Question 1

"Women should have fairer skin than men." Is this statement ideological? Explain the reasons for your answer.

Accepted Answer

This statement is ideological for the following reasons:
1) It is hegemonic: many people believe that fairer skin is desirable in women, female models are depicted with fairer skin than male models, women perform body work to achieve or preserve fair skin.
2) It naturalizes group power hierarchies: gender difference in appearance helps maintain the idea that men and women are significantly different.
3) It reinforces consumerism: women are under more pressure to maintain appearance of their skin than are men (although the norm of skin care for men is becoming more accepted).
4) The norm is internalized (widely accepted and unquestioned) and rationalized (by association with allegedly natural and desirable difference between genders).

Question 2

Advertisements for Dove skin care for men claim that use of their products will result in "strong skin," whereas the corresponding products for women claim to achieve "soft skin." Which of the following is NOT likely to be an effect of these advertising campaigns?

Accepted Answer

A)  Men stop buying Dove products 
B)  Women stop buying Dove products 
C)  Gender inequality is contested 
D)  Gender inequality is upheld 
A)  Men stop buying Dove products 
B)  Women stop buying Dove products 
C)  Gender inequality is contested 
D)  Gender inequality is upheld C

Question 3

Research has found that female models with darker complexion are more likely to be depicted as:

Accepted Answer

A)  sexualized 
B)  sophisticated 
C)  smart 
D)  shy 
A)  sexualized 
B)  sophisticated 
C)  smart 
D)  shy A

Question 4

In contemporary North American culture, beauty is associated with all of the following, EXCEPT one. Which is the exception?

Accepted Answer

A)  Youth 
B)  Maturity 
C)  Thinness 
D)  Fair complexion 
A)  Youth 
B)  Maturity 
C)  Thinness 
D)  Fair complexion

Question 5

How does the textbook explain the fact that many people continue to pursue virtually unattainable appearance ideals?

Accepted Answer

A)  These ideals happen to coincide with actors' free choices 
B)  These ideals are hegemonic and socially powerful 
C)  These ideals have historically become more realistic 
D)  These ideals are deeply contested 
A)  These ideals happen to coincide with actors' free choices 
B)  These ideals are hegemonic and socially powerful 
C)  These ideals have historically become more realistic 
D)  These ideals are deeply contested

Question 6

According to Simmel's explanation of fashion cycles, who decides when a new fashion trend will begin?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fashion industry 
B)  Consumer advocates 
C)  Masses 
D)  Elites 
A)  Fashion industry 
B)  Consumer advocates 
C)  Masses 
D)  Elites

Question 7

The main purpose of body work in our culture is:

Accepted Answer

A)  fulfilling cultural expectations about appearance 
B)  fulfilling cultural expectations of heteronormativity 
C)  achieving peace of mind 
D)  achieving health 
A)  fulfilling cultural expectations about appearance 
B)  fulfilling cultural expectations of heteronormativity 
C)  achieving peace of mind 
D)  achieving health

Question 8

The textbook makes a point that individual experiences of cultural norms of appearance vary with individual:

Accepted Answer

A)  psychological make-up 
B)  childhood socialization 
C)  social skills 
D)  social location 
A)  psychological make-up 
B)  childhood socialization 
C)  social skills 
D)  social location

Question 9

Define the "culture of bodily lack." What is its connection with consumerism? Use an example to explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define the "culture of bodily lack." What...

Question 10

Define intersectionality. How does this phenomenon influence the understanding of masculinity in our society?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define intersectionality. How does this phenomenon influence...

Question 11

Knowing that norms of appearance reflect intersecting axes of inequality in our society, which of the following statements would you expect to be true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The same level of physical strength is desirable in both African-American women and men 
B)  The same level of physical strength is desirable in African-American and Caucasian men 
C)  Appearance of Latina women is judged by comparing them to Latino men 
D)  Appearance of Latina women is judged by comparing them to Caucasian women 
A)  The same level of physical strength is desirable in both African-American women and men 
B)  The same level of physical strength is desirable in African-American and Caucasian men 
C)  Appearance of Latina women is judged by comparing them to Latino men 
D)  Appearance of Latina women is judged by comparing them to Caucasian women

Question 12

According to the textbook, which of the following sociological thinking frames is the most useful for understanding the relationship between beauty norms and the beauty industry?

