Blogging through Invitation to Sociology (2020)

This class was to cover at the overall subject of sociology. Although the COVID-19 virus prevented offline classes and limited various activities, including discussions, but this class still gave me a chance to learn a lot. In general, sociology major classes cover one specific topic. For example, there are various classes dealing with specific sociological topics such as media, culture, class& stratum, and social research, but  this class is the only one deals with the overall subject of sociology. Although there were many difficulties because everything was in English, I was able to overcome them. Especially, it was helpful to understand because I could watch the video repeatedly. Although English Wiki materials reading and English posting assignments took a lot of time to complete, they also helped me improve my English skills. The most interesting subjects for me in class were social structure, gender, globalization, economy, government and governance. These are all top...

1. Summary Demographics is a study of demographic dynamics, including all demographic factors such as population scale, birth and death, migration and aging. Demographics studies are often conducted on, small groups, such as education, religion, and ethnicity. In order to do sociological analysis on a macro level, demographic indicators are essential. It's a powerful tool for explaining sociological phenomena, and it's good evidence. The development of demographic calculations have developed in earnest since the 18th century, but census has a history of being conducted in China and Rome in the past. However, most modern census began in earnest in the late 18th century. Birth rate and mortality are important factors in demographics. Measurements such as crude birth rate, crude death rate, infant mortality rate and life extension rate are also important. Using demographics from a macroscopic perspective, you can gain socially important insights. Population growth, overp...

Image by  Gerd Altmann  from  Pixabay  free image 1. Summary In modern society, the Internet and the virtual world are important topics in sociology. Due to the development of technology, digital media technologies including smartphones, games, virtual world, and SNS have developed rapidly. To understand modern society, it is essential to understand and analyze these technologies. Technology means to a method or process used to produce goods, create services, or conduct scientific research. In other words, technology means knowledge, and sometimes it can be embedded in a variety of products. It depends on how you define technology, but in the end, a considerable number of knowledge and products are made up of technology. The representative work of modern technology is cell phone. Cell phones can be reached without being connected to telephone lines, and most people in the world now use cell phones. In the past, phone calls were made from public phone b...

Image by  Javier Robles  from  Pixaba y free image 1. Summary Race and Ethnicity have different meanings. Race are physical differences based on biological classification criteria and are usually presented as physical characteristics. Colored races, blacks, and whites, which are commonly divided into skin colors, are a kind of criteria for dividing Races. Ethnicity, on the other hand, has a different meaning than Race in terms of social identity and belonging. For example, social characteristics such as nationality, tribe, religious beliefs and beliefs, shared language, shared culture, tradition, etc. are the criteria for classifying Ethnicity. Ethnicitive identity often stems from history. For example, Hispanics and Latino people are both ethnic minorities in the United States with historical origins. USA is one of the most race mixed nations in the world. But, In the distant past, racial discrimination(Racism) took place in the United States. In particular, m...

Image by  Sharon McCutcheon  from  Pixaba y free image 1. Summary Gender is a very sociologically important concept and a strong belief system. Sociologists strictly distinguish Gender from Sex. A Gender is a culturally established   concept that represents a male or female self (or a third-gender self). Sex, on the other hand, biologically means the gender of the body.   Also, there is a concept called Cisgender. Cisgender is someone who thinks own Gender and own Sex alike, for example, if someone have a male ego and have biologically male body, he is a Cisgender. Cisgender is the concept opposite of transgender. A transgender refers to people whose Gender and Sex don't match. In other words, it generally refers to biological women with male egos or biological males with female egos. This Gender, Sex, has great sociological significance. In particular, the problem of sex discrimination(Sexism) is a representative problem that needs to be solved so...

1. Summary Social inequality refers to another phenomenon, situation, caused by the non-equaly distribution of social resources. Opportunities for access to social resources vary by factors such as power, religion, family(a noble family or not), race, ethnicity, gender, age, and class. In other words, social inequality is caused by inequality in access opportunities. Most factors in social inequality are related to economic inequality, but social resources are also involved. Examples include differences in access chance to social systems, such as education and judicial systems, and differences in access chance to services such as health care, housing, transportation, and banking. Most countries use the Gini coefficient to compare social inequality. It has a value between 0 and 1. In this case, the more it is to full equality, the closer it is to 0 and the more it is to full inequality, the closer it is to 1.   Social inequality exists in most societies. Also, this is cause...

