GNED 500

To be responsible for actions and decisions and able to explain the reasons for them.

A social status that is a result of an individual’s work, accomplishments, and/or abilities.

A social status that is a result of an individual’s work, accomplishments, and/or abilities.

An individual who devotes time to work, either paid or unpaid, to bring about social change.

An individual whose privileged position allows them to speak on behalf of others experiencing inequality, often through legal or institutional activity.

Groups or institutions that play role in the process of developing our identities and the roles we play.

An individual who may not belong to a marginalized group but supports their struggles for equality.

A social status assigned to an individual from birth. It is not chosen and cannot easily be changed.

A social status assigned to an individual from birth. It is not chosen and cannot easily be changed.

“The process of adapting or adjusting to the culture of a group or nation, or the state of being so adapted” (“Assimilation,” n.d.).

A group of people or a person to whom we perform our identities.

The behaviour that we exhibit only when alone or around people we are close to and trust.

Fear, anger or resistance to a social ideology or actions intended to address social problems

A simple test to determine the representation and inclusion of well-rounded female characters in films and TV.

“Extremely large data sets that may be analysed computationally [by computers] to reveal patterns, trends, and associations, especially relating to human behaviour and interactions” (“Big data,” n.d.).

to think about issues from a broader perspective, considering multiple views and resources.

French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu (1986) wrote that there are three forms of capital. These forms of capital—economic, cultural, and social—work together to confer power and privilege on those who are lucky enough to have access to them. Economic capital is about having access to economic resources like income and wealth. Cultural and social capital, on the other hand, refer to having access to group memberships, relationships, networks, and cultural “knowledge” that produce and sustain privilege. Social capital is simply the people you know and their ability to offer you access to opportunities. Cultural capital is the type of cultural knowledge that allows you to comfortably “fit in” with people in positions of power and privilege that can offer you access to opportunities

A global economic system in which private people and companies own goods and property. The capitalists’ main aim is to produce goods to sell at a profit by keeping the cost of labour and resources low.

A cartel is formed when businesses agree to act together instead of competing with each other, all the while maintaining the illusion of competition. A cartel is a group of independent businesses whose concerted goal is to lessen or prevent competition” (Government of Canada, 2018).

Aid given to those in need. This could be done on an individual basis or it could involve an institution or organization engaged in relief services.

Refers to social and political relations among people who are considered to be community members. It can also refer to borders, passports, and nationalities that divide membership communities from the rest of the world. In the latter form, citizenship labels some people as “national members and others as national outsiders and limits the entry of those outsiders into the national territory” (Bosniak, 2006, p. 2450).

The concept of class refers to the relative location of a person or group within a given society based on wealth, power, prestige, or other valued markers of one’s position (status) within a social hierarchy. Class determines one’s access to rewards, resources, and opportunities, which, in turn, influence one’s level of education, income, occupation, housing, healthcare, and life expectancy. Traditionally, class has been divided into five categories: upper class; middle class; working class; working poor; and underclass.

A headline designed to grab the attention of viewers and entice them to follow the link to its source.

Online “awareness campaigns” that use the internet to rally support for causes with methods like petitions, “favoriting,” or re-posting content about social justice issues.

Online “awareness campaigns” that use the internet to rally support for causes with methods like petitions, “favoriting,” or re-posting content about social justice issues.

Organized group action towards a common goal.

Collective historical amnesia happens when members of a society conveniently forget their active role in exploitation and oppression of different groups of people.

The political, economic and cultural domination of one country over another group of people or nation. This can include taking land or resources.

Occurs when a new group of people migrates into a territory and then takes over and begins to control the Indigenous group. The settlers impose their own cultural values, religions, and laws, seizing land and controlling access to resources and trade.

The belief that racial categories should not be considered when examining everyday social relations (Richeson & Nussbaum, 2004).

“Competitive intelligence, sometimes referred to as corporate intelligence, refers to the ability to gather, analyze, and use information collected on competitors, customers, and other market factors that contribute to a business’s competitive advantage” (Bloomenthal, 2020).

The tendency to seek out perspectives that match our beliefs. We tend to favour facts that support our preconceived opinions and are less likely to believe facts that don’t support our perspectives. Also referred to as belief bias.

“An attempt to explain harmful or tragic events as the result of the actions of a small, powerful group. Such explanations reject the accepted narrative surrounding those events; indeed, the official version may be seen as further proof of the conspiracy” (Reid, n.d.).

