sociology helppppppp pretty please x

Monroe · #1 (**permalink**) 05-Jun-2008, 12:31

hi, everyone I need some help pertty please, has anybody done any work on secularisation (sociology) I am in desperate and need of a few pointers please,
the title of the essay is:

Britain is an increasingly secular society. Discuss this statement in relation to sociological theroy and evidence.

god what a mouth full

this is my final essay yippeeeeeeeee, I would like to do as well as I can, so any tips or advice will be greatly recieved

thanks for taking the time to read this ladies x x x

J™ · #2 (**permalink**) 05-Jun-2008, 13:15

'Britain is an increasingly secular society' meaning the country is becoming less of a community and instead is breaking off into seperate groups.

In my view the reason for this starts with the family. The family has changed from being large and extended - to smaller 'nuclear' units - i.e. mum, dad and kids and not mum dad kids G'mas etc all living together.

In the 60s people used to know their neighbours and be in one anothers lives o a day to day basis - i.e watching one anothers kids - nowadays people dont know thier neighbours and use childminders etc. That is not only due to the death of the extended family (as no mums/G'mas about to care for others kids etc) but also due to more women entering the workplace and there are less stay at home mums who are in a position to watch kids and have a natter over the garden fence so its also related to changes in work and the changes in the division of labour.

Its also related to religion, religion per se can be secular, i.e. they stick to their own groups outside of the church/mosque/synagogue as their religion is what they identify themselves with and so they hang out with people who have the same beliefs.

Its basically about people breaking away from the norms that used to uphold British society and instead smaller groups make up society now.

So you need to look at the work of functionalists to better understand old school family stuff. Marxists and feminists for the changes in the division of labour (Abbott and Wallce were fab feminist sociologists back in the day and the book is old now but gold!) and all three to discuss religion.

Use up to date examples to illustrate your points so research news items about religon and secularisation (theres loads about that atm) and also stats about women in work and geographic/socio-economic differences and link these in. An example would be the north/south divide where up North there tends to be families still living closer and so providing support for onenaother whereas in the 'affluent' south its all a bit more 'all for himself' and people tend to keep themselves to themselves and are suspiscous of friendly neighbours. This is of course a generalisation.

Its not neccessarily about the breakdown of society but the morphing of society - the changes - its about multiculturalism, acceptance of differences and still maintaining some kind of 'larger' society that the smaller groups - together - make up. So make the point that despite society becoming more secular if people accepeted the differences and were not fearful of change and do not judge via stereotypes then the old and golden days of community and support are still there and are still achievable. Also that this community is now more interesting and diverse as each different groups brings its own perpective with it.

Hope that helps.

ollybolly · #3 (**permalink**) 05-Jun-2008, 13:38

ok, this is pretty basic as A level sociology was a LONG time ago, and a friend did remind me the other day that i spent a large amount of my time making little pretend people out my lunchtime apple and banana!
BUT, i would say, as J ™ has siad so much better than i can, that Marx would be a great place to start. Could look it at from the religious point of view to begin with and what he said about religion basically being a made up crutch for people whose lives were bleak that it gave them hope (very basic as you can see!) People have moved away from this now as post modern life/conditions/material/wealth means that life is no longer bleak in the way that it was.

mmm not great but maybe give you something to think about?
good luck hun
x

Monroe · #4 (**permalink**) 05-Jun-2008, 13:45

you two are ace thanks for that ladies just in the library trying to get something on paper. x x

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Sociology and psychology essay!!	Byrnieboo	Midwifery Assignments	5	05-May-2008 20:34
Help pretty please?	midwifemissy	Midwifery Assignments	4	04-Jan-2008 14:38

		Student Midwife Forums > Main Forums > Student Midwife To Be (SM2B) > Assignments (Access course/A Level)
sociology helppppppp pretty please x

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads