Sociology

Hippie: 1960s Counterculture Movement and Cultural Legacy Hippie Hippies were members of a 1960s counterculture originating in the United States, recognized for alternative lifestyles, antiwar and civil rights activism, communal living, music, a…

Hipster (contemporary subculture) Contemporary hipster culture: a loosely defined urban subculture associated with independent music, vintage fashion, artisanal food, and alternative lifestyles; rooted in earlier c…

Homosociality: same-sex social bonds and their social roles Homosociality Homosociality describes non-romantic same-sex social bonds—friendship, mentorship, solidarity—and the social patterns and institutions that emerge from those relationships across h…

Hunger strike Nonviolent protest in which individuals refuse food to press demands, often used by prisoners and political activists; raises medical, ethical and legal issues including force-feed…

Industrial relations (labor relations) Industrial relations Study of relationships between employers, workers and institutions that govern work — including unions, collective bargaining, labour law and workplace conflict resolution.

Industrial society: development, features and global significance Industrial society An overview of industrial societies: how mechanized production, urbanization, and division of labour transformed economies, social life and the environment from the Industrial Revo…

Industrialisation: origins, features, impacts and modern forms Industrialisation Industrialisation is the historical shift from hand production to machine-based manufacturing, reshaping economies, work, cities and technology across successive waves from the 18t…

Infidelity: Definition, Forms, Causes, and Social Responses Infidelity Infidelity: breach of agreed sexual or emotional exclusivity in a partnership. Overview of types (sexual, emotional, online), prevalence, cultural and legal responses, causes, cons…

Influence: How People, Events and Ideas Shape Thoughts and Behavior Influence A concise encyclopedia overview of social influence: definition, mechanisms (conformity, persuasion, authority), historical examples, applications in politics, marketing and public…

Interpersonal relationships: nature, types, and social importance Interpersonal relationship Overview of interpersonal relationships, their characteristics, development, types, and role in individual well‑being and society. Covers study across disciplines and key distincti…

Intersectionality: Understanding Overlapping Forms of Social Inequality Intersectionality Intersectionality is a framework for analyzing how multiple social identities interact to create distinct modes of disadvantage and privilege across law, policy, institutions, and…

Isithembu — polygyny in parts of southern Africa Isithembu Isithembu is a Nguni-language term for polygyny practiced in parts of southern Africa. This article explains its forms, cultural roles, historical development, legal recognition, a…

Issei: first-generation Japanese immigrants and their communities Issei Issei (一世, “first generation”) denotes people born in Japan who emigrated, especially to the Americas. The term distinguishes generational experiences, language, identity and socia…

Jaat (Jat): Northern South Asian agricultural community Jaat Jaat (also Jat or Jatt) is a historically agrarian community found across northern India and Pakistan, organized into clans, varied by religion and region, and noted for its role i…

Kapo — prisoner functionary in Nazi concentration camps Kapo Kapos were prisoner functionaries appointed by the SS to supervise other inmates in Nazi concentration camps. They occupied a coercive, morally fraught position with duties, privil…

Kayastha: origins, social role, and regional varieties Kayastha Kayastha are a historic Indian social community traditionally associated with writing, administration and record‑keeping. This article outlines origins, regional groups, occupation…

Kibbutz: Israel's Cooperative Communal Settlements Kibbutz A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel, historically agricultural and rooted in socialist and Zionist ideals; many have diversified into industry, services and tourism while…

Kinsey Reports: landmark studies of human sexual behavior Kinsey Reports Two influential mid-20th century books by Alfred Kinsey and colleagues that surveyed human sexual practices, challenged norms, and reshaped sex research while drawing debate over m…

Kinship: social bonds, structures, and cultural roles Kinship An overview of kinship: the social system that organizes relationships by birth, marriage, and affiliation, its types, cultural variations, functions, and key distinctions in anthr…

Koreans in Japan (Zainichi): history, status, and community life Koreans in Japan An overview of Koreans in Japan (Zainichi): origins, legal status, organizations, cultural life, and contemporary issues facing this long-established minority community.

Languages of Singapore Overview of Singapore's multilingual landscape: official languages, colloquial varieties like Singlish, historical influences, education policy, and contemporary social roles.

Leadership: Concepts, Types, and Importance Leadership An accessible overview of leadership: core elements, common styles, historical development, applications, and how leadership differs from management and power.

Lesbian feminism: history, ideas, and cultural impact Lesbian feminism Lesbian feminism is a political and cultural movement that centers lesbian identity within feminist critique, emerging in the 1970s and influencing activism, theory, and women’s cu…

LGBT community: identity, history, organizations, and contemporary issues LGBT community Overview of the LGBT community, its characteristics, historical development, types of organizations and spaces, and contemporary challenges and distinctions within and around it.