An ideology that connects our happiness to the things we buy, own, and consume.

Belonging to all the world; not limited to just one part of the world. To be free from local, provincial, or national ideas, prejudices, or attachments.

Belonging to all the world; not limited to just one part of the world. To be free from local, provincial, or national ideas, prejudices, or attachments.

Discourses that question the “common-sense” ideas of dominant ideologies and dominant discourses. They draw attention to how dominant ideologies justify injustice and lead to inequality and discrimination.

Alternative ideas to dominant ideologies about how society should be run and organized. Generally, counter ideologies, and the counter discourses associated with them, articulate an alternative set of values and assumptions that are more inclusive, equitable, just, and less harmful.

Critical as used in this module does not mean negative. It means being mindful, aware, and analytical.

The ability to analyze and evaluate how media messages influence our beliefs and behaviours. In this process, viewers are not just recipients of media messages. They actively critique media content.

“A term for videos and presentations enhanced by artificial intelligence and other modern technology to present falsified results. One of the best examples of deepfakes involves the use of image processing to produce video of celebrities, politicians or others saying or doing things that they never actually said or did” (“Deepfake,” n.d.).

[in education] When students who fall behind are blamed for their failures. These students’ poor performance in school is linked to personal problems or deficiencies, or those of their family, or social or racial group.

On a basic level, it is the ability of citizens to participate in fair and open elections to choose their representatives in government. Another perspective argues that democracy must function beyond elections by involving citizens in ongoing government decisions that affect them.

How we speak of something. See dominant discourses and counter discourses, for examples.

The unjust or unfair treatment of different categories of people, especially based on their race, age, or sex.

“Information that is false and deliberately created to harm a person, social group, organisation or country” (UNESCO, 2021).

How the common-sense ideas, assumptions and values of dominant ideologies are communicated to us. Dominant discourses can be found in propaganda, cultural messages, and mass media.

Ideologies that are particularly influential in shaping our ideas, values, and beliefs because they are supported by powerful groups.

Refers to work that is part-time and/or temporary. Precarious employment means job insecurity, unpredictability in terms of schedule and income, limited control or autonomy as an employee, and lack of regulatory protections, benefits, and entitlements such as paid sick leave, a minimum wage, and protection against unfair dismissal (Goldring & Joly, 2014; Cranford et al., 2003).

Can be understood in terms of “sameness.” Equality is when all people, regardless of circumstance or characteristics, are treated in exactly the same way.

Can be understood in terms of “justice” and “fairness.” Equity recognizes that treating everyone the same can still be unfair. Equity focuses on the needs of society’s most under-resourced, oppressed, and disadvantaged people.

A perspective that assumes that aspects of our identities are innate. We are born with them, and they remain fundamentally unchanged throughout our lives.

The EU is an economic and political union involving 28 European countries. It allows free trade, which means goods can move between member countries with fewer restrictions or extra charges. The EU also allows free movement of people, to live and work in whichever EU member country they choose.

An ethical business model where producers and labourers are paid a living wage and work in safe and humane conditions, and products are made using environmentally sustainable methods.

False stories, usually online, that seem like genuine news and can be used to sway the opinion of the viewer.

Peoples indigenous to Canada who do not identify as Inuit or Métis. There are approximately 630 First Nations in Canada.

Peoples indigenous to Canada; includes First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

The behaviour that we exhibit when in public or around less-familiar acquaintances.

For neoliberals and neoconservatives, full employment occurs when inflation (constant increase in the price of goods and services occurring with a steady decline in purchasing power) rises and employers can find enough workers for the types of available jobs. So, it does not mean that everyone has a job as would occur in socialist economies.

“The attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person’s biological sex” (APA, 2012).

A gender identity that is not fixed to masculine or feminine.

A concept based on social justice principles and practices that seeks to build global interconnectedness and shared economic, environmental, and social responsibility.

The idea that the entire world is becoming more interconnected because of advances in technology. This makes it possible to deal with the world as if all areas of it were local.

The increasing integration of world economies, trade products, ideas, norms, and cultures in ways that affect all individuals as members of the global community (Albrow & King, 1990; Al-Rodhan & Stoudmann, 2006).

A bottom-up approach to social action, where community members at the local level are directly involved and encouraged to contribute to sustainable positive social change for their community.

Refers to the tensions that occur when activists, academics, and affected communities expose the oppressive and exploitative aspects of the social order.

The process of building consent through social practices where the ruling classes present their interests as the general interests of the society as a whole.

