Values, Culture and Socialization at the Mall

SOCIOLOGY 2000: WRITING ASSIGNMENT #1:

VALUES, CULTURE AND SOCIALIZATION AT THE MALL

Fall 2015

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Go to Crossroads Mall on Westnedge Ave. in Portage in your small group. Take along a notebook and a copy of the twenty American values.

2. In general, the group should keep a low profile. Try to make your observations without being obvious. For example, wait until you are outside a store before you openly discuss a task.

3. Assign one person to write down information for each question throughout the exercise. To remain inconspicuous, this individual should stay outside of stores. When the other group members exit the store, they should relay their information to the person recording it. Discuss your observations and answers to the questions as a group.

4. Those who enter stores should not ask salespeople for help. Respond "I'm just going to look around" if they ask if they can help you.

5. When you finish your observations at the mall, make a photocopy of the group's notes for each member. Make sure the names and I.D. numbers of all group members are included on these photocopies.

6. Discuss your observations with the other members of the group.

7. Each group member must write a 3-5 page (double-spaced) individual paper summarizing their findings and answering the questions below. You can answer each question separately or integrate your answers into an essay narrative.

8. Turn in your paper and photocopied group notes in class on TUESDAY, OCT. 20. The paper is worth a total of 50 points.

9. Your grade will be based on how well you relate course material on values, culture and socialization to what you see at the mall; answer each question as completely as you can.

10. If you have any questions or problems, please talk to me.

A. VALUES AT THE MALL

1. What examples of the value of achievement and success can you find? (3 pts.)

2. What examples of the values of science and technology and progress can you find? (3 pts.)

3. What examples of the value of self-fulfillment can you identify? (3 pts.)

4. What would be the three most important values in American society based on what you see in the mall? Why? (5 pts.)

5. What would be the three least important values in American society based on what you see in the mall? Why? (5 pts.)

B. CULTURE AT THE MALL

6. Whatroles do the elderly play in U.S. culture based on what you see at the mall? (4 pts.)

7. What evidence can you find about U.S. cultural diversity? (4 pts.)

8. What norms and folkways govern how people behave in the mall? Did you observe any violations of norms or folkways? What types? (4 pts.)

9. What subcultures or countercultures are represented in the mall? (4 pts.)

C. SOCIALIZATION AT THE MALL

10. What values and norms is the typical female teenager being socialized into by the mall? (5 pts.)

11. What values and norms is the typical male teenager being socialized into by the mall? (5 pts.)

12. What are the characteristics of the people shown in advertisements in the mall (such as in clothing departments, shoe stores, etc.)? What would the "ideal" man and the "ideal" woman be like, according to these images? (5 pts.)

GOOD LUCK!

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