Accepted Answer

A)  Material/cultural 
B)  Structure/agency 
C)  Micro/macro 
D)  Ideal/real 
A)  Material/cultural 
B)  Structure/agency 
C)  Micro/macro 
D)  Ideal/real

Question 13

Research has shown that norms of appearance for men and women have converged in recent decades. In which of the following areas have they NOT converged?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fear of fat 
B)  Fear of objectification 
C)  Emphasis on strength and masculinity of men 
D)  Emphasis on strength and femininity of women 
A)  Fear of fat 
B)  Fear of objectification 
C)  Emphasis on strength and masculinity of men 
D)  Emphasis on strength and femininity of women

Question 14

Sociological research into modelling has found that its preference for the white beauty ideal is caused by:

Accepted Answer

A)  deliberate discrimination 
B)  racism of individual designers and editors 
C)  attempt to minimize business risk 
D)  attempt to minimize negative publicity 
A)  deliberate discrimination 
B)  racism of individual designers and editors 
C)  attempt to minimize business risk 
D)  attempt to minimize negative publicity

Question 15

Which of the following aspects of beauty ideology could be documented by content analysis?

Accepted Answer

A)  The proportion of racialized models in magazine advertising 
B)  Reasons why editors do not choose racialized models 
C)  Structural supports for racism in fashion industry 
D)  Historic roots of racism in our society 
A)  The proportion of racialized models in magazine advertising 
B)  Reasons why editors do not choose racialized models 
C)  Structural supports for racism in fashion industry 
D)  Historic roots of racism in our society

Question 16

Contrary to Simmel's views, contemporary sociology of fashion acknowledges that mass consumers of fashion exercise significant agency. Which of the following concepts explains how mass consumers choose which fashions to adopt and which to ignore?

Accepted Answer

A)  Style 
B)  Lifestyle 
C)  Originality 
D)  Trickle-up fashion 
A)  Style 
B)  Lifestyle 
C)  Originality 
D)  Trickle-up fashion

Question 17

How did the notion of self-improvement in North American culture change over the course of the 20th century?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How did the notion of self-improvement in...

Question 18

Sociologist W.I. Thomas contributed the following to the understanding of social construction of ideas:

Accepted Answer

A)  ideas are neither true nor false 
B)  ideas reflect group norms 
C)  ideas have real effects 
D)  ideas are easy to change 
A)  ideas are neither true nor false 
B)  ideas reflect group norms 
C)  ideas have real effects 
D)  ideas are easy to change

Question 19

What is the relevance of race to North American beauty ideals? Describe one instance of resistance to the racialized nature of these beauty ideals.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the relevance of race to...

Question 20

Define "fast fashion." What is its cultural and material significance?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define "fast fashion." What is its cultural...

"Women should have fairer skin than men." Is this statement ideological? Explain the reasons for your answer.

Advertisements for Dove skin care for men claim that use of their products will result in "strong skin," whereas the corresponding products for women claim to achieve "soft skin." Which of the following is NOT likely to be an effect of these advertising campaigns?

Research has found that female models with darker complexion are more likely to be depicted as:

In contemporary North American culture, beauty is associated with all of the following, EXCEPT one. Which is the exception?

How does the textbook explain the fact that many people continue to pursue virtually unattainable appearance ideals?

According to Simmel's explanation of fashion cycles, who decides when a new fashion trend will begin?

The main purpose of body work in our culture is:

The textbook makes a point that individual experiences of cultural norms of appearance vary with individual:

Define the "culture of bodily lack." What is its connection with consumerism? Use an example to explain your answer.

Define intersectionality. How does this phenomenon influence the understanding of masculinity in our society?

Knowing that norms of appearance reflect intersecting axes of inequality in our society, which of the following statements would you expect to be true?

According to the textbook, which of the following sociological thinking frames is the most useful for understanding the relationship between beauty norms and the beauty industry?

Research has shown that norms of appearance for men and women have converged in recent decades. In which of the following areas have they NOT converged?

Sociological research into modelling has found that its preference for the white beauty ideal is caused by:

Which of the following aspects of beauty ideology could be documented by content analysis?