A system of increasing value that ranks people based on certain criteria.

Two key aspects of the self that allow a person to reflect on their actions and behaviours.

Related to ideology, which is a defined set of beliefs and ideas shared by a group of people.

A defined set of beliefs and ideas shared by a group of people. Ideologies provide members of a group with an understanding and an explanation of their world.

A catch-all term to describe the people who originally lived in an area. In Canada, this refers to First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.

Problems typically experienced by few people; problems that can be linked to individual misfortune. Individual problems may be resolved by individuals.

Not equal or the same or even. Often used to note the unfair differences in people’s circumstances.

Lacking equity; unfair and injust.

Social problems caused by institutions. Fixing the institution, it is believed, will resolve the problem.

Associations whose members share similar concerns and try to influence public policy to benefit themselves or their cause. Their goal could be a policy that benefits group members or one part of society (e.g. government subsidies for farmers) or a policy that has a broader public purpose (e.g. improving air quality). They attempt to achieve their goals by lobbying—which means applying pressure to the people who make the policies. Other names for interest groups are special interest groups or pressure groups (Thomas, 2017).

What happens when the colonized come to believe the message of inferiority and negative stereotypes that have been imposed by the colonizer. According to Frantz Fanon, internalized colonization is the major psychological effect of colonialism.

The transfer of resources such as money, goods, and/or expertise from a country or large organization to a recipient country in order to help them emerge from poverty. Also known as foreign aid or development.

The experience, or potential experience, of multiple forms of discrimination based on different aspects of our identities.

The experience, or potential experience, of multiple forms of discrimination based on the intersection of different social statuses.

A term used to refer to people whose biological sex characteristics do not fit into the typical definitions of male or female.

The theory that our ideas about our identity are formed through the way we imagine we are seen by others.

A social institution that involves channels of mass communication that reach a large audience.

The act of favouring one perspective over others by the creators of media messages.

A media company that owns many other media companies.

The process by which the ownership of media is concentrated into the hands of a small number of large corporations.

How mainstream media minoritizes groups and communities, as well as how it portrays ideas or topics from a particular ideological perspective.

The main idea or moral of the story that is communicated by the content and type of media, such as in a television show, an advertisement, a news article, a song, etc.

Government control of mass media through laws that may protect the public interest or promote competition among media outlets.

The way people, events, places, ideas, and stories are presented by the media. These presentations may reflect underlying ideologies and values.

Refers not just to words but also images, sounds, video, taken as a whole message.

A social order where people are ranked and rewarded based on their abilities with no consideration of contextual factors that may affect their performance (DeSario, 2003, p. 485).

An approach or framework used to make sense of phenomena, issues, or problems.

Experiencing discrimination and other disadvantages compared to members of the dominant group.

When applied to social media activity, to monetize is to generate revenue from web content, usually by attracting advertisers to the site.

The “practice of creating harmonious relations between different cultural groups as an ideology and policy to promote cultural diversity” (Anzovino & Boutilier, 2015, p. 3).

Legal membership in a country typically due to birth or naturalization, which comes with certain responsibilities towards the state and country in question. In exchange the state fulfills certain social responsibilities (access to healthcare, education, etc.) towards its citizens.

Refers to a set of shared values and myths of a nation or group. Nationalism can be political, cultural or racial. People who support a nationalist ideology believe their nation is superior to others. This can lead them to marginalizing those not belonging to the nation or group. They may even regard others as enemies and go to war or commit genocide under certain circumstances. Nationalists are inward looking and, therefore, opposed to internationalism or globalization unless it is favourable to their interests (Chet Singh, Centennial College).

In Canada, naturalization happens when an immigrant attains citizenship status. The basic requirements to obtaining a Canadian citizenship include permanent residency status, knowledge of English or French, and basic knowledge of the history and sociopolitical makeup of Canada. Naturalized citizens have the same rights as Canadian-born citizens, which include the right to vote, hold public office, and serve on a jury (Canada Statistics, 2011).

“A theory of political economic practices that proposes that human wellbeing can best be advanced by liberating individual entrepreneurial freedoms and skills within an institutional framework characterized by strong private property rights, free market, and free trade” (Harvey, 2007, p. 2).

“The concept that all data on the internet should be treated equally by corporations, such as internet service providers [ISPs], and governments, regardless of content, user, platform, application or device” (Kenton, 2020).

Social expectations about attitudes, values, and beliefs.