1. Summary Social stratification is one of the concepts that represent classifications of stratum in sociology. People can be divided by various social standards, including wealth, income, race, education, gender, occupation, and status. In modern society, it is generally useful to use the western classification model. This model is classified as the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class.   The social class is used to describe people's relative social position. Generally, it is possible to classify it as upper class, middle class, and lower class, but it is also possible to classify it further. In addition, there are several principles in Social stratification. Social stratification is defined as an asset of society and has a property that continues to be reproduced. Also, although it is a phenomenon found in every society, it has characteristics that change with time and place. Finally, in addition to quantitative inequality, it includes beliefs and attitude...

1. Summary Dramaturgy is one of the sociological theories that explain social interaction. Human interaction is influenced by time, place, and audience. In this respect, Individuals has the same position as actor. Human identity is what is completed between a given role and an audience. Individuals, in the same position as actors on stage, continue to interact with others, thereby repeating their ongoing role. In a dramatic model, people in society live their lives like actors. Each man has a suitable role at the interaction of others.  For example, acting the role of parent to a child in home, and acting the rolo of clerk to a customer in a store, and acting the role of a guide to a stranger on the street will all be different.  According to Goffman, the theory has a concept of backstage. Backstage is a space where actors relax and stop performing their roles. Individual can stop acting all the rols on the back stage. There is also an outside concept, which mean...

1. Summary Symbolic interaction is the theory about interaction in which people in society use certain symbols to convey meanings and images. In other words, people use symbols to interact. Designed by Mead and Cooley, this theory holds an important point in sociology. The theory also helped solve complex social problems and interpret society.  The symbolic interaction presupposes three assumptions: First, individuals in society form meanings through the process of communication. Second, Self-concept provides an incentive to act. Third, there is a special relationship between individuals and society. Human behavior is motivated by meaning. In other words, according to the individual's personal meaning, the individual performs certain actions. This can be applied to any individual's behavior, including speaking. Also, the interaction between individuals in society is caused by meaning. That is, when an interaction between individuals occurs, they understand the meani...

1. Summary Social networks are useful for analyzing and observing relationships between individuals or organizations. In modern sociology, social network analysis is a very useful method and is often used in other scientific fields. In fact, the complexity theory, which is commonly addressed in many scientific fields, and has had a lot of influence on the network theory of sociology. Social networks can be used to study relationships among individuals, groups, organizations, or society as a whole. In addition, the interaction between them can be explained through this it.  Network analysis requires a lot of computing resources. In the past, social network analysis was impossible due to technical problems, but now, advanced technology in modern society enables large-scale network analysis. However, computing resources, limits on recruiting participants, and cost limits limit the scope of the analysis. That is, technology is no longer a problem. There are three possible ana...

1. Summary A social structure means to structural classify ( grouping ) of society according to function or purpose. For example, that classifies people in society by race, class, gender, etc., is one of the social structure classifications. The social structure was established and used more specifically by Marx, Spencer, Weber, Tönnies, Durkheim, etc.   Not only that, but there are also a wide variety of social structures. As society develops, increasing areas where social structure can be applied. Various structures such as labor, occupation, class can be applied to social structure concepts . But the social structure contains several subpar variables. Therefore, if we neglect to identify and consider various factors within a social structure, it can cause errors in social analysis. 2. Interesting Social structure sometimes hinders the identification of microscopic factors . This means that both micro and macroscopic methodologies in social analysis should be appl...

Image by  H. B.  from  Pixabay  free image https://pixabay.com/images/id-1399552/ 1. Summary Deviance means committing do that violates socially accepted norms , values , and traditions .   This is largely divided into two categories. First, it is formal deviance that violates official law . This is obviously wrong behavior, both legally and socially. For example, all of crimes such as violence, murder, and theft are formal deviance. Secondly,  Informal deviance is not against the law, but it's social deviance . We don't burp at official places (or places of need courtesy). Also, it's natural to follow basic manners. But if someone violate these rules, it's informal deviance. However, informal deviance can be culturally different. For example, kissing a friend's cheek in Korea is more like an informal deviance(It may even be an formal deviance in some cases), but it is common in some European countries. Deviance can be explained o...

1. Summary Simply, socialization is a process of preparation that makes it possible for humans to live in human society. Socialization enables humans to control impulses , perform roles , etc. Socialization is generally similar in many societies, but there are factors that influence it's process. Race, class, sex, religion, etc. are factors that affect socialization. For example, the socialization process of a child raised in a Catholic family and a child raised in a Buddhist family is different. It may vary greatly depending on the situation and environment . Socialization doesn't develop everything in humans. Human beings already have innate functions. Such as, empathy and morality are also biological characteristics as well as the fruit   of the socialization. But basically, socialization is essential for humans to live in society . Socialization is not limited to childhood. Socialization includes socialization of childhood, socialization of adolescence, and sociali...

