To understand the structure of a society, it is important to understand the demographic characteristics and processes that define it. Knowledge of the demographic structure of societies and an understanding of how societies change help us comprehend the distinct processes and mechanisms through which social interaction occurs.
The content in this category covers the important demographic variables at the core of understanding societies and includes concepts related to demographic shifts and social change.
| Topic |
Our Social World |
Introduction to Sociology |
Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life |
Exploring Psychology |
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Demographic Structure of Society (PSY, SOC)
- Age
- Aging and the life course
- Age cohorts (SOC)
- Social significance of aging
- Gender
- Sex vs. gender
- The social construction of gender (SOC)
- Gender segregation (SOC)
- Race and ethnicity (SOC)
- The social construction of race
- Racialization
- Racial formation
- Immigration status (SOC)
- Patterns of immigration
- Intersections with race and ethnicity
- Sexual orientation
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- Ch. 7: Stratification
- Ch. 9: Gender Stratification
- Ch. 11: Education
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- Ch. 4, Building Order: Culture and History, pages 103-107 (“The sexes”)
- Ch. 5, Building Identity: Socialization pages 123-129 (“Gender”)
- Ch. 11, The Architecture of Inequality: Race and Ethnicity
- Ch. 12, The Architecture of Inequality: Sex and Gender
- Ch. 13, Demographic Dynamics: Population Trends
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Demographic Shifts and Social Change (SOC)
- Theories of demographic change (i.e., Malthusian theory and demographic transition)
- Population growth and decline (e.g., population projections, population pyramids)
- Fertility, migration, and mortality
- Fertility and mortality rates (e.g., total, crude, age-specific)
- Patterns in fertility and mortality
- Push and pull factors in migration
- Social movements
- Relative deprivation
- Organization of social movements
- Movement strategies and tactics
- Globalization
- Factors contributing to globalization (e.g., communication technology, economic interdependence)
- Perspectives on globalization
- Social changes in globalization (e.g., civil unrest, terrorism)
- Urbanization
- Industrialization and urban growth
- Suburbanization and urban decline
- Gentrification and urban renewal
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- Ch. 6: Deviance and Social Control
- Ch. 7: Stratification
- Ch. 13: Politics and Economics
- Ch. 15: Population and Urbanization
- Ch. 16: Process of Change
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Demography |
- Ch. 13, Demographic Dynamics: Population Trends
- Ch. 14, Architects of Change, pp. 445-456 (“Social movements”)
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NA |