SAP101 Foundations of Sociology and Politics for Community Services Workers Assignment 1 Sample

SAP101 Foundations of Sociology and Politics for Community Services Workers Assignment 1

Assignment Brief

Your answers to all questions should be around 1,000 words (+/-10%), excluding references and the words in the template. You are responsible for distributing the word count among your answers to be sure that you address all questions while staying within the word limit.

This assessment tests students’ understanding of social theories and concepts from this unit and ability to practically apply them. The assessment consists of 5 groups of questions (5 tasks). You need to answer these questions using only the resources available in Moodle, except for the census data and links provided to you.

Rationale

Communities and the broader social context play an important role in our lives. The places we live are shaped by many social forces, such as the economy, environment, culture, and education, all of which affect who we become. It is also important to understand that different places are not the same: they are structured in different ways, and these structures have changed over time.

In this assessment, you will have the opportunity to analyse how socio-economic characteristics are distributed across two Australian localities. You will also be asked to explain why you think this distribution exists. Additionally, you will reflect on how these factors impact different groups of people living there, drawing on a sociological perspective and considering how the same sociological concepts apply to your own life.

In your assessment, you should answer these 5 questions:

1. Compare and describe these localities (Woollahra and Woorabinda), focusing on indicators that reflect the characteristics of the people living in these areas and other social attributes. For example, compare indicators such as:

• Income

• Unemployment rate

• Family composition

• Large houses compared to smaller dwellings

Overall, the localities should be compared using at least 5 indicators (provide the numbers (%) from the tables as in the example above).

2. Based on the lecture materials and required and optional readings, explain how you understand the relationship between agency and structure (provide references).
Reflect on how people’s lives in these two localities might differ due to their individual choices and the structural factors that determine their lives (apply the concepts of agency and structure in this reflection).

3. People in these localities come from various social groups - ethnic, professional, age-based, etc (you can find this information in this data). Identify which groups might be the most vulnerable (e.g., children from families with unemployed parents) and the most advantaged group. Describe two groups and explain your choice in one location.

4. Select two sociological theories and explain their ideas about the relationship between agency and structure. For example, what does Marxism suggest about how our lives are influenced by structural conditions and how we can shape our lives independently of social contexts? Use only sources available in Moodle and provide references to them. Do not use external sources.

5. Consider how the interaction between your individual life and larger societal structures has shaped who you are as a social being. For example:

• Your choice of career, such as studying in Australia OR How you see yourself in terms of ethnicity, religion, or other identities.
Consider, for example, where you were born (such as your family background, neighbourhood, country, and broader socio-economic context). Write about how these factors have influenced your life in terms of both opportunities and constraints. Use one theory from Question 4 to support your explanation.

Solution

Question 1

Woollahra and Woorabinda are two vastly different localities in Australia, as evidenced by several key indicators:

A. Income: The median weekly household income in Woollahra is $3,192, significantly higher than Woorabinda's $684 (Woollahra, 2021; Woorabinda, 2021).

B. Unemployment rate: While specific unemployment rates for Woollahra are not provided, Woorabinda has a high unemployment rate of 20.9% among those in the labor force (Woorabinda, 2021). In contrast, Woollahra, being a more affluent area, likely has a much lower unemployment rate.

C. Family composition: In Woollahra, 43.8% of people aged 15 and over are married, compared to only 11.2% in Woorabinda (Woollahra, 2021; Woorabinda, 2021). Woorabinda has a much higher proportion of people who have never married (82.2%) compared to Woollahra (40.7%) (Woollahra, 2021; Woorabinda, 2021).

D. Housing: The average number of people per household in Woollahra is 2.3, while in Woorabinda, it is 3.3, indicating larger household sizes in Woorabinda (Woollahra, 2021; Woorabinda, 2021). The median weekly rent in Woollahra ($695) is substantially higher than in Woorabinda ($120) (Woollahra, 2021; Woorabinda, 2021).

E. Age distribution: The median age in Woollahra is 41, while in Woorabinda, it is only 23, indicating a much younger population in Woorabinda (Woollahra, 2021; Woorabinda, 2021).

Woollahra and Woorabinda are clearly socioeconomically different places for MBA assignment help  One is an affluent urban area with higher incomes and smaller households, and the other is an Aboriginal community.

Question 2.

The relationship between agency and structure highlights the dynamic interplay between individual choice (agency) and societal constraints or opportunities (structure). In sociological terms, agency refers to the capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own choices, while structure refers to the patterned social arrangements that influence or limit those choices (Dillon, M. (2019).

Reflection on Woollahra and Woorabinda

Structural factors in Woollahra reflect a high median household income ($3,192), a high share of residents with bachelor's degrees or higher (55.2%), and a low share of unemployed, which gives residents more agency. They allow people to choose careers, housing, lifestyle in accordance with their aspirations. For instance, Woollahra’s wealthy environment gives professionals access to private education and professional occupations (44.2% of the employed are professionals), continuing to secure structural advantages (Woollahra, 2021).

