Social Differences

Social Differences

Unit One Sociology

Social Differences: definedIndividual human differences are understood in two ways.Firstly, natural or biological differences, such as physique, eye and skin colour.Secondly, social or cultural differences, such as differences in the work people do, level of income, status or power.

We will be looking atsocioeconomic statusgenderage locationethnicity

– Cultural

– Cultural

– Biological

– Cultural

– Cultural

EthnicityIn general, sociologists have rejected the notion that human groups can be unambiguously defined in terms of their genetic constitution. Social groups are more commonly defined by reference to shared culture such as language, heritage, customs, institutions including religious, and ideology.For example Victorian Koorie peoples, Sudanese Australians (ex-refugees), Vietnamese born in Australia.

Socioeconomic StatusSocioeconomic status is an economic and social measure of a person's position or situation relative to others. It is based on income and occupation, and education.Also commonly referred to as class.Generally speaking, for example, a wealthy banker with many assets has a ‘high socioeconomic status’. Someone who works a 9-5 job and pays rent has a much lower socioeconomic status.

GenderGender is a range of characteristics distinguishing between male and female, or masculinity and femininity .One’s sex refers exclusively to what makes one biologically male or female. Gender is culturally constructed.A male could display feminine characteristics not typical of their ‘gender’ and vice versa.

AgeA period of human life, measured by years from birth, usually marked by a certain stage or degree of mental or physical development and involving legal responsibility and capacity.

For example; adolescence refers to a period of physiological development usually during the teenage years.

Location (Rural/Urban)An urban area is characterised by high population density and many services, including health and education. Urban areas are mostly cities and large towns. For example Melbourne or Bendigo. Rural areas have a low population density, limited services and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture. It includes small towns.For example Charlton or the Mallee.

DiscriminationSocial differences will often be the impetus for discrimination and drive stereotyping. This is why we have such legislation as the Equal Opportunity Act which makes it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of such social differences as gender and ethnicity. Some examples of stereotypes, based on social differences, could be ‘All women are bad drivers’, ‘All Muslims are terrorists’, ‘All country people are uneducated’, ‘All youths are rebellious’ and ‘All homeless peoples are bums’.

WA Today June 6, 2011

Daw tormentor banned from VFL games

THE spectator who racially abused North Melbourne's Sudanese recruit Majak Daw at a VFL match at Port Melbourne has been banned by AFL Victoria.Saturday's incident left Daw, who was playing for North's VFL feeder team Werribee, feeling hurt and shocked.North Melbourne coach Brad Scott led the string of football identities who condemned the fan's actions and AFL Victoria released a statement last night saying the spectator was banned from entering VFL games unless he undertakes racial vilification awareness education, while Victoria Police offered the spectator racial and religious vilification education.''The spectator will also be refused entry to any VFL game for the rest of the season and will not be welcome back unless he undertakes the required education process and provides a written apology to Majak Daw,'' AFL Victoria said.AFL Victoria's decision comes after discussions between Werribee, Port Melbourne, Victoria Police and North Melbourne, where 20-year-old Daw is a rookie.AFL Victoria general manager Grant Williams said the fan's behaviour was totally unacceptable. ''The public condemnation of the racial abuse towards Majak shows that, as a society, we are not willing to accept this sort of behaviour, whether it is at the football, or in the general public,'' Williams said.''In many respects the response at the time and reactions since the weekend's events suggest that our education programs are having an impact … the focus needs to be on educating not only the offender, but anyone attending our matches who thinks that it is OK to racially vilify players. It is not, and never will be, acceptable.''

Can you think…Of a case of discrimination with respect to…

Age?Socioeconomic status?Location?Gender?

Choose one social difference

And write a definition from memory using examples.

Now find a partner, someone who chose a different social difference, and exchange definitions.