Case Study Sociology

SOC 1301, Introduction to Sociology 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VII Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Recognize key sociological concepts. 1.1 Recognize how sociological imagination applies to social issues surrounding health.

2. Relate sociological theories to social issues.

2.1 Relate which sociological perspective best applies to social health issues.

3. Explain how society shapes an individual’s life chances. 3.1 Explain how social class impacts an individual’s health.

4. Describe how sociological concepts apply to one’s life.

4.1 Describe steps you can take to address a social problem relating to health in society.

5. Discuss inequality in society. 5.1 Discuss inequality in health care.

Required Unit Resources Chapter 14: Population, Health, and Environment Chapter 15: Social Change

Unit Lesson For Unit VII, we will investigate social issues surrounding population, health, and environment. We will also discuss the concept of social change.

Sociology and Population Dynamics When we hear the term population, we typically think of the number of people living in a particular place. However, there is a lot more to studying the population than just calculating the number of people residing in an area. Sociologists study population on a deeper level and investigate trends and changes in population dynamics in society. Population dynamics include things like age, gender, migration, growing populations, shrinking populations, and stagnation in populations. Population is influenced by the number of births, deaths, and migrations. The rate of births and deaths in a society is dependent upon many different variables. Some include quality of health care, religious beliefs, economic conditions, political conditions, age, and other cultural beliefs. Migration is the term used to describe the movement of people from one society to another. Immigration and emigration are two terms used to define the coming and going that occurs in migration. Immigration is a term associated with migration to describe the act of a person joining a different society from their own. Emigration is the term used to describe the act of leaving your societal group for another. Witts (2020) clarifies that “an immigrant is someone who arrives, and an emigrant is someone who departs” (p. 335). Migration occurs for a variety of reasons around the globe. The reasons for joining or leaving another country are described as push-pull factors. A pull factor is a reason that someone is drawn away from their country. These include things like family members, job opportunities, and religious freedom. A person may also feel pushed to leave their own country to find another place to live. Push factors include things like violence, lack of freedoms, and poor economic conditions (Witt, 2020). Are there any push-pull factors in your family (current generation or past generations) that have caused migration?

UNIT VII STUDY GUIDE

Health, Environment, and Social Change

SOC 1301, Introduction to Sociology 2

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

Title

One of the biggest issues surrounding global population today is the continued increase in population growth in developing countries. The world’s population is over the 7 billion mark (Witt, 2020). While some argue that the population will level off and there is not much to worry about, others question whether or not the Earth’s resources can handle such growth without more sustainable and technological measures being taken to accommodate a growing population. What do you think? Should we be concerned about the global population growth rate?

Sociology and the Environment When studying all of the different parts of a society, you cannot ignore the relationship that society has with nature. People depend upon their environment for food, water, and natural resources to make the society run. The allocation of natural resources greatly changes the opportunities and challenges in a society. Globalization, industrialization, and technological developments, along with rapid population growth, has created a strain on the Earth’s resources and health. Witt (2020) discusses some of the most serious environmental problems. They include air pollution, water pollution, endangered plants/animals, and global climate change.

Health Care Health care is an important social issue in all societies. Health care can be viewed as a social institution falling under the larger social institution of government. It is a humanitarian issue and greatly affects the productivity and quality of life for people. We learn that our access to health care is influenced by where we live, our beliefs, group membership, and our status (e.g., gender, race, job, age). For example, you may be a part of a faith that does not believe in abortion or certain types of contraception; therefore, you may oppose it being paid for by government money. You may have the exact opposite belief and see the need for these types of services. Your faith and personal values have an impact on what role you think the government should play in health care. Health care is a hot topic in the United States right now. There is a debate over how big of a role the U.S. government should play in health care and a debate about exactly what role the government should play in health care. Other debates surrounding the U.S. medical care system is the lack of competition, unwillingness for providers to cover certain procedures and conditions, and skyrocketing prescription drug prices. It is a good idea for us all to become as educated as possible on the topic of health care and review the different sides because it is such a complex issue. You are encouraged to visit the Opposing Viewpoints database within the CSU Online Library and search the topic of health care. You will be able to find articles, audio recordings, and videos with different viewpoints on the subject of health care in the United States and around the world.

Sociological Perspectives and Health Care At the end of Chapter 14 in the textbook, the sociological perspectives on health are provided in the diagram called socVIEWS on Population, Health, and Environment. The diagram discusses the functionalist view, the interactionist view, and the conflict view, and it shows how the views can be applied to health care. You will want to refer to this as you complete your assignment for this unit. Functionalist View of Health Care The functionalist view describes health care as a social institution that helps create order and stability in society. The functionalist view sees the healthcare system as a working part of the bigger system (society). It keeps the society healthy, which is important for not only creating social order but also for creating a productive society. Interactionist View of Health Care The interactionist view takes a more micro approach. It also takes a much more personal approach. In the interactionist view, the interaction between individuals and groups has an important impact on the system and how well it functions. It is about personal relationships. For example, one very important relationship would be the doctor-patient relationship. Another important factor in discussing the interactionist view is the

SOC 1301, Introduction to Sociology 3

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

Title

understanding that the individual has an active role in their own medical care and health choices. The conflict view focuses on the inequality that can occur in health care. Conflict View of Health Care The conflict view argues that an inequality in power and resources leads to unequal access to quality and affordable health care. A company can pick the particular health care provider and restrict it, and the worker has no say in the matter. Companies with excellent health care benefits can use it as a powerful tool to attract employees. The hospitals, practitioners, and insurance companies also can use their power and status in determining what type of health care an individual receives. To summarize, the conflict view is all about the health care system being controlled by those with power, status, and money while those with less power and status receive no health care, less health care, or lower-quality health care (Witt, 2020). What sociological perspective do you think best explains our healthcare system?

