Chapter 2 - Thinking Sociologically

Question 1

Theories

Answer 1

Set of interrelated ideas that have a wide range of application, deal with centrally important issues, and have stood the test of time.

Question 2

Capitalism

Answer 2

An economic system with two groups: 

- bourgeoisie (owners of the means of production)

- proletariat (workers)

System is exploitative. Profits; more for the bourgeoisie and little for the proletariat.
 Capitalists keep wages down to keep the system going. From this workers and people suffer from alienation (the feeling of separation) 


Question 3

Sociological imagination

Answer 3

way of looking at world and connect our own personal troubles with public issues (eg. homelessness) C. Wright Mills(1959)

Question 4

Proletariat & Bourgeoisie

Answer 4

Proletariat: workers, in order to work and survive , the workers must sell their labour time, primarily their work hours to the capitalists in exchange for wages
Bourgeoisie: (Capitalists) owns what is needed for production, faculties, machines and tools

Question 5

Karl Marx ( 1818- 1883) Germany

Answer 5

Macro theorist who focused on the structure of capitalist society


Question 6

Max Weber ( 1864-1920) Germany

Answer 6

Best known for his work The Protestant Ethic and The Spirit of Capitalism.
Protestantism especially Calvinism led to the other rise of capitalism in the West and not in other areas of the world. Material gain would determine a guaranteed spot in heaven. 
“Predestination”
 Was also interested on the process of rationalization in many sectors of society. When structures take on effieceny and focus on deliberate outcomes.

Question 7

Emile Durkheim (1858 - 1917) French

Answer 7

Macro theorist whose major concern was social facts; such as social structure and cultural norms and values, that impose themselves on people. Stated the cause of suicide was not to be found within individuals but rather in social facts.

Question 8

Social Facts

Answer 8

The shared beliefs of a society the collective conscience (most important). Such as social structures, cultural norms and values that stand apart from people and impose themselves on people.

Question 9

Structural Functionalism

Answer 9

Emile Durkheim: Focuses on social structures as well as the functions that such structures perform. Examines both social structures and their functions.

The dominant view is that if certain structures exists they provide a function (eg. border control)

Dysfunctions negatively affect the ability of a given system to survive (eg. new rules at border—> entrance)

Question 10

Manifest Functions

Answer 10

Positive consequences that are brought about consciously and purposefully. (eg. taxes on foreign goods)

Question 11

Latent Functions

Answer 11

Unintended Positive consequences (eg. when foreign products become more expensive and therefore less desirable)

Question 12

Structuralism

Answer 12

Focuses on invisible structures (gender/ relations/ economic system) —> affect surface world
. Interested in the social impact of hidden or underlying structures (gender relations) Determines what transpires on the surface of the social world.
Capitalisms surface appliance vs true underlying reality 
Peter Berger & “debunking” look beneath visible social structures as mere facades.

Question 13

Conflict Theory

Answer 13

Focuses is on negative in society
.
Society is held together by coercion (opposite to SF)
Conflict theorists see dissension and tension and struggles everywhere. This allows advances and problem solving situations which can be an advancement. So they do not see tension as a bad thing.

Question 14

Critical Theory

Answer 14

Focuses on the culture of a society, particularly the culture industry and mass culture. 
Culture Industry main quality because it is an instrument that the powerful use to basically know what is on their plate (cements people to status quo) 


Question 15

Two Elements of Culture Industry

Answer 15

Falseness —> Mass Culture (true culture should emanate from the people) 
Repressiveness (mass culture pacifies and stupefies the masses) 
 Instead of revolution people are interested in consumption. Logos trump social change. 


Question 16

Feminist Theory

Answer 16

Is critical of the social situation facing women. 
Offers ideas on how women situations can be bettered. 
The majority of feminist scholars argue that gender differences are socially structured not biologically determined. 
Women face extraordinary problem related to gender inequality so extraordinary solutions are necessary. 
Some feminist theorists suggest social structure and institutions need to be changed to be more inclusive of women. 
Other feminist theorists argue that those very institutions need to be deconstructed and rebuilt. (to start a new to have gender equality)

Question 17

Queer Theory

Answer 17

Based on the idea that there are no fixed and stable identities that determine who we are. 
Advocates believe that modern Western culture cannot be understood without critiquing modern definitions of homosexuality and heterosexuality. 
The focus is not on homosexuality itself but dynamics between heterosexuals and homosexuals 
In the early phases of development.