Mathier Deflem Analysis
The first reading by Mathier Deflem explores the concept of social control and how to transforms over time from a micro level to a macro-level theory. At first social control was thought to be a broad concept, aimed at maintaining group harmony to maintain stability and eliminate chaos. This definition of social control, reminds me of Thomas Hobbes and his social contract theory in which everyone gives up some freedoms to live harmoniously, even as a heterogeneous group. Previous theories of social control, like Mead state a difference between our own self and the self that society expects from us to maintain harmony within the society. This balance was eventually maintained through force and coercion, resembling Marx’s theory of class domination.
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Previous racism was more overt, but current racism is still just as real but is hidden through social systems that benefit the dominant race that lead to inequality for the other minority races. The “color blind” racism approach, that emerged in the 1960’s, still takes an us versus them approach and although the dominant race accepts these forms of inadvertent inequality it does not fit their definition of racism and therefore they do not support policies to reform the social inequality, like affirmative action. This racism is systematic and illustrated in explaining social differences, that advantage the dominant race over others, as racial differences and they don’t want to change the racial order because it benefits themselves. The minority group does not hold enough ideological power to change the status quo by themselves. The previous measurement tools meant to gauge this transformation of racism has been misleading and insinuates progress. This expands on the definitions of race and ethnicity that we went over in class and how the made up social construction of race leads to real inequality, experienced through many processes of life. I am curious though this dominant race ideology will change when society is aware that whites are no longer the dominant race and
Previous racism was more overt, but current racism is still just as real but is hidden through social systems that benefit the dominant race that lead to inequality for the other minority races. The “color blind” racism approach, that emerged in the 1960’s, still takes an us versus them approach and although the dominant race accepts these forms of inadvertent inequality it does not fit their definition of racism and therefore they do not support policies to reform the social inequality, like affirmative action. This racism is systematic and illustrated in explaining social differences, that advantage the dominant race over others, as racial differences and they don’t want to change the racial order because it benefits themselves. The minority group does not hold enough ideological power to change the status quo by themselves. The previous measurement tools meant to gauge this transformation of racism has been misleading and insinuates progress. This expands on the definitions of race and ethnicity that we went over in class and how the made up social construction of race leads to real inequality, experienced through many processes of life. I am curious though this dominant race ideology will change when society is aware that whites are no longer the dominant race and