Sociology 2020

 

Sociology - Solved Exam Paper (2020)

Paper Code: 68102 | Date: 08/01/2020

Q.1 Answer in brief

a) Sociology

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• Sociology is the systematic and scientific study of human society, social behavior, and social groups[span_0](end_span).
• It was coined by Auguste Comte, often referred to as the "Father of Sociology."
• It examines the structure, development, and functioning of human society, including institutions like family, religion, and crime.
• The discipline seeks to understand the connections between individual behavior and the wider social forces shaping it.

b) Ethnocentrism

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• Ethnocentrism is the tendency to evaluate other cultures according to the standards and customs of one's own culture[span_1](end_span).
• It involves the belief that one's own ethnic group or culture is superior to others.
• While it can promote social cohesion and patriotism within a group, it often leads to prejudice and discrimination against outsiders.
• Sociologists strive for "cultural relativism" to counter ethnocentrism and understand cultures in their own context.

c) Feud

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• A feud is a prolonged and deadly quarrel between individuals, families, or clans[span_2](end_span).
• It acts as a primitive form of justice and social control in societies lacking a strong central legal authority.
• Feuds are often driven by the principle of "blood revenge," where an injury to one member is seen as an injury to the whole group.
• They can destabilize societies by creating cycles of violence that persist for generations.

d) Amitate

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• Amitate refers to a special social relationship and usage between a person and their father's sister (paternal aunt)[span_3](end_span).
• In many patriarchal societies, the father's sister is treated with distinct respect, often greater than the mother.
• She may have specific roles in rituals, naming ceremonies, or marriage negotiations for her nephew/niece.
• It highlights the significance of patrilineal kin ties in social organization.

e) Folkways and mores

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• Folkways are the customary, habitual ways of doing things in a society (e.g., shaking hands, dress codes); violating them brings mild sanctions like gossip[span_4](end_span).
• Mores are norms with great moral significance that are seen as essential to the welfare of society (e.g., prohibitions against theft or adultery).
• Violating mores results in severe social sanctions or legal punishment.
• William Graham Sumner distinguished these terms to categorize the severity of social norms.

f) Democracy

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• Democracy is a form of government where power is vested in the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives[span_5](end_span).
• It is characterized by political equality, majority rule with respect for minority rights, and the rule of law.
• Sociologically, it fosters an open society allowing for social mobility and freedom of expression.
• It relies on active civic participation and institutions like a free press and independent judiciary.

g) Ascribed and achieved status

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• Ascribed Status: A social position assigned at birth or involuntarily later in life (e.g., sex, race, caste system)[span_6](end_span).
• Achieved Status: A social position that a person acquires on the basis of merit, effort, or choice (e.g., occupation, education level).
• Modern societies are characterized by a shift from ascribed status (feudalism) to achieved status (meritocracy).
• However, ascribed status often still influences the opportunities to reach achieved statuses.

h) Single parent family

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• A single-parent family consists of one parent raising one or more children on their own[span_7](end_span).
• Causes include divorce, separation, death of a spouse, or choice (adoption/unmarried parenthood).
• Sociologically, these families may face unique economic challenges and role strain due to the absence of a partner.
• The rise in single-parent families reflects changing norms regarding marriage and gender roles.

i) Group marriage

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• Group marriage is a rare form of marriage where a group of men is married to a group of women[span_8](end_span).
• Every man in the group is considered the husband of every woman, and vice versa.
• It has been observed historically in some tribal communities but is almost non-existent in modern societies.
• It differs from polygamy (one person with multiple spouses) by involving multiple partners on both sides.

j) Problems faced by the tribal.

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• Land Alienation: Loss of traditional land to industrial projects, dams, and mining without adequate compensation[span_9](end_span).
• Indebtedness: High reliance on money lenders leads to a cycle of debt and bonded labor.
• Cultural Erosion: Loss of language, identity, and traditions due to assimilation into the mainstream culture.
• Poverty and Health: Lack of access to healthcare, education, and sanitation leads to high mortality and illiteracy rates.

Q.2 Short Notes

a) Role and role conflict.

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• Role: The expected behavior associated with a particular status (e.g., a teacher is expected to lecture and grade)[span_10](end_span).
• It represents the dynamic aspect of a status; you "occupy" a status but "play" a role.
• Role Conflict: This occurs when the demands of two or more statuses held by one person clash.
• Example: A working mother faces role conflict between the demands of her employer (employee role) and her sick child (mother role).
• Role Strain: Tension among the roles connected to a single status (e.g., a manager needing to be friendly to staff but also fire them).
• Mechanisms like role segregation (keeping roles separate) help individuals manage this conflict.

b) Problems of urban community.