The name of the popular uprising after the banks that caused the financial crash of 2008 were bailed out with public money. It exposed the influence of the wealthy on government’s economic, environmental, labour, and human rights policies.

Refers to institutional policies, procedures, practices, and norms that create and sustain inequality and injustice. It also involves attitudes and ideas such as stereotyping and prejudices; as well as actions and behaviours such as discrimination.

A term coined by Edward Said that refers how countries in the West define the people from the East without their input.

Media platforms where the audience plays an active role in collecting, reporting and sharing information.

Refers to the prejudices, stereotypes and biases that affect how you see the world.

“A set of ideas or a plan of what to do in particular situations that has been agreed to officially by a group of people, a business organization, a government, or a political party” (“Policies,” n.d.).

The ability to construct how ideas or groups are represented through the organization of meaning (e.g. whether one describes a particular armed person as a terrorist or a freedom fighter). In other words, having power means setting the terms and conditions within which people and groups are able to act in a particular context.

Social stratification is created and maintained through power and privilege. In a stratified society, dominant group members have the greatest degree of power, meaning they can make decisions, influence outcomes, and establish dominant ideologies. They can also use their position of power to develop laws and policies that benefit them and sway public opinion to maintain the status quo, which is overwhelmingly skewed in their favour. Privilege allows dominant groups to maintain and pass on this control to others like them. Privilege is gained through unearned power that gives dominant group members economic, social, and political advantage. Those who are privileged therefore have opportunities, resources, rights, choices, and freedoms that are denied to others.

The market for jobs that are contract, part-time, low wage, without benefits, security, or union protection. Increasingly common, these types of jobs are unable to meet the basic needs of workers, who are forced to rely on food banks and inadequate shelter, which affect their material and psychological well-being.

Refers to work that is part-time and/or temporary. Precarious employment means job insecurity, unpredictability in terms of schedule and income, limited control or autonomy as an employee, and lack of regulatory protections, benefits, and entitlements such as paid sick leave, a minimum wage, and protection against unfair dismissal (Goldring & Joly, 2014; Cranford et al., 2003).

A “preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience” (“Prejudice,” n.d.).

A “preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience” (“Prejudice,” n.d.).

A form of social honour, or respect, that is valued by society or particular groups, and placed on people based on their social status.

Online “profiling” is collecting information about internet users by tracking their online behaviour, including which sites they visit, comments they post and purchases they make. This reveals their interests, preferences, opinions and biases, information that is valuable to both advertisers and political interest groups—including those that produce fake news.

Items, such as pencils, books, and computers, which play a role in our performances to other people. Props help people understand who you are and the social status you hold.

The opinion or attitude of the majority of people regarding a particular matter (“Public opinion,” 2020).

Categorizing people based on identified or perceived characteristics such as the colour of skin. Race must be understood in the context of history, politics, and geography. It is not a biological category, and it is often used to group people, assign them social roles, and associate them with a specific social status.

The process of creating, preserving, and communicating a system of dominance based on race.

Prejudice and discrimination based on race.

“A vote in which all the people in a country or an area are asked to give their opinion about or decide an important political or social question” (“Referendum,” n.d.).

A portrayal or re-presentation of something. In other words, a depiction or description meant to “stand in the place of” and “stand for” the original, but not the original itself (Hall, 1997, p. 16).

“(in Canada) A government-supported boarding school for children from Inuit and other Indigenous communities” (“Residential school,” n.d.).

“(in Canada) A government-supported boarding school for children from Inuit and other Indigenous communities” (“Residential school,” n.d.).

Refers to individual and/or collective acts to change inequality, oppression and injustice in society. It can be organized, spontaneous or symbolic.

An Indigenous-based healing and peacemaking process that tries to bring together victims, offenders, and the community in order to get to the bottom of a problem and restore balance and harmony for everyone involved and impacted.

Right-wing and left-wing represent contrasting approaches to political and social change. Left-wing views welcome change that will create more equitable conditions in society. They support a greater role for government and are collectivist—in other words, they give priority to the group over the individual. Social democrats and feminists would be considered to have left-wing ideologies. Right-wing thinking favours the individual over the group, and it sees equality as undesirable and unattainable. Right-wingers resist change and support the existing social order. They tend to believe in capitalism and that the government should not interfere in people’s lives. Conservatism and neoconservatism are examples of right-wing thinking (Chet Singh, Centennial College).

The social and behavioural expectations assigned to different social statuses, or positions in society.

