Final Exam

Question 1

The term conspicuous consumption is used to refer to the extravagant and ostentatious expenditure meant to gratify the psychological craving for higher status or the esteem of others (Chancer & Andrews, 2014). The documentary ‘Queen of Versailles’ shows many aspects of conspicuous consumption. Among the exemplified cases evidenced, one is the Siegel’s family going into building a large, conspicuous single-family home in the United States. This house is 90,000 sq ft and contains 15 bedrooms, 30 bathrooms, 11 kitchens, six pools, a full-service health spa, indoor skating rink and a stadium tennis court capable of seating 200 people. That is a house too big for the small family, and certainly, this is conspicuous consumption. Apparently, they hire 15 household staff, not because they needed all these number but because they had hr money (Chancer & Andrews, 2014).

Question 2

With regards to the Marxist philosophy, the term bourgeoisie refers to the social class that during the modern industrialization owns the means of production (Stolley, 2005). Besides, this class’s societal concerns include the value of the property and the preservation of capital. The bourgeoisie is also people who ensure the perpetuation of their economic supremacy in the society. That being the case, bourgeoisies are the capitalist class who own the largest part of society's wealth as well as the means of production. Referring to this definition, the modern society seems to have a lot of bourgeoisies. Apparently, large-scale entrepreneurs, big CEOs, celebrities and professional athletes fit the definition. As such, celebrities, CEOs of large businesses, professional athletes and large scale entrepreneurs can be cited as examples of modern days’ bourgeoisies.

Question 3

Capitalism refers to a way of life in which the economy is organized in a way that some individuals own the capital goods used in the production process and not by the government. These people are also the prime decision makers of the society and as such, they control the prices of commodities, the distribution of goods and services and cash flows (Reisman, 2004).

Socialism, on the contrary, refers to a way of life where the means of production, the distribution of goods and services and the rates of exchange for these products is solely regulated by the community as a whole via the help of the central government.

The similarity between a socialistic and capitalistic economy is that they both utilize the same capital goods and means of production. The only difference is the regulators of these capital goods. While socialists advocates for the autonomy of every member of the society to benefit from the communally owned products, capitalists are adamant in the enjoyment of productive efforts by a few socially elevated members of the society (Reisman, 2004).

Question 4

A social movement refers to some type of group action. Social movements are large, at times informal, groupings of people that are focused on specific political or social issues. In most cases, social movements are meant to carry out, resist, or undo bits of social change. The following are reasons as to why people mobilize. One is to air out their grievances about a certain aspect of change that failed to favor them. Secondly, people mobilize to whenever they realize some form of disfavor such as discrimination that has gone on for long and can no longer be tolerated. Another reason for mobilizing is when masses want o demand some form of change towards their satisfaction (Whitfield, 2001).

Question 5

Corporate welfare refers to the incorporation of subsidies and welfare payments undertaken by the government towards the poor. Sometimes, the term has used to describe the government's bestowal of tax breaks, money grants or other special favorable treatment on selected corporations. Corporate welfare has affected the society both positively and negatively (Whitfield, 2001). On the positive side, it has given a chance to the infant industries to grow to compete with larger organizations. Also, on its entirety, it has led to the improvement of the economy through enabling the thriving and flourishing of the public businesses over private ones. On the negative side, it leads to the increase of taxation. Of course the money to subsidize these organizations has to be sourced from somewhere, most probably the pockets of taxpayers (Whitfield, 2001).

Question 6

Race as a social construction is a phrase that means that scientifically, race does not exist. We are responsible for creating in our minds. Of course, there is some truth that we are physically different. We observe that African are dark of skin than Europeans, a Chinese has some slanted eyes contrary to a Middle Eastern. However, we are the ones who created these lines of variations and incorporated in our minds that races are "social groups" made up of ontologically different humans not reflecting in the fact that human is similar in nature. As a matter of fact, we are responsible for making skin color an important feature and differentiated ourselves. That is the reason whites are considered a special race while blacks, Asians, Hispanics and some Mexican are considered minority groups (Ore, 2014).

Question 7

The social construction of gender refers to the idea that the difference between men and women is socially constructed. No one was born with to play certain roles. However, as we grow, our society charges people of different gender with different roles to play depending on the society they came from. In other words, through our perceptions or viewpoints, we create gender roles. Also, we prescribe behavioral restrictions that we call ideal or appropriate behavior for a person of that specific gender. If, in contrast, we failed to do so, everybody could have the audacity to do whatever he deems right but the society places restrictions (Ore, 2014).

Question 8

From the functionalist viewpoint, health is considered a vital part of a stable society, and as such, illness is a certified form of deviance. The first theorist to discuss the functionalist perspective was Talcott Parsons in (1951). In his most vital view of the issue called the sick role, Parsons says that the sick has a specific role with both rights and responsibilities. Parsons said that the sick do not choose to be sick and, therefore, should not be treated as if responsible for the condition (Reisman, 2004). Illness gives a right for the sick to be exempted from normal social roles; the sick are not required to fulfill obligations like a good person. However, exemption from work is temporary and should be about the severity of the illness. Besides, the sickness has to be legitimized by a physician (Stolley, 2005). In simple words, from the functionalist perspective, the responsibility of the sick person is twofold: to try best to get well quickest possible through the help of a competent help of a physician (Stolley, 2005).

Question 9

Homophobia refers to the irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals.

The norm of sexuality states that heterosexuality is the only sexual orientation normal for the human race. As such, it is only normal of fitting that sexual and marital relations be between people of opposite sexes. That has made the hetero-normative culture enjoy the "privileges of being considered normal and natural". The norm of heterosexuality has thus fostered a climate where LGBTQ get discriminated against in marriage, tax codes, and employment. That is the reason that homosexuals claim that this norm has placed them in a class of second class citizens (Ore, 2014).

References

Chancer, S. & Andrews, J. (2014). The unhappy divorce of sociology and psychoanalysis: Diverse perspectives on the psychosocial.

Ore, E. (2014). The social construction of the differences and Inequality: Race, class, gender, and sexuality.

Sherry Roberts is the author of this paper. A senior editor at Melda Research in Buy Term Papers Online if you need a similar paper you can place your order for a custom research paper from Custom Research Paper Writing.

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