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• Overcrowding and Slums: Rapid migration leads to the growth of slums with poor sanitation and housing conditions (e.g., Dharavi in Mumbai)[span_11](end_span).
• Pollution: High levels of air, water, and noise pollution due to vehicles and industries affect public health.
• Crime and Anomie: The impersonal nature of city life can lead to isolation (anomie) and higher crime rates compared to rural areas.
• Infrastructure Collapse: Traffic congestion, water scarcity, and inadequate waste management systems struggle to keep up with population growth.
• Inequality: Extreme disparity between the urban rich and the urban poor creates social tension.
• Cost of Living: High inflation and real estate prices make survival difficult for the working class.

c) Power and Authority.

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• Power: Max Weber defined power as the ability to enforce one's will over others, even against resistance[span_12](end_span).
• It can be coercive (force-based) or manipulative and does not necessarily require legitimacy.
• Authority: Authority is "legitimate power," or power that is accepted as right and just by those subjected to it.
• Traditional Authority: Based on custom and history (e.g., Monarchs, Elders).
• Charismatic Authority: Based on the exceptional personality of a leader (e.g., Gandhi, Napoleon).
• Legal-Rational Authority: Based on written laws and official positions (e.g., Prime Minister, Judges), common in modern bureaucracies.

d) Theories of social change.

• Evolutionary Theory: Societies evolve from simple to complex forms, like organisms (Comte, Spencer). [span_13](start_span)It assumes change is synonymous with progress[span_13](end_span).
• Cyclical Theory: Civilizations rise, mature, and fall in a cycle, like a life cycle (Spengler, Toynbee). History repeats itself.
• Functionalist Theory: Change is a gradual adjustment to maintain stability (Equilibrium). Society adapts to stress to return to balance (Parsons).
• Conflict Theory (Marx): Change is driven by class struggle and revolution. It is rapid and transformative, leading to a new economic system.
• Technological Determinism: Technology is the primary driver of social change (Ogburn). "Cultural Lag" occurs when non-material culture falls behind technology.

e) Kinship.

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• Kinship is the web of social relationships that form an important part of the lives of all humans in all societies[span_14](end_span).
• Consanguineous: Relations based on bloodlines (descent), such as parents, siblings, and children.
• Affinal: Relations created through marriage, such as spouses and in-laws.
• Lineage: Tracing descent through the father (Patrilineal) or mother (Matrilineal).
• Function: It regulates marriage (incest taboos), inheritance of property, and provides social security and identity.
• Usage: Includes specific behaviors like "Joking relationships" or "Avoidance relationships" (e.g., between son-in-law and mother-in-law).

f) Social conformity.

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• Social conformity is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to group norms[span_15](end_span).
• It serves as a mechanism of social control to maintain order and predictability in society.
• Normative Conformity: Yielding to group pressure to fit in or be liked (fear of rejection).
• Informational Conformity: Following the group because one believes they have accurate information (desire to be correct).
• Sanctions: Conformity is reinforced by positive sanctions (rewards, praise) and negative sanctions (ridicule, imprisonment).
• Deviance: The opposite of conformity; it occurs when individuals reject or violate social norms.

Q.3 Situational questions

1) The rate of rape is at an all-time high in India.

• a) Causes:
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• Patriarchy: Deep-rooted patriarchal mindset viewing women as objects or property rather than equals[span_16](end_span).
• Objectification: Media and pop culture often commodify women, normalizing aggression.
• Lack of Deterrence: Slow judicial processes and weak policing fail to instill fear in potential offenders.
• Socialization: Faulty socialization of boys regarding consent and gender respect.
• b) Low conviction rates:
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• Stigma: Victims often face social stigma and harassment during trials, leading to hostile witnesses or withdrawal of cases[span_17](end_span).
• Investigation: Poor quality of police investigation and lack of forensic evidence.
• Judicial Delays: Cases drag on for years, causing evidence to degrade and memories to fade.
• Compromise: Pressure on victims by powerful accused or community elders to "settle" the matter out of court.

2) Minorities proved to be an asset... still they are suffering.

• a) Problems faced:
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• Marginalization: Underrepresentation in government jobs, higher education, and political leadership[span_18](end_span).
• Ghettoization: Forced to live in specific segregated areas due to fear of communal violence or housing discrimination.
• Identity Crisis: Often viewed with suspicion regarding their loyalty to the nation (especially religious minorities).
• Violence: Vulnerability to communal riots and hate crimes.
• b) Remedial measures:
• Education: Strict implementation of scholarship schemes and modernization of minority educational institutions.
• Legal Protection: Enactment of strict anti-discrimination laws and fast-track courts for communal violence cases.
• Inclusive Development: Targeted economic programs (like the Prime Minister's 15 Point Programme) to boost employment.
• Sensitization: Promoting inter-faith dialogue and secular values in schools and media to reduce prejudice.

