ELI5: Mores and folkways
I was browsing through past exam papers when I came across the two terms. I'm taking a politics-ish module but I've no background in sociology and I believe mores and folkways are concepts associated with sociology? I've done some research but I still don't understand the topic plus we haven't covered it in class. So can someone kindly explain? Thanks in advance!
Posted Oct 12, 2014, 1:45 AM UTC
01
A more is a socially enforced pattern of thought or behavior, rather than a legally enforced rule. For example: children are supposed to call teacher by 'Ms.' or 'Mrs.' or 'Mr.' even though it's nowhere in the handbook, churchgoers are expected to dress nicely for church as a sign of respect even though it is unlikely they will be asked to leave, patron in the US are expected to tip their servers even though there is no legal repercussion for not doing so.
A folkway is a common cultural occurrence or expectation with no strong social enforcement, more take-it-or-leave-it than a more. For example, women wear high heels to formal events but are not frowned upon for wearing flats, there are well-known guidelines for how to arrange silverware and place settings but most people don't get offended if you don't follow them, ties are considered professional and bow ties formal, but no one really minds if you wear a bowtie to work or a tie to a wedding.
Obviously some people feel strongly about some things and others about other things, so it's a sociological phenomenon, not an individually occurring one. YOU might care if I ear a bowtie to work, but it's still generally a folkway.