Basics- Sociological Theories Flashcards
What does functionalism say?
The individual is the product of society
What does Durkheim say?
Society is made up of various institutions and each has a useful function
What kind of theory is functionalism?
A structural theory as they look at how society is structured
What do functionalists look at?
How institutions in society work and how they affect individuals
What are some examples of social institutions and their functions?
- The family- function of socialising children
- Education- function of preparing young people for adult society
- Religion- function of uniting society through shared beliefs
Why are the social institutions structured as the are?
They allow society to run as smoothly as possible
How do interactionists (interpretivists) criticise functionalists?
Functionalists don’t focus enough on the individual
How do Marxists criticise functionalists?
Functionalism ignores the unequal power of some groups, society is structured to serve the interests of the rich rather than to keep society ticking along as smoothly as possible
What does Marxism say?
The individual is the product of economic forces
What does Marx focus on?
The effects of capitalism, society’s economic system (infrastructure) influences its non-economic institutions (superstructure) which determines society’s beliefs and values
What do Marxists believe is the most important force in society?
Class conflict
Why are workers employed in capitalist societies?
To produce goods which are sold by their employers at a profit and most of this money is kept by the employer, only some of this money ends up in the workers’ wages
What would happen if workers were to notice the unfairness of the system?
They would revolt
How does capitalism avoid revolution?
Shapes the superstructure to make sure workers accept their lot in life
What do social institutions (family, education, religion) do according to Marxists?
Lead individual into accepting the inequalities of capitalism
What are the 2 social classes that Marx believes that society is divided into?
Bourgeoisie and proletariat
What is the bourgeoisie?
Ruling class, minority with all the money and power
What is the proletariat?
Working class, majority with little or no power
What is neo-Marxism?
- 20th century version of Marxism
- Developed to be more relevant to the modern world
- Focus on ideology
- Study how ideology is communicated and enforced by the ruling class to maintain power
What is ideology?
A set of ideas and beliefs about how things should be
What do feminists say?
Women are oppressed by men
What do feminists believe?
Society is patriarchal and there are many inequalities in society based on gender
What are the different strands of feminism?
Liberal feminism, radical feminism and Marxist feminism
What do liberal feminists want?
Equal rights and opportunities for women
What do liberal feminists believe?
Introducing more opportunities for women into the existing structures of society is the best way to bring about equality
What do radical feminists believe?
- Society is structured to oppress women and society itself needs to change
- There is an imbalance of power in all relationships and all women are always expected to be subservient to all men
What do Marxist feminists believe?
Women are exploited by capitalist societies which are run by men
How do radical feminists criticise liberal feminists?
They don’t acknowledge that all relationships are patriarchal and not just institutions
What do interactionists say?
Individual actions are most important
What do action theories say?
- Society is actually determined by the behaviour and interaction of individuals
- They emphasise the action of individuals
What do interactionist theories say?
All individuals interpret society around them and culture comes from people’s own ideas of how people interact with each other
How do interactionists suggest that structures aren’t important?
- Each of us respond to social structures in our own way
- We have free will and make choices
- Results of individual choice can be large-scale social change
What does Gershuny’s interactionist analysis of gender roles in the home?
- Some women decided they wanted to work outside the home (individual choice)
- Male partners took on more childcare and housework, became acceptable for men to adopt ‘feminine’ roles in the family (large-scale social change)
How do Marxists criticise interactionists?
Interactionists don’t pay enough attention to conflict or the fact that some social groups are more powerful than others
How do functionalists criticise interactionists?
They don’t acknowledge the importance of the socialisation process
How is the New Right similar to functionalism?
- Consensus structuralism
- Society needs values and institutions to maintain social order
What do New Right theorists focus on?
Family, education, welfare
What do New Right theorists say is the most important social institution?
The nuclear family, traditional roles within the nuclear family are crucial to maintain social order
What does Murray say?
Traditional family is under threat which has led to a decline in moral standards and the breakdown of society
How do feminists disagree with the New Right?
The ideas of traditional roles in the family are oppressive to women and reinforce a patriarchal society
What is modernism?
- A period of industrialisation and urbanisation that began with the Industrial Revolution when rational and scientific thinking was valued
- Theories include Marxism and functionalism
- Also known as ‘metanarratives’ (big, all-encompassing stories that explain why things are as they are)
What do postmodernists say?
- Society has moved on from modernism
- No longer ordered and structured in the same way
- Society is a lot more flexible
- Increased globalisation
How do functionalists disagree with postmodernists?
Postmodernism ignores the role of institutions
How do interactionists disagree with postmodernists?
Postmodernism ignores how individual interact
How do Marxists disagree with postmodernists?
Postmodernism ignores all inequalities