3) Children are being exploited through child labour in India.

• a) Fields of exploitation:
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• Hazardous Industries: Firecracker factories, glass blowing, carpet weaving, and mining[span_19](end_span).
• Domestic Work: Employed as household help, often invisible to labor inspectors and vulnerable to abuse.
• Agriculture: The largest sector employing children in sowing, harvesting, and pesticide spraying.
• Street Economy: Rag picking, begging rings, and roadside stalls (dhabas).
• b) Importance of educational institution:
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• Prevention: Schools provide a safe environment, keeping children away from workplaces during the day[span_20](end_span).
• Empowerment: Education breaks the cycle of poverty, which is the root cause of child labor.
• Mid-day Meals: Incentivize poor parents to send children to school rather than work for food.
• Rights Awareness: Educates children about their rights, making them less vulnerable to exploitation.

Q.4 Answer in detail

1) Elaborate on the contributions made by Marx, Weber to Sociology.

• Karl Marx (Conflict Theory):
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  • Historical Materialism: Argued that the economic structure (Base) determines the social and cultural superstructure (law, religion)[span_21](end_span).
  • Class Struggle: "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles" (Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat).
  • Alienation: Described how capitalism alienates workers from the product of their labor, the process, themselves, and each other.
  • Social Change: Believed change comes through revolution, leading to a classless communist society.
• Max Weber (Interpretive Sociology):
  • Social Action: Defined sociology as the study of social action (Traditional, Affectual, Value-rational, Instrumental-rational).
  • Protestant Ethic: Linked the rise of Capitalism to the values of Calvinist Protestantism (hard work, asceticism).
  • Authority: Classified authority into Traditional, Charismatic, and Legal-Rational types.
  • Bureaucracy: Analyzed bureaucracy as the most efficient, rational form of organization in modern society (Iron Cage).
  • Verstehen: Emphasized empathetic understanding of the meanings individuals attach to their actions.

3) Integrative and dis-integrative effect of social conflict along with formal means of social control.

• Integrative Effects (Functionalism/Coser):
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  • Group Solidarity: Conflict with an external group (Out-group) strengthens the internal cohesion and identity of the In-group[span_22](end_span).
  • Social Change: Conflict challenges outdated norms and leads to necessary legal and social reforms (e.g., Civil Rights Movement).
  • Safety Valve: Minor conflicts allow the release of tension, preventing catastrophic explosions that could destroy the society.
  • Innovation: Conflict stimulates innovation and creativity to overcome the opposition.
• Dis-integrative Effects:
  • Violence: Leads to loss of life, destruction of property, and human suffering (e.g., war, riots).
  • Anomie: Breakdowns in social order create chaos, uncertainty, and a loss of trust in institutions.
  • Polarization: Deepens divides between communities, making future cooperation difficult.
  • Diversion: Diverts resources (money, manpower) from development to defense and security.
• Formal Means of Social Control:
  • Law: The most important formal tool; it defines crimes and punishments uniformly for all citizens.
  • Police: The enforcement agency that maintains public order and apprehends violators.
  • Courts: The judicial system that interprets laws, adjudicates disputes, and imposes sentences.
  • Prisons: Institutions for incapacitating and rehabilitating offenders.

5) Explain the importance of religious institution along with the theories of religion.

• Importance of Religion:
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  • Social Control: It reinforces social norms and moral behavior through fear of supernatural punishment (Sin/Karma)[span_23](end_span).
  • Social Solidarity: Rituals and shared beliefs bind people together into a moral community (Durkheim).
  • Psychological Support: It provides comfort and meaning during life crises (death, suffering), reducing anxiety (Malinowski).
  • Identity: It answers fundamental questions about existence and provides a sense of purpose and belonging.
• Theories of Religion:
  • Durkheim (Functionalist): Religion worships society itself. The "Totem" is a symbol of the group. Distinguishes between the "Sacred" (holy) and "Profane" (everyday).
  • Marx (Conflict): Religion is the "Opium of the masses." It justifies inequality and keeps the oppressed passive by promising rewards in the afterlife. It is a tool of the ruling class.
  • Weber (Social Change): Religion can be a catalyst for social change. "The Protestant Ethic" drove the development of rational capitalism.
  • Malinowski (Functionalist): Focuses on individual psychology. Religion functions to handle emotional stress in situations where human control is limited (e.g., death, natural disasters).