Self and Society ((3))

Catalog description

What is a self? How is one acquired? Most people have asked themselves the question, Who am I? and perhaps wondered How do I fit in within society? When thinking about these questions, what role does society play in shaping who we are? In this course, we will examine these questions from sociological perspectives and through sociological research on the self. We will explore the interrelation between self and social identity and how these ideas can be applied to students own experiences and sense of social well-being. Topics for discussion include language and meaning making, socialization, self-esteem, the significance of roles, emotional experience, deviance, and social identities of race, gender, class, and sexual orientation. Students will explore the personal and social implications of defining selfhood in certain ways.