The Assignment Is To Write Two Essays Of Two Pages Each For ✓ Solved

The Assignment Is To Write 2 Essays Of 2 Pages Each For A Total Of 4

The assignment is to write 2 essays of 2 pages each, for a total of 4 pages. Taking a closer look at community: our last few weeks of readings are focused on different ways of imagining community ties in our increasingly globalized world. These are communities that have global dimensions. The readings in our final unit want us to examine: gender, social networks, political activists, university students, and global supply chains. You should choose one of these community types and then select two different articles from the list provided (Lorber, Devor, Blum, Tannen for gender; Gladwell, Friedman for social networks; Gladwell, Friedman for political activists; Nathan for university students; Friedman for global supply chains). For each article, you are to write a 2-page summary that analyzes how the author understands the community in question, what binds it together, and the complexities involved. Your summaries should clearly explain the community, analyze the author's main argument, evaluate examples used, and discuss the evidence presented, especially noting any limitations or contradictions. The focus is on examining the author's priorities in defining and discussing the community, considering where their arguments go in unexpected directions, and how authoritative sources support their claims. Your aim is to develop a thoughtful, interconnected summary, emphasizing the key aspects that reveal the complexity of the community concept and the author’s perspective, critical thinking about evidence, and nuanced understanding of community dynamics.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

In exploring the diverse forms of community in a globalized world, two compelling articles shed light on the intricate ways different communities are understood, connected, and challenged. The first article by Lorber, titled "Gender as a Social Structure," examines the community of gender by analyzing how societal norms and institutional practices construct gender roles and identities. Lorber argues that gender is a social institution that shapes individual behavior and social organization, thus forming a community grounded in shared expectations and roles. The article emphasizes that gender communities are maintained through ongoing socialization, cultural practices, and institutional reinforcement, which create a sense of shared identity despite individual differences.

Lorber introduces key concepts such as gender norms and gendered institutions, illustrating how these elements serve as bonds that sustain the community. For instance, she discusses how hospitals, workplaces, and educational systems reinforce gender roles, often unconsciously, and how these reinforce the community’s cohesion. The evidence she draws on includes sociological studies and expert authorities such as West and Zimmerman, whose work highlights the performative nature of gender. Lorber’s attitude towards this evidence is analytical; she accepts it as support for her view that gender is not merely a personal attribute but a social structure that collectively sustains the community.

However, the article also explores the limitations of this perspective. Lorber recognizes that gender communities are not static; they are subject to contestation and change, especially through social movements challenging traditional norms. She discusses examples like feminist activism and LGBTQ+ communities, which challenge dominant gender norms and demonstrate the community’s capacity for transformation. These examples reveal that while shared norms and institutions are strong bonds, they are also mutable and contested, highlighting the nuanced nature of gender as a community.

The second article by Gladwell, "The Power of Social Networks," analyzes how social networks function as communities. Gladwell argues that networks are the backbone of many social ties, facilitating the rapid spread of information, influence, and social capital. He emphasizes how social ties—particularly weak ties—can serve as powerful connectors in a community, creating opportunities and mobilizing social resources. Gladwell uses examples such as the success of social movements and viral marketing campaigns to illustrate his points, drawing on sociological theories and examples from notable figures.

Gladwell’s use of authoritative sources, including Granovetter’s theory of the strength of weak ties, strengthens his argument that social networks are central to understanding modern communities. He encourages readers to consider communities as fluid and interconnected, emphasizing the importance of network structures over strict geographical or institutional boundaries. Nonetheless, the article acknowledges complexity; for example, while social networks facilitate community building, they can also reinforce inequalities and exclusivity. Some examples from online communities demonstrate both the strengths and limitations of social ties in fostering inclusive community bonds.

Both articles demonstrate that understanding community requires attention to the underlying structures that bind members together, whether through shared norms of gender or through the interconnectedness of social networks. Lorber’s analysis underscores the institutional and normative aspects of gender communities, emphasizing their constructed yet resilient bonds. Gladwell highlights the less tangible, dynamic nature of social ties, emphasizing their role in creating community across physical and social boundaries. Together, these perspectives reveal that community is a complex, multi-layered concept, shaped by social structures, norms, and networks that evolve over time and are subject to contestation. They also illustrate that communities are not merely collections of individuals but are sustained by powerful social, cultural, and structural forces that can both unite and divide.

References

• Lorber, J. (1994). Gender as a Social Structure. In Worlds of Women: The Making of an Intersectional Politics. Oxford University Press.
• Gladwell, M. (2000). The Power of Social Networks. The New Yorker.
• West, C., & Zimmerman, D. H. (1987). Doing Gender. Gender & Society, 1(2), 125-151.
• Granovetter, M. (1973). The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78(6), 1360-1380.
• Friedman, T. (2005). The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
• Devor, A. H. (1989). Gender Varieties in Diverse Cultures. American Anthropologist, 91(1), 73-83.
• Blum, L. M. (1994). "Where's the femininity?" In Feminism and the Politics of Childhood, 113-130.
• Tannen, D. (1990). You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. William Morrow & Co.
• Nathan, M. (2018). University Students and Global Citizenship. International Journal of Higher Education, 7(4), 85-97.
• Friedman, T. (2006). The World Is Curved: Hidden Obstacles to an Global Economy. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.