Forces of Social Change

“Everyone over the age of forty is an immigrant” - Margaret Mead

What is Social Change? Social Change: Changes in the way society is organized, and the beliefs and practices of the people who believe in it All societies are involved in a process of social change, however this change may be so subtle and slow that society is hardly aware of it The opposite of social change is social continuity which means that there are structures within society which are built to resist change. Example - the Catholic Church

Examples of Social Change Question 1 – How has the development of housing in Markham changed? Question 2: How has public opinion shifted regarding social issues such as: -Smoking -Domestic Violence -Divorce -Abortion -Homosexuality

Power of the Individual(s)? Sociologist Max Weber claimed that one of the most important components of social change was a LEADER with CHARISMA (large vision, magnetic style, strong popular support and extraordinary character). This leader places great demands on his or her followers, promises rewards for their support. Examples? Sociologist Samuel Eisenstadt claimed that in most societies, there exists one or more MODERNIZING ELITES, groups of people who create significant social change and influence the direction it goes Examples?

Natural Forces of Social Change GEOGRAPHY This is when the natural lay of the land has affected the way societies have developed Examples? Natural disasters can also drastically change a society (floods, earthquakes, volcanoes) ENVIRONMENT Pollution, garbage, ozone, car emissions, smog, recycling national, provincial and local programs that address environmental problems Effects?

External Events as Forces of Social Change External events are events that have occurred on a large scale affecting an entire nation or several nations These events have a large and immediate impact on social change Examples American Civil War – abolished slavery WWII – forced women into the workforce and they never returned home September 11/2001 – a change of thought regarding national threat and security

Technology Technology has strongly affected the way societies are designed and how they keep changing People receive their information more quickly now, can communicate in different ways Greatest invention of the millennium? Guesses? Impact…

Coping with Technological Change – Positive or Negative??? Over dependency Creation of ‘mass culture’ Changes in Gender roles Social Isolation Addiction Positive and Negative consequences? Luddites: People who oppose new technologies are often called “luddites” after a secret society whose goal it was to destroy new textile machines during the early years of the Industrial Revolution

Values and Social Change: Pluralism Singularity- belief that everyone in society should act and think the same way Pluralism- widespread acceptance of differences in culture, religion, values and lifestyle Inclusiveness- all law abiding people, regardless of their particular background, should be able to play a constructive role in the life of the nation Examples: struggle for inclusiveness with women obtaining equal roles and status to traditionally ‘male’ roles

Alienation of the People Sociologist Emile Durkheim coined the word ”anomie” to describe the conditions of the industrial workers who had no roots or norms as they struggled in their lives Sociologist Karl Marx took this term and applied it to working people or “proletariat”. He claimed the workers were exploited and controlled (employment, housing) and could never reach full potential This notion has been expanded it mean anyone who does not share the major values of society and feels like an outsider Effects?

Conformity of the People Conformity is the act of maintaining a certain degree of similarity (in clothing, manners, behaviors, etc.) to those in your general social circles, to those in authority, or to the general status quo. Usually, conformity implies a tendency to submit to others in thought and behavior other than simply clothing choice Informational Influence: human desire to accept information that another, admired person tells us is valid (ie. Parent, teacher, coach) Normative Influence: pressure to conform to the positive expectations of others (ie. Follow in footsteps of parent’s career) Effects?

Poverty and Affluence Karl Marx was first to point sociology to study inequality in society Income inequalities: gap between earnings of the rich and poor Is social inequality an inherent part of human social structures? Does society have a responsibility in trying to deal with the effects of income inequality? Effects? - education, crime, housing Examples?