In contrast, there are numerous structural constraints in Woorabinda. It has considerable amounts of unemployment (20.9%), low median household income ($684) and low educational attainment (3.8%) that constrain agency. These constraints restrict opportunities to participate in persisting cycles of economic advancement and self-determination due to rigid barriers such as dependency on rented housing (97.1%) and very limited opportunities for professional employment (Woorabinda, 2021).

Application of Agency and Structure

People’s choices in the Woollahra and Woorabinda localities are influenced by structural differences. Because of education and networks, people in Woollahra take jobs which pay more, whereas people in Woorabinda have fewer options.

Question 3

In Woorabinda two social groups can be identified that relate to vulnerability and advantage.

Most Vulnerable Group: Children in Single-Parent Families

Children from single-parent families in Woorabinda are particularly vulnerable due to the high prevalence of single-parent households and significant socioeconomic challenges. These families often face structural barriers such as high unemployment (20.9%) and low median household income ($684 per week) (Woorabinda, 2021). Children in families with limited opportunities (low income) find it difficult to access education, healthcare and stable housing, which end up hampering the caregiver’s capability to provide adequate care.

Most Advantaged Group: Employed Professionals

Professionals in Woorabinda represent the most advantaged group, even within a limited context. While only 21.6% of employed individuals work in professional roles, these jobs typically offer higher stability and income compared to other occupations like laborers (17%) (Woorabinda, 2021). Individuals employed in professions in the education and healthcare industries enjoy secure jobs, their work contributes to community development, and they have better economic stability than the local residents.

These contrasting groups illustrate how structural factors like employment opportunities and household composition significantly shape the experiences of individuals in Woorabinda, influencing both vulnerability and advantage.

Question 4

The two sociological theories, Marxism and Weber’s social action theory, focus on their perspectives on agency and structure. Below is an explanation of their ideas:

1. Marxism (Karl Marx)

○ Marxist theory views the relationship between agency and structure as dialectical.

○ It argues that individuals' lives are shaped by economic and social structures, particularly through class struggle.

○ The ruling class (bourgeoisie) controls the economic system, limiting the agency of the working class (proletariat) (Germov & Poole, 2019).

○ However, agency exists through collective action and revolution, enabling individuals to change the structure by overthrowing oppressive systems.

2. Social Action Theory (Max Weber)

○ Unlike Marx, Weber emphasizes individual social actions and how they shape social structures.

○ He identifies different types of social action, such as traditional, effective, and rational actions (Fatah, 2024).

○ Structure influences individuals, but agency is significant because individuals actively interpret and respond to societal norms.

○ Social change occurs when enough individuals adopt new behaviors or ideologies, affecting the broader structure.

These theories contrast in how much agency individuals have in shaping their lives versus how much structure controls them. Marxism suggests structure dominates but can be altered through collective agency, while Weber emphasizes individual agency in shaping social structures.

Question 5

How Societal Structures Have Shaped My Life

The interaction between my individual life and larger societal structures has significantly influenced my identity and opportunities. Born into a middle-class family, my access to education and career choices was shaped by economic and social structures. The class system, as explained in Marxist theory, determined the resources available to me, from quality schooling to career guidance.

Despite having agency, my choices were shaped by structural factors such as financial constraints, social expectations, and job market competition. For instance, my decision to study abroad (or pursue a particular career) was influenced by economic stability and access to opportunities. However, as Marx suggests, collective action and education empower individuals to break free from limiting structures and improve their social mobility (Kökerer, 2024).

I have also experienced the formation of inequalities in economic structures. However, some people are faced with greater difficulties because of class-based disadvantages. Thus, the agency is often impeded by systemic blockages that complicate upward movement for some.

Overall, my life shows an example of Marx’s dialectical structure on agency. Although some of my future is in my control, class structures continue to mould the opportunities and constraints.

Reference List

Dillon, M. (2019). Introduction to Sociological Theory: Theorists, Concepts, and Their Applicability to the Twenty-First Century. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated. ProQuest EbookCentral. Retrieved from: http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/unsw/detail.action?docID=1566387

Fatah, R. A. (2024). Recognize Max Weber’s Social Action Theory in Individual Social Transformation. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Approach Research and Science, 2(02), 659–666. https://doi.org/10.59653/ijmars.v2i02.681

Germov, J., & Poole, M. (Eds.). (2019). Public sociology: An introduction to Australian society. Taylor & Francis Group https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003116974

Kökerer, C. M. (2024). Marx’s three different conceptions of political change under capitalism: Direct democracy, proletarian revolution, or self‐government under proletarian leadership. Constellations. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8675.12741

Woollahra. (2021). 2021 Woollahra, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics. Abs.gov.au. https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA18500

Woorabinda. (2021). 2021 Woorabinda, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics. Abs.gov.au. https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA37550