Social Change Our society has undergone many changes in the past century. It is hard to imagine, but in 100 years from now, our society is going to look quite different from today. Cultural, social, economic, and political elements in society are always changing. Sometimes, they are small incremental changes, and sometimes events can cause a larger change in society. There can be tension between traditional and progressive views. Opportunities and struggles can be the result of social change. There can also be a resistance to change. It can be scary to see your way of life changing, especially if you think that a majority of the changes are having a negative impact on your life and the greater society. Social change may not always be viewed as a move forward. It depends upon the group’s perception of the change. When discussing social changes in our society, it is important to discuss the effect of the shift that occurred from the Industrial Age to the Information Age. The computerization of life, the internet, smartphones, and social media has created major social change in people’s lives. It has influenced the way people work, shop, relax, and interact. It has created questions about things like internet privacy, the ethics of cloning, and the safety of genetically modified foods. As was mentioned earlier, you can view these social changes as positive, negative, or a combination of both.

Social Activism A sociologist becomes a sociologist not just because they are interested in understanding society; they are also interested in how society can be changed for the better. For example, a sociologist who specializes in the field of environmental sustainability is studying the relationships, groups, social structures, and institutions involved in environmental issues because they want to help protect the earth. Anyone can use the theories and concepts in sociology to improve society; sociologists are not the only ones who can use the concepts to create positive change. Witt (2020) lists several ways a person can use sociology to create positive change. Your textbook also discusses the importance of being informed and getting involved through voting, getting involved in local politics, joining organizations that affect change, and volunteering.

Applying Sociological Skills to Your Own Life (Sociology Is a Verb) Sociology can be used as a tool to better understand ourselves and the world in which we live. Sociology helps highlight the interaction between different structures in society (e.g., economics, politics, relationships, social structures, status, gender) and how they can affect the individual and the group. Sociology is not saying you cannot achieve certain things because of your status or circumstance. It is providing information on why certain events are more likely to happen and what factors can affect those circumstances. Having this information can help you create change in your life and better understand the path you have taken. Witt (2020) describes the importance of not just seeing sociology as a field of study but as a verb (something you practice). Sociology should be seen as an avenue to actually change behavior and make changes based on using your sociological imagination.

SOC 1301, Introduction to Sociology 4

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

Title

Reference Witt, J. (2020). SOC 2020 (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

Suggested Unit Resources In order to access the following resources, click the links below. Review the following presentations to learn more about concepts learned in this unit.

• Chapter 14 PowerPoint presentation (PDF version of the Chapter 14 PowerPoint presentation)

• Chapter 15 PowerPoint presentation (PDF version of the Chapter 15 PowerPoint presentation) The video segment below looks at global climate crisis and the trillion tons of carbon being burned into the Earth’s atmosphere. HBO (Producer). (2019). Climate change (Segment 1 of 24) [Video]. In Ice on fire. Films on Demand.

https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPl aylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=189942&loid=560476

The transcript for this video can be found by clicking the “Transcript” tab to the right of the video in the Films on Demand database. The following video segment looks at the shift to alternative energy, particularly solar energy. HBO (Producer). (2019). Renewable energy options (Segment 14 of 24) [Video]. In Ice on fire. Films on

Demand. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPl aylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=189942&loid=560489

The transcript for this video can be found by clicking the “Transcript” tab to the right of the video in the Films on Demand database. The following video segment is from a documentary that shows how steps are being taken to restore ecological health to the Channel Islands off California. Kwanza (Producer). (2017). Reintroducing the bald eagles (Segment 6 of 8) [Video]. In Restoring paradise:

An American story—Episode 3. Films on Demand. https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPl aylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=145559&loid=493544

The transcript for this video can be found by clicking the “Transcript” tab to the right of the video in the Films on Demand database.

Learning Activities (Nongraded) Nongraded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information.

Activity 1: SOCThink Review the SOCThink pop-out boxes found throughout Chapter 14 and Chapter 15 in your textbook. After reflection of each question, note your thoughts in a personal journal.

SOC 1301, Introduction to Sociology 5

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

Title

Activity 2: Pop Quiz Quizzes are a way to self-test and see if you understand what you are studying. The textbook provides a brief Pop Quiz for each chapter. Take advantage of this learning tool to enrich your learning experience! The answers are provided, so you can check to see how well you did. For this unit, the quizzes are available at the end of Chapter 14 and Chapter 15.

Activity 3: Social Change Can you think of some situations where you were resistant to social change? Why were you resistant? What helped you adapt? Note your thoughts in a personal journal.