Final Exam
Potential Short answer questions
[For the final, you will have to answer 3 questions chosen from this list]
1. Explain the Marxist concepts of Labor-Power, Alienation and Exploitation and show how they fit well
together within a coherent theory. Your task here is threefold:
a. Briefly explain each concept separately (give at least ONE example)
b. show that each concept supports Marx’s general view on why stratification exists and persists in
advanced capitalist societies.
c. Then connect them to show how the concepts fit well together as a coherent set.
2. Briefly after the publication of his theory of Functionalism, Emile Durkheim became the target of much
criticism from other scientists. Many prominent intellectuals of the time had an objection to his argument
that "society is more than the sum of its parts". They deemed this reasoning mystifying and illogical at
best. How did Durkheim defend this aspect of the theory? Provide at least ONE concrete example one of
your own that supports Durkheim’s reasoning.
3. Miranda is an SPU student who self-identifies as queer. She has been having a particularly hard time
connecting with other people on campus. Miranda finally made some friends in her circle
of African American and Latino students, but she still feels largely marginalized. At first, she thought it
was because she is not religious, but she couldn’t be sure. As a native of Colombia, Miranda also struggles
with the English language – that’s to be expected since she’s only been in the U.S. for 6 months. Having
been raised in one of the poorest slums in Bogota, Miranda would have liked to work a part time job and
send some money to her family, but her student visa does not allow her to work in the U.S. unless it’s a
work study or other university-based position. She is actually quite advanced in Physics, but thus far she
has not been able to convince any physics professor to hire her as a lab attendant.
a. What are the various structural barriers that Miranda potentially faces at SPU?
b. What sociological concept could help us better understand the complexity of Miranda’s
experience and inability to find opportunities on the SPU campus? How does this concept help us
better qualify her sense of isolation?
4. Is Freedman’s solution to the food insecurity problem necessarily opposed to Pollan’s food rules?
a. Explain your reasoning by referring to ONE concrete example – this can either be an example
from the respective authors or one of your own.
b. Between Pollan and Freedman, who do you believe does a better job of confronting the problem
of income and access? Give at least ONE example for each author to support your answer.
5. In the short story "Talking Skull" by British author Jim Crace, the main character’s father is peddling
freemartin milk as some sort of magical "love & fertility" potion.
a. How would Emile Durkheim explain the fact that this kind of business, which is seemingly based
on an irrational belief, persists and thrives in that society?
b. How would Karl Marx’ answer to this same question differ from Durkheim’s? Here you must
think of at least ONE (Marxist) concept that he would use to make his point.
6. Are Michael Pollan’s “food rules” useful in dictating a new culture of food (behavior and taste) or do you
think they further reinforce the existing social structures of unequal food access? For example, can poor
people realistically follow Michael Pollan’s “food rules”? Or are these just a set rules via which we
further alienate the poorest families in mainstream America?
7. Education seems to have a very key role in Davis and Moore’s Functionalist theory of
stratification. However, Melvin Tumin thinks that these functionalists are mistaken in their assumptions
about the power of education and formal training. Briefly explain TWO objections that Tumin had
regarding the role of education/training in Davis and Moore’s theory.
8. Could Karl Marx’s concepts or ruling class and ruling ideas be used to understand the popularity of fast
food establishments? How could the same concepts be used to argue against Pollan’s or Freedman’s views
in this debate? Support your answer with concrete examples.
9. Can poor people realistically follow Michael Pollan’s “food rules”? Or are these just a set rules via which
we further alienate the poorest families in mainstream America? Justify your answer by referring to at
least ONE specific food rule from Pollan’s list.
10. How would Functionalists like Durkheim or Davis & Moore explain the fact that some people reside in
areas where high quality food is not affordable or accessible?
a. In addition, what assumption(s) must be true in order for these guys’ reasoning to hold?
b. Briefly explain how a Conflict Theorist like Karl Marx would challenge their view and
assumption(s).
11. Based on our discussion of money (from Marx to the Bible to Zelizer) what would you say is the logical
relationship between “value” and “values”? Which one precedes the other? Explain your reasoning by
using ONE contemporary or historical example.
12. It is estimated that over 48 million Americans face food insecurity – the great majority of whom live near
a food desert. Knowing this fact and having heard of your reputation as a notable scholar on food deserts,
the Obama administration has hired you as a spokesperson who can help the White House better
communicate both the relevance and intricacies of the problem to the American public. As an expert on
food deserts in inner city neighborhoods, your task is threefold:
a. Briefly explain to common citizens what food deserts are
b. Use at least ONE of the established explanations (choose whichever one you prefer or any
combination thereof) to explain to the average American how food deserts came to exist in some
inner city neighborhoods.
c. Briefly show how residing near a food desert is connected to the respective issues of a) food
security b) food justice and c) obesity?
13.What do you think Durkheim’s stance would be on the existence of fast food chains
and why they thrive?
a. Use at least two concrete examples to justify your answer.
b. How do you think a conflict theorist like Marx would replay to Durkheim’s
view on fast food? Use at least one concrete example to justify this portion of
your answer.
14.Symbolic interactionism is typically criticized as a theory that is not very useful at
explaining certain kinds of social problems. However, scholars who subscribe to it
think SI is actually well suited to tackle all sorts of questions and public issues. Do
you think symbolic interactionism would be useful in our efforts to better
understand and resolve the food desert or food insecurity issue?
Justify your reasoning with at least one concrete and brief example / scenario (use
either an example/ scenario from the assigned reading or a hypothetical one you
have imagined)
15. Last time, we discussed the notion of food justice. Based on that discussion from
what major sociological theory or paradigm does the concept seem to derive?
Briefly justify your answer.
