & Kshetrimayum, 2025). It suggests that gender is not biologically fixed, but a pattern of behavior that is taught through the belief of what masculinity and femininity should be. These patterns of behavior dictate what clothing, hairstyles, speech, occupations, and toys are appropriate for males and females based on their biological gender. It’s the reason why pink is associated with girls, and blue is associated with boys.

Gender roles are learned at an early age by the toys a child receives (e.g., girl toys are typically associated with the role of a mother and domestic servant, boy toys are typically associated with the role of a hardworking men and providers). As children grow into teenagers, gender roles are reinforced by what is considered appropriate clothing, and hair styles for each gender. As teens enter adulthood and the workforce, they are often placed in positions based on their gender. Gender roles are so deeply ingrained in our society, that introducing a concept where gender can be fluid disrupts the current norm and forces society to really evaluate what it means to be male or female. If a woman can do a man’s job better than a man, it threatens the male dominated society by challenging the narrative that men are better at certain things than women. When gender roles become blurred, men can no longer say they are superior to women and that threatens the male existence. I believe that states are trying to create laws reinforcing gender roles so that men can continue to reign supreme.

Why did the Supreme Court of the United Status end affirmative action in college admissions?

Personal Perspective

Is affirmative action the same as DEI? Either way, I think systemic racism is the root cause.

Conflict Perspective

My response to this still hasn’t changed, I believe systemic racism is the root cause for why affirmative action ended. The conflict perspective is all about the unequal distribution of power and privilege between different groups. Historically, white males have held the powers and privileges of being the dominant group in society, at the expense of the rights of marginalized groups. The conflict theory suggests that this is an intentional move to protect white male interests using metrics that disproportionately benefit rich, white applicants (Nadworny, 2023). It goes against policies created to address the systemic inequalities that have prevented marginalized groups from accessing the same opportunities given to white males (Rennie Center, 2024). This ultimately ensures that white males remain the dominant group in our society.

How should society address people who violate its norms?

Personal Perspective

Depends on the violation committed. For most everyday small things (like using the wrong spoon at dinner type stuff), I think an open mind and a kind heart can go a long way. You never know what struggles and challenges others are going through, or how they were raised. So I try to understand and not assume. But for people who commit acts of violence, oppression, and abuse, they should be punished accordingly.

Functionalist Perspective:

While I still believe punishments should be based on the crime committed, the functionalist perspective views deviant behavior as a major contributor to social stability over the long term because it challenges societal norms while promoting social cohesion and balance by compelling society to change the current norms (NU Editorial Contributors, 2021).

Deviants are the ones who exploit vulnerabilities in the system, forcing society to make changes that can help themselves as well as others. Without deviants challenging the system, institutions would crumble as their focus shifts from solving problems and adapting changes to preserving and maintaining existing regulations; economic activity drops as consumers lose the ability to make purchases and options to move up become limited; and the present circumstances become a standard that prevents innovation, scientific breakthroughs, and new ideas for improving quality of life. The functionalist perspective also believes that punishing people who break the rules is an effective way to remind the public of social values because it draws a line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior, and unites the community against a “common enemy” (Lumen, N.D.).