Polls show that the attitudes of most Americans towards questions related to the
ID: 3494218 • Letter: P
Question
Polls show that the attitudes of most Americans towards questions related to their acceptance of interracial marriage or sex, integrated schools and neighborhoods, and other forms of racial integration have changed dramatically in many ways since the elimination of many forms of Jim Crow segregation and other formal barriers to racial equality in the 1960s and 1970s Similarly, attitudes regarding the proper roles of women at work and in the home shifted substantially as women have begun to enter the workforce in large numbers, especially since the 1960s. Answer the following questions: What does this say about the role of social hierarchies and institutions in shaping norms and values? What does it suggest about our capacity to overcome ideas ingrained in us through earlier processes of socialization? Does this imply that our norms and values are more of a cause or a consequence of the existence of social hierarchies? Afterwards, please respond to posts of TWO of your classmates posts.Explanation / Answer
1) Social hierarchies can be called as something in which some groups are higher or above the other and sort of play a major role in shaping the beliefs of the society. The norms shaped in a society are largely influenced by the majority group or the elevated group. They establish rules or norms and beliefs in a society which require to be adhered to by the lower or the subordinate groups.
2) Currently focusing on the US, there was a majority of blacks and a society dominated by the men. It could be said that white men were the topmost strata of the hierarchy. In order to overcome those prejudices and discriminations, it took many years, many movements and tonnes of revolutionary actions. Yes, the society has moulded into a shape that it wasn't earlier, with a much better situation of the minority groups in the society and with the increasing awareness that women are not only meant for household work. This shows that our society dominated by the higher strata are quite resistant to change or challenge to their authorities. But, when the forces that challenge these authorities, overcome the forces of the conventionalities, there occurs a change that removes stratification.
3) This implies that the social norms are a consequence of the existing social hierarchies.