1. Summary In general, governments of modern society maintain a trichotomous separation system. The separation of powers is effective in controlling the tyranny of power and is also a good way to manage the people and society. In the past, however, there were various forms of government, such as monarchy, aristocracy, and communism. From the end of the 17th century, the Republic became one of the representative government systems, and then liberal democracy became a major system . A government can be classified according to who is the person or group with authority . For example, if a person has full authority, it is a monarchy or dictatorship system. If a particular group has full authority, it is aristocratic politics. and if the people in the country have full authority, it is democracy.  There is also the concept of Federalism . This is a system in which provinces (regions) have individual authority, which is controlled and managed by the central government. The...

1. Summary The state and society need to make social decisions . Citizens belonging to the country contribute to this choice in various ways.   Politics means the process of making decisions about this choice. Politics is a kind of social decision-making method, and it means strategies that affect the decision-making method. The state is entrusted with power by citizens. It can be divided into Power , Authority , and Violence . These three elements of the state give it political power and give it control over its citizens. If the country doesn't have such a force element, citizens will not conform to the regulation and law. Governments exist in various forms in the world. The monarchy was common in ancient and medieval times, it has one absolute ruler. Unlike in the past, the monarchy in modern society has a symbolic aspect. In modern society, monarchs of monarchy usually don't have absolute power. Democracy is a form in which all the people have sovereign...

Midterm Essay: Changes in Korea society How is the Korean society changing? Is it changing for the better? How will those changes affect you personally?   There is an idiom following in Korea: "The greatest change since Dangun."  Dangun is the progenitor of the Korean people. In other words, this idiom means that the biggest change has been taking place since Korea founded. I think the most appropriate time to use this idiom is the 2020 year, namely, now.   North Korea has long been treated as the main enemy of South Korea. Each other has been the greatest threat and greatest enemy, and it has been forgotten that we are one ethnic. But recently the tension between the south and the north gradually decreased. The core of diplomacy is up to the president and the foreign minister. we can know that President Moon achieved success for improvement relationship between south and north with the foreign minister KyungWha Kang. North Korea is facing an internal big cha...

1. Summary Socioeconomics(or social economics) is a different concept from the social economy, it is a social science study.  It studies how human economic activity affects society and how modern society is affected by the local economy and the global economy .  Socioeconomics in a broad sense is the use of economics in sociological research , and in a narrow sense, it is the exploration of society and economy through consideration of the behavioral interaction individuals and groups. Socioeconomics and sociology can be used to study how economic systems affect local society and the local economy . Or we can say that this research itself is a kind of socioeconomics and sociology. For example, it is a kind of Socioeconomics that studies what human beings damage the natural environment by economic logic, and what it affects the region, society, and even the world. Here are various examples.  In Pakistan, deforestation is changing the environment...

1. Summary The economy is the way of using the environment to pursue material needs. The economy has existed since a very long time ago, and the size of the economy has grown in proportion to the size of society. The emergence of currency is a very important part of the history of the economy, and Lydians, ancient people, had introduced gold/silver coins for the first time in the world.  Around 2600 BC, various rules were created, including sharing private property, debt and interest, compensation through money about the property and physical damage, and fines.  Financial penalties and rules play an important role in maintaining the economy and society . For example, If there is no fine in fine for a misdemeanor, people will be more likely to commit a misdemeanor. According to this text, Adam Smith was the first real-true economist to appear in human history. He explained the economic system through supply and demand , and insisted that the free market would be m...

South Korea is going through deep social, economic change (T he Economist Article) Picture of Seoul in the past Picture by Pixabay free image (https://pixabay.com/images/id-3599499/) Recently, director Bong Joon-ho's film " Parasite " has become a huge hit around the world. He even won an Oscar for a world-class film last February. It is a film that shows socioeconomic problems, including the gap between classes in Korea, but on the other hand, it is also evidence that Korean society has changed . Just a month after Mr. Bong's Oscar win, South Korea is again in the spotlight around the world. Korea is known as the country that best dealt with the COVID-19 virus, and countless countries have asked South Korea to share its anti-virus strategy.  The Economist article compared Korea's (and the President's) handling of COVID-19 in contrast to the 2014 Ferry Sewol incident. Compared with the terrible disaster caused by the wrong response...