Contrary to Simmel's views, contemporary sociology of fashion acknowledges that mass consumers of fashion exercise significant agency. Which of the following concepts explains how mass consumers choose which fashions to adopt and which to ignore?

How did the notion of self-improvement in North American culture change over the course of the 20th century?

Sociologist W.I. Thomas contributed the following to the understanding of social construction of ideas:

What is the relevance of race to North American beauty ideals? Describe one instance of resistance to the racialized nature of these beauty ideals.

Define "fast fashion." What is its cultural and material significance?

A Day in the Life of Your Jeans: Using Our Stuff to Discover Sociology

You Are What You Eat: Culture, Norms, and Values

Fast Food Blues: Work in a Global Economy

Coffee: Status, Distinction, and Good Taste

Shopping Lessons: Consuming Social Order

Get in the Game: Race, Merit, and Group Boundaries

Barbies and Monster Trucks: Socialization and Doing Gender

Dreaming of a White Wedding: Marriage, Family, and Heteronormativity

I 3 My Phone: Technology and Social Networks

Branding Your Unique Identity: Consumer Culture and the Social Self

Whats on Your Playlist Subcultures, Racism, and Cultural Appropriation

Our Love-Hate Relationship With the Car: Masculinity, Industry, and Environmental Sustainability

Appendix: Advertising and Society: an Overview of Sociological Methods

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Exam 11: Looking Good: Ideology, Intersectionality, and the Beauty Industry

"Women should have fairer skin than men." Is this statement ideological? Explain the reasons for your answer.

Advertisements for Dove skin care for men claim that use of their products will result in "strong skin," whereas the corresponding products for women claim to achieve "soft skin." Which of the following is NOT likely to be an effect of these advertising campaigns?

Research has found that female models with darker complexion are more likely to be depicted as:

In contemporary North American culture, beauty is associated with all of the following, EXCEPT one. Which is the exception?

How does the textbook explain the fact that many people continue to pursue virtually unattainable appearance ideals?

According to Simmel's explanation of fashion cycles, who decides when a new fashion trend will begin?

The main purpose of body work in our culture is:

The textbook makes a point that individual experiences of cultural norms of appearance vary with individual:

Define the "culture of bodily lack." What is its connection with consumerism? Use an example to explain your answer.

Define intersectionality. How does this phenomenon influence the understanding of masculinity in our society?

Knowing that norms of appearance reflect intersecting axes of inequality in our society, which of the following statements would you expect to be true?

According to the textbook, which of the following sociological thinking frames is the most useful for understanding the relationship between beauty norms and the beauty industry?

Research has shown that norms of appearance for men and women have converged in recent decades. In which of the following areas have they NOT converged?

Sociological research into modelling has found that its preference for the white beauty ideal is caused by:

Which of the following aspects of beauty ideology could be documented by content analysis?

Contrary to Simmel's views, contemporary sociology of fashion acknowledges that mass consumers of fashion exercise significant agency. Which of the following concepts explains how mass consumers choose which fashions to adopt and which to ignore?

How did the notion of self-improvement in North American culture change over the course of the 20th century?

Sociologist W.I. Thomas contributed the following to the understanding of social construction of ideas:

What is the relevance of race to North American beauty ideals? Describe one instance of resistance to the racialized nature of these beauty ideals.

Define "fast fashion." What is its cultural and material significance?

A Day in the Life of Your Jeans: Using Our Stuff to Discover Sociology

You Are What You Eat: Culture, Norms, and Values

Fast Food Blues: Work in a Global Economy

Coffee: Status, Distinction, and Good Taste

Shopping Lessons: Consuming Social Order

Get in the Game: Race, Merit, and Group Boundaries

Barbies and Monster Trucks: Socialization and Doing Gender

Dreaming of a White Wedding: Marriage, Family, and Heteronormativity

I 3 My Phone: Technology and Social Networks

Branding Your Unique Identity: Consumer Culture and the Social Self

Whats on Your Playlist Subcultures, Racism, and Cultural Appropriation

Our Love-Hate Relationship With the Car: Masculinity, Industry, and Environmental Sustainability

Appendix: Advertising and Society: an Overview of Sociological Methods

Filters