Sociology Discussion - Sociological imagination and "make the familiar strange

National University Sociology Discussion

QUESTION 1

In this discussion you are to use your sociological imagination and "make the familiar strange". Using the knowledge, you have about your family history (your generation, your parents, and grandparents, e.g.) discuss where you see connections between lived experience and the changing characteristics of families over time. These might include race or ethnicity, immigration to the US, social class, education, occupation, religion, gender roles, childrearing practices, etc. If you would like to include photos (no more than three) please do and tell us how they express ideas presented in Chapter 12.

QUESTION 2

Many of the taken-for-granted ideas about the capabilities, personalities, talents, etc. of women and men have been considered innate, natural, or unchangeable. Yet, as Chapter 12 shows, gender definitions and expectations have changed continuously over the long course of history. In looking at U.S. families today, where do we see increasing equality or recognition of "sameness" between husbands and wives, mothers, and fathers, and what macrosocial changes, e.g., in the labor force, in education, in the division of family labor, have encouraged these changes? What has held them back? Make sure to engage our textbook as you develop your answer.