A process through which bias is expressed in the news, where editors may choose to share only some details of a story, while ignoring others.

A process by which you become aware of your blind spots and perceptual filters such as your ideologies, biases, stereotypes, and common-sense assumptions. It also requires understanding how your social identities potentially provide you with advantages or disadvantages.

The use in media of shocking or exciting headlines and content to attract readers, with little or no regard for facts or accuracy. News that is sensationalized is designed to trigger emotion. This will often generate more interest than fact-based news that appeals to reason.

The physical environment and the location in which we act.

A term “used to describe the biological and anatomical differences between male and female” (Murray et al., 2014, p. 336).

To separate something or someone from other things or people.

Action by an individual or group of people directed towards creating a better society. Social action often involves interactions with other individuals or groups, especially organized action with the goal of social reform.

Ways to bring about systemic change. Evolve from community and grassroots-based organizing and can involve:

• Awareness-raising strategies such as education and research, teach-ins, organizing and collaborating with other groups.
• Negotiation such as bargaining for changes in policies, practices and laws.
• Non-cooperation such as strikes and boycotts.
• Direct action/civil disobedience such as as disruption of services, protests, blockades, boycotts, riots, and confrontation. In rare historical moments it can also involve revolution.

A perspective that argues that our identities are the product of society and culture, and are always changing.

Describes how our identities are the product of the interplay between individual, cultural, and social structures.

A commerce model that combines the principles of business with the objectives of social action and charity

Established areas, organizations, or groups of organizations within a society that coordinate our actions and interactions with each other. Examples include: the economy, the political system, family, education, religion, mass media, and the law.

The full and equal participation of all groups in an egalitarian society, where people’s needs are met, and members are physically and psychologically safe (Bell, 2007, p. 1). Social justice aims to address inequities by changing the structural and root cause(s) of social problems.

A group of people with a common ideology who try to achieve common goals. Social movements can also be described as organized groups of people who may encourage or discourage social change.

Problems that affect groups of people and are caused by how society is structured and organized. Social problems are particular to specific societies and times. Solutions to these problems are beyond the reach of any single individual.

The position or ranking a person has in relation to others within society.

The hierarchical arrangement of social groups based on their control over basic resources, such as housing, jobs, healthcare, etc.

The arrangement of social institutions into relatively stable patterns of social relations. The way a society is organized.

The process by which we come to understand different social statuses and their roles, or behavioural expectations, through interactions with others.

An approach developed by C. Wright Mills that links everyday problems individuals experience to the greater context of social issues in order to understand the roots of those social issues.

A perspective adopted by a person based on their specific individual experiences and circumstances.

“A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person” or group (“Stereotype,” n.d.).

The effect of negative stereotypes on an individual’s performance or behaviour.

When two or more media companies work together to produce and control one brand.

Systemic, as used in this course, describes something that is embedded within the structure of society or the larger economic capitalist system. Changing it requires changing the system.

Problems caused by how society is structured and organized. Understanding social problems as systemic/structural problems acknowledges that resolving them is incredibly difficult but creating change through social action (based on the principles of global citizenship) is meaningful and can be long-lasting.

Organizations that produce research based on particular political principles. Think tanks have a variety of political views and so provide a variety of perspectives.

In the world of online data, a third party is a company or organization that gathers or purchases information about online users, often without their knowledge or consent.

The “practice of including one or a small number of members of a minority group to create the appearance of representation, inclusion, and non-discrimination, without ever giving these members access to power” (Anzovino & Boutilier, 2015).

An Indigenous term that describes the sexuality, gender and/or spiritual identity of people who identify as having both a masculine and feminine spirit (Re:searching for LGBTQ2S+ Health, 2020).

Advantages gained by virtue of one’s social status.

The control of two or more stages of media production by one media company.

“Spreading or becoming popular very quickly through communication from one person to another, especially on the internet” (“Viral,” n.d.).

The action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one’s good character or the moral correctness of one’s position on a particular issue.

“The Employment Equity Act defines visible minorities as ‘persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.’ The visible minority population [in Canada] consists mainly of the following groups: South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Arab, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese” (Statistics Canada, 2020).

Taken-for-granted power and a system of benefits, advantages, and opportunities experienced by white persons simply because of the colour of their skin.

The social ideology used to justify colonization. Positions white people as superior to non-white people.

Refers to members of the workforce who work full-time, but don’t make enough money for food and shelter. Consequently, they live below the poverty line and rely on food banks and other sources to survive.