SOC505 – Caste, Class, and Masculinities: Exploring the Jatt Community (Guest Edition)

Abstract

The Indian caste system is regularly brought up in sociology courses as an example of a social structure that prevents mobility. But what if that’s not always the case? We are joined by the soon-to-be-Dr. Navjotpal Kaur to discuss how class, land ownership, and masculinity influence which castes are dominant, specifically in the northern State of Punjab. Tune in to learn about how men in the Jatt caste perform their social identities, and how these performances impact communities in Punjab and Canada!

Keywords

Caste, class, masculinity, stratification, identity

Sources

We discussed vaccine passports, which you can read about here!

SOC503 – Social Problems and Social Causes: We have an episode on it

Abstract

The gang is back! We tackle a foundational topic in sociology: social problems! Social problems relate to numerous other concepts that we’ve discussed – inequality, stratification, the social construction of reality, and all the “-isms.” Social problems are social in their causes, consequences, and solutions and though, social problems are often discussed at the macro societal level, its symptoms often manifest in everyday micro life. Join us as we talk through some big hit social problems – COVID-19, unemployment, crime and deviance, education, racism, ageism, and more!

Keywords

Social problems, inequality, stratification, theory

Sources

  1. The Social Construction of Reality by Berger and Luckmann (1966)
  2. We have an episode on it!
    1. SOC215 – Social Stratification, Capitalism, and Inequality: All the Sad Things
    2. SOC307 – The Social Construction of Rock n’ Roll
    3. SOC208 – Left Handed Devils: The Social Construction of Deviance
    4. SOC315 – The Political Spectacle: Symbols in Politics
    5. SOC207 – Three Schools of Thought: Conflict Theory, Structural Functionalism, and Symbolic Interactionism
  3. OnlyFans Reverses Its Decision to Ban Explicit Content

SOC215 – Social Stratification, Capitalism, and Inequality: All the Sad Things

Abstract

This week we’re introducing the alliterative and uber important concept of social stratification: how people are sorted into different hierarchical groups based on the intersections of class, race, gender, wealth, etc. Using the perspectives of Karl Marx and Max Weber, we discuss capitalism’s role in this hot unequal mess. Take a listen to the episode, as we break it down the current state of inequality in the world. And don’t forget to give us a rating and review after you listen! Mahalooooo!


Keywords

Social stratification, wealth, income, inequality, capitalism, Karl Marx, Max Weber

Sources


  1. What is social stratification? Social Stratification involves hierarchical differences associated with economic positions, social status and political power. How people are sorted into different groups based on class, race, gender, wealth, etc. Social stratification has a significant effect on how valuable resources (and by extension, class status and power) are allocated in society (adapted from Ritzer’s Introduction to Sociology)
  2. Karl Marx’s Das Kapital and the Communist Manifesto can be accessed for free here
  3. Max Weber’s The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism and Economy and Society excerpts here
  4. Guess how much money Jeff Bezos makes? Too much.
  5. Amazon employee Vickie Shannon Allen who hurt her back while working in an Amazon factory that did not meet safety standards.
  6. Zuckerberg San Francisco General hospital overcharging their patients for care and medicine
  7. Of course, Ellen brought up Rachel Dolezal again… Wonder what she’s up to?
  8. Free online copy of The Great Gatsby. If you haven’t read it before, you should go back to your 6th grade teacher and ask him/her what in the heck they were teaching that year that they didn’t make you read The Great Gatsby.
  9. After the recent HBO documentary, “Leaving Neverland” about Michael Jackson, The Simpsons pulled an episode featuring the pop star
  10. Stem cell treatment curing HIV/AIDS in the UK– Hooray!
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