Sociology

Cultural assimilation: processes, history and contemporary perspectives Cultural assimilation Overview of cultural assimilation: its forms, historical roles, mechanisms, effects on language and identity, distinctions from related concepts, and contemporary policy debates.

Cyberbullying: definition, forms, effects and responses Cyberbullying Overview of cyberbullying: methods, common forms, psychological and social impacts, prevalence, legal and educational responses, and practical prevention strategies for individuals…

Cyberstalking: definition, tactics, effects, and prevention Cyberstalking Cyberstalking is the repeated use of digital communications to harass, intimidate, monitor, or threaten someone. This article explains behaviors, impacts, legal issues, and steps f…

Cycle of Abuse A behavioral model describing repeating phases in many abusive relationships, developed by Lenore Walker in the 1970s; influential for practice but not a universal or deterministic…

Dalit: Social identity, history, and contemporary significance Dalit Dalit denotes communities historically subjected to caste-based exclusion in South Asia. The term encompasses social, political and cultural movements for equality, legal reforms a…

Dating: purpose, forms, history and modern practices Dating Overview of dating as a social practice: purposes, common forms, historical development, modern online services, cultural differences, safety, and related movements.

Debutante: social introduction of young women into adult society Debutante Overview of the debutante tradition: origins, ceremonies, regional variations, dress, modern adaptations, social significance and controversies.

Deindustrialization: causes, consequences and historical patterns Deindustrialization Deindustrialization is the decline of industrial activity in a region or economy, often marked by shrinking manufacturing employment, plant closures and structural shifts toward se…

Demographics: The Study of Population Characteristics and Trends Demographics Demographics are statistical profiles of human populations that describe characteristics, changes, and distributions. They inform sociology, planning, business, public policy, and…

Demographics of Russia Overview of Russia's population: size and distribution, ethnic and religious composition, age structure, urbanization, historical trends, migration, and policy responses.

Demography — Study of Human Populations and Their Change Demography Demography is the systematic study of human populations: their size, structure, distribution and change through births, deaths, migration and social processes.

Diaspora: communities dispersed from ancestral homelands Diaspora Diaspora describes populations living outside their historical homeland. The term covers many voluntary and forced movements, distinctive community practices, historical examples,…

Bullying of people with disabilities Disability bullying Bullying of people with disabilities is repeated behavior that exploits power differences, occurring in schools, workplaces and online; it causes social, educational and health har…

Dissident: definition, forms, history, and contemporary significance Dissident A dissident opposes prevailing opinions, policies, or institutions. This article explains types of dissidence, common methods, historical examples, and distinctions from related co…

Endogamy: definitions, history, forms, and social effects Endogamy Endogamy is the social rule or practice of marrying within a defined group (religious, ethnic, class, or kin). This article covers types, mechanisms, historical patterns, consequen…

Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold — perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold carried out the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Colorado, killing 13 people, wounding 24, and then committing suicide. The attack prompted last…

Ethnic group A social group whose members share common cultural traits, ancestry, language or identity. Ethnic groups can cross borders, be majority or minority, and are recognized in law and s…

Etiquette: Social Conduct, Manners, and Cultural Variation Etiquette Etiquette is the customary code of polite behavior that governs interactions in social, professional, and public settings; it changes across cultures, classes, and historical perio…

Exogamy: social rule of marrying outside one's group Exogamy Exogamy is the practice or rule of marrying (or forming a long-term partnership) outside a defined social, kinship, ethnic, religious, or geographic group. It serves social, politi…

Fairness: Meaning, Principles, History, and Practical Implications Fairness An overview of fairness: definitions, core principles, historical ideas, applications in law, education and sport, and the distinction between equality, equity and desert.

Family (social unit) Family An organized overview of the family as a basic social unit: definitions, forms, roles, history, legal and cultural variations, and contemporary changes.

Feminism: history, principles, movements, and contemporary debates Feminism Feminism is a broad social and political movement advocating gender equality and challenging systems that produce unequal rights and opportunities. It includes diverse theories, hi…

Feminization of poverty The trend by which women experience higher rates and deeper burdens of poverty than men, driven by economic, social, and legal factors and shaped by age, family status and race.

Filipinos: People, language, culture, and global presence Filipinos An overview of Filipinos: identity, languages, cultural influences, history, religion, and the global Filipino community.