Lifestyle: definition, components, history, and social importance Lifestyle Lifestyle describes the patterns of behavior, habits, values and choices that define how individuals or groups live. It spans health, consumption, identity and social context and i…

List of notable feminists and movements List of feminists Overview of persons commonly identified as feminists, the movements they influenced, and the variety of ideas and categories associated with feminism.

Romanian Social Scientists: Overview and Notable Figures List of Romanian social scientists Survey of Romania’s social science tradition: key schools, influential scholars (sociology, economics, political science, anthropology), historical development, and lasting contrib…

Mass suicide Collective act in which a group of people deliberately end their own lives together; typically driven by shared beliefs, coercion, crisis, or political and military motives.

Matriarchy: social systems centered on female kinship and authority Matriarchy Matriarchy describes social arrangements where descent, inheritance or leadership emphasize female lines or senior women. The term overlaps with matriliny, matrifocality and remain…

Member (person belonging to a group) Member A member is an individual who belongs to an organized group or collective. The term covers roles, rights, responsibilities, membership types, and social or legal dimensions across…

Millennials (Generation Y): definition, traits, history and societal impact Millennials Millennials, or Generation Y, are commonly defined as people born roughly between 1980 and 1996. This article explains common date ranges, social context, defining traits, demograp…

Minority group — definition, types, legal protection, and social dynamics Minority group An overview of minority (subordinate) groups: concepts, common types, social characteristics, legal recognition and protections, and key distinctions in majority–minority relations…

Mob (crowd, gangs, and collective behavior) Mob A 'mob' denotes a crowd or group acting collectively, often with connotations of disorder, criminal gangs, organized crime ('the Mob'), workplace mobbing, or street-gang membership…

Mobbing: group harassment, workplace bullying and social exclusion Mobbing Mobbing is group-directed hostile behavior—repeated, organized social attack or exclusion—seen in workplaces, schools and online. Covers causes, signs, effects, prevention and how…

Mobster (member of organized crime) Mobster A mobster is an individual who belongs to an organized criminal group, often associated with the mafia; the term is informal and covers a range of roles, activities, and cultural d…

Modernization (social, economic, and institutional transformation) Modernization Modernization is the long-term process by which societies shift from agrarian, traditional structures to urbanized, industrial, and institutionally complex systems, reshaping econo…

Multiculturalism: cultural diversity and social policy Multiculturalism Overview of multiculturalism: meanings, historical roots, typical features, policy approaches, benefits and challenges, and contemporary debates about inclusion, rights and social…

Multiculturalism in Canada: Origins, Policy, and Social Effects Multiculturalism in Canada A concise overview of Canada's official multiculturalism: its origins, legal framework, social characteristics, policy tools, debates, and distinctions including Indigenous perspec…

Neighbour (neighbor): definition, community roles, and social aspects Neighbour A neighbour is someone who lives near you. This article explains types of neighbours, neighbourhoods, social interactions, historical change, and common issues in different communi…

Nisei: second-generation Japanese immigrants Nisei Nisei are the U.S., Canadian, and Latin American children of Japanese-born immigrants. This article explains the term, historical context, cultural traits, wartime experiences, and…

Nobility: social class, ranks, history, and modern legacy Nobility Nobility: the social class traditionally holding hereditary rank, land, and privileges under monarchies; its origins in feudal systems, typical roles, ranks, and modern legal statu…

Northern Sotho (Sesotho sa Leboa) Northern Sotho language Northern Sotho (Sesotho sa Leboa) is a cluster of related Bantu varieties spoken mainly in South Africa's Limpopo province; it is one of South Africa's eleven official languages.

Oi! — British working‑class punk subgenre Oi! Oi! is a street‑level punk subgenre that arose in late 1970s Britain, known for direct, chantable songs, working‑class themes, and a musical blend of punk, pub rock and football ch…

Old age Overview of old age: its defining features, common health and social changes, cultural roles, care needs, history of perceptions, and common misconceptions about later life.

Oppression: causes, forms, history, and responses Oppression Oppression is the systematic exercise of power that harms or limits people. This article explains what oppression is, how it operates, its causes, historical patterns, effects, and…

Organized crime: structure, activities, history, and social effects Organized crime Organized crime comprises coordinated groups that carry out persistent illegal enterprises for profit, power, or influence. This article summarizes organization, activities, develo…

Orgy: meanings, history and contemporary context Orgy An overview of the term 'orgy', covering its etymology, historical religious rites, modern usage as group sex or excessive revelry, legal and health considerations, and cultural re…

Participant Observation: Ethnographic Immersion and Field Research Methods Participant observation Participant observation is a qualitative research approach in which a researcher lives with or joins a group to document social life, produce ethnography, and understand behavior f…