SOCIOLOGY OF STARBUCKSAdrian Reid & Marla Blevins

SOCIAL & PHYSICAL SETTING Public space open to

friendly conversations. Modern coffee shop

that is a chain of different shops.

Artistic and natural surroundings with a modern feel.

Set up to make you feel like you are at home in front of your own fireplace.

WHAT ARE THE CULTURAL SYMBOLS AND ASSOCIATE MEANINGS?

We know this to be specifically Starbucks because of the branded logo and that people are coming and going

and enjoying coffee. You know what the different selection of coffees and

pastries are by the menu selection.

WHAT SOCIAL STATUES ARE INVOLVED?

Customers such as business men,

college students, moms meeting and talking over coffee and workers who are making the

coffee.

WHAT ROLE BEHAVIORS ARE REQUIRED AND ALLOWED FOR THE ROLE OF EACH STATUS?

For workers they are expected to be prompt and polite with the wide range of customers that enter in the establishment.

College students, business men, and moms on the go are expected to respect the workers.

Ethnicity tends to be just middle class Caucasian customers simply because of the region of Tennessee this Starbucks is located in.

Gender typically has been more women then men except for the few business men and college student.

HOW DO SOCIAL ACTORS INTERACT AT SOCIAL SCENE?

Customers interact with the workers by giving their orders and handing them their form of payment, cash or card.

Workers interact with other workers to make sure the orders are correctly filled.

Workers also interact by having regular attending customers who have become like family.

Customers interact with each other by talking over their coffee.

HOW DO SOCIAL ACTORS NEGOTIATE THEIR ROLES AND MAXIMIZE THEIR SOCIAL POSITIONS?

The only way the workers could maximize their social position is by becoming the manager of the store or owning the store.

Customers are stuck in their role of being the customer because they are there to be served not to move up in their role as a customer.

WHAT IS THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS(SOCIAL CLASS) ON THE INTERACTION?

Class system seems to be for more of the Middle/ Upper class because of the

high priced coffee and pastries.

HOW DO CHANGES IMPACT INTERACTION?

Changes in the environment would not exist since Starbucks is always consistent with the “feeling” they are presenting via the in-store experience.

Change in social interaction would change based on how busy the coffee shop was and if and when it was closed.