Free love: history, ideas, and modern forms Free love Free love is a social and political stance favoring sexual freedom, bodily autonomy, and voluntary relationships independent of marriage or state control.

Gang (social groups, youth groups, and criminal organizations) Gang A gang is a group of people who associate for common purposes. The term ranges from benign social groups to organized criminal networks, defined by membership, identity, and shared…

Gang rape: overview, dynamics, legal responses and survivor support Gang rape Gang rape is sexual assault by multiple perpetrators. This article explains definitions, dynamics, prevalence, legal challenges, impacts on victims, and prevention and support meas…

Gangster (member of organized crime) Gangster An overview of gangsters: definitions, typical organization and activities, historical development, legal response, and cultural portrayals of criminals who act within organized ga…

Gay bar (LGBT social and cultural venues) Gay bar A gay bar is a drinking and social venue that primarily serves lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patrons; historically a safe space, cultural hub, and site of community organi…

Gay bashing Intentional harassment or violence directed at people because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity; includes bullying, assault, and online abuse and h…

Gender performativity (Butlerian theory) Gender performativity A concise introduction to gender performativity: the idea that gender is constituted through repeated social acts and styles. Origins, key concepts, examples, political implication…

Gender role: social expectations, history, and cultural variation Gender role An overview of gender roles: their social meaning, historical development, cultural differences, expressions, and debates about causes and change.

Generation (family, social cohort, and technological waves) Generation A generation groups individuals or creations by the time they originate. Covers family-line generations, demographic cohorts, biological replacement, and successive versions in tec…

Generation X: profile, traits, history and notable figures Generation X Generation X (Gen X) refers to people born roughly from the mid‑1960s to the early 1980s. This article outlines common date ranges, cultural traits, historical context, influence a…

Generation Z — overview, characteristics, history and societal impact Generation Z Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) are typically those born c.1997–2012. Known as digital natives, they influence culture, work, politics and markets; this article summarizes traits,…

Gentry: the landowning social class below the aristocracy Gentry Gentry refers to families of gentle birth and property who historically ranked below the aristocracy. This article covers origins, roles, distinctions, and how the gentry changed f…

Ghetto: origins, historical uses, and contemporary meanings Ghetto Ghetto: historically the segregated Jewish quarter in Venice, later used for forced or segregated urban districts. Today it denotes concentrated poverty, racial or ethnic segregati…

Gosei (fifth-generation Nikkei) Gosei refers to fifth-generation descendants of Japanese emigrants (Nikkei), primarily in the Americas, and denotes patterns of cultural change, language, identity and demographic…

Gossip: social behavior, history, effects, and distinctions Gossip Gossip: informal talk about others’ private affairs—its forms, social functions, history, impacts in personal life, workplaces and media, and how it differs from rumor, slander, or…

Goth subculture: origins, style, music, and cultural influence Goth subculture A concise, neutral overview of the goth subculture: its origins, aesthetic and musical traits, community life, common misconceptions, and cultural significance.

Group (social unit) Group A group is a collection of people who interact, share norms and goals, and form a unit of social life. This article explains types, characteristics, development, uses, and distinct…

Group home: shared residential care for people with support needs Group home A group home is a shared private residence that provides housing and daily support to unrelated people who need supervision, rehabilitation, or long‑term assistance while living in…

Happy slapping: trend of filmed assaults and its social impact Happy slapping Happy slapping refers to attacks filmed for amusement or sharing. It typically involves unprovoked physical assaults recorded on mobile devices; media, legal and community response…

Hate group: definition, characteristics, history and legal responses Hate group Overview of hate groups: what they are, common traits and tactics, historical examples, legal responses including international prohibitions, and their social impact and distinctio…

Hate groups in the United States An overview of hate groups in the U.S.: definitions, common characteristics, historical background, monitoring and legal context, and approaches to prevention and response.

Heteronormativity Heteronormativity is a social framework that assumes heterosexuality and binary gender as the default, shaping institutions, expectations, and the treatment of people with other se…

Heterosexism: definition, social effects, and distinctions Heterosexism Heterosexism is a system of beliefs and practices that privileges heterosexual relationships and identities, shaping institutions, culture, and everyday interactions to the detrime…

Heterosociality: social relationships between people of opposite sex or gender Heterosociality Heterosociality describes social interactions and relationships between people of the opposite sex or gender, including friendships, intimacy, and developmental roles across settin…