Chapter 2

Question 1

Theory

Answer 1

a set of ideas designed to explain something being observed.

• In sociology: our social world is under observation. This includes things we observe about individuals, groups, organizations, cultures, nations, and global trends.

Question 2

Sociological theory

Answer 2

A sociological theory is built around information that has been systematically gathered, and is meant to go beyond our own individual experience.

Question 3

Microsociology

Answer 3

sociological study that focuses mainly on the study of individuals or small groups.

Question 4

Macrosociology

Answer 4

sociological study that focuses mainly on large-scale patterns, including society as a whole.

Question 5

Canon

Answer 5

a canon refers to a collection of works that are considered the most important and genuine, such as the canon of work of a musician or author.

Question 6

Canon in Sociology

Answer 6

Canon: Important works. Mainly made of founders of sociology (classical theorists) work, their ideas guide study of sociology.

• Most say: Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Max Weber in sociology canon.
• But sociology founded on more than the ppl above.

Question 7

Excluded canon marginalized voices

Answer 7

women, minorities.
- Harriet Martineau
- Marianne Weber
- W.E.B. Du Bois
- Anna Julia Cooper

Question 8

Harriet Martineau

Answer 8

contemporary of some early social thinkers.

• published important works and engaged in theory-building research.
• authored book about methods to study social world.
• first feminist social scientist, one of first sociologists.
• her work was known to others in the discipline: her translation of Comte was so good that Comte assigned it to students instead of his own work.

Question 9

Marianne Weber - Max Weber’s wife

Answer 9

• leader of feminist organizations.
• published own work
• granted honorary doctorate
• central to having Max Weber’s work published after his death.
• well known in German intellectual circles
• active in political and social reform

Question 10

Marginalization of women’s voices:

Answer 10

Women’s voices were more excluded because they were excluded from key centres of knowledge production: universities.

A change in the discipline may have also produced a shift away from the work of female scholars.
- The period after some of the early founders was marked by a move toward objectivity (impartial, unbiased observations) rather than advocacy (taking a stand for a particular cause).

• Sociology began to prioritize scientific work and value-free science (objective research).
• Early women founders tended to focus on social change or advocacy, that’s why their work fell out of favor.

Question 11

W.E.B. Du Bois

Answer 11

historian, first Black person to earn a PhD from Harvard.

• taught in sociology, history, and economics.
• One of the first to articulate the impact of race on Black experiences in America, especially regarding slavery.
• Developed concepts related to inequality, racial discrimination, identity, and criminology.
• Aid in formation of NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).

Question 12

Anna Julia Cooper

Answer 12

black woman

• her writing was among the first to highlight the intersections that shape people’s lives, like social class, gender, and race.
• wrote about racial inequality and empowerment through education.
• her work remained outside of the canon.