SOSC 1910 Lecture Notes - Pseudoscience, Minority Group, Social Darwinism

• School: York University
• Department: Social Science
• Course: SOSC 1910
• Professor: Kerry Taylor

Document Summary

What is social construction: race, class and gender don"t really mean anything they only have meaning because society gives them a meaning. They are constructed by someone, for how to think about/respond to people/situations/experiences. We need to be aware of how we make assumptions with a lack of information: become problematic when we act on them , focus on social construction of minority groups none are naturally inferior. Often based on beliefs that have little to no truth. As human beings, we"re all capable of social construction and we can see how we attach certain ideas: watch for process of inferiorization, study power relations social, political, economic. How is power exercised in our society: power-relationships. Government are not the primary source of power (media, etc. ) Rights are one way of dealing with inequalities in power. The extent to which a group or category is subject to the denial of hrs. Relevant only in context of corresponding majority - power differences.