Summary
Contents
Subject index
“This is a superb book. By presenting basic sociological topics in terms of the paradoxes they contain, O'Brien situates the discipline and its subject matter in historical and intellectual context, while using examples that are contemporary, accessible, and of interest and relevance to students. I look forward to using Social Prisms in my sociology courses and to the animated class discussions that I'm sure her book will engender.” — Anita Ilta Garey, University of New Hampshire. “Pine Forge Press has done it again! Social Prisms bolsters the well-deserved reputation of Pine Forge Press for publishing serious and innovative yet interesting and accessible works for undergraduate sociology courses. Students will enjoy O'Brien's frequent references to the popular culture (sports, television, movies) which is so central to their existence outside the classroom, and be challenged by her call to embrace rather than resolve the many paradoxes of contemporary social life in America.” — David Yamane, University of Notre Dame
To Belong or Not to Belong? Paradoxes of Community
To Belong or Not to Belong? Paradoxes of Community
Paradox
Humans are social creatures. We gain an encyclopedia of knowledge about who to be and how to behave through participation in significant social groups. We derive our sense of self from the values and customs of these groups. Many social and political issues can be usefully understood in terms of some of the paradoxes of social groups. One paradox is that groups must have well defined rules and regulations in order to be distinctive from other groups and to attract members. This has led many philosophers and sociologists to wonder why some people would voluntarily agree to abide by some very strict group rules. An answer is that ...
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