Conflict Theory & Other Schools of Thought Flashcards
What is structural functionalism?
Structural functionalism proposes that segments within society each have a specific role to fulfill for society to function properly. Each society must provide its members with the basic requirements for functioning so that they can fulfill their roles.
Social institutions and other structures within society are interdependent and work together to meet the needs of the individual
Structural functionalists really focus on social structures and power. But they do focus only on the positive structures and the positive contributions, not the negative ones which is one criticism of this school of thought
Who is Emile Durkheim?
Emile Durkheim was a French nineteenth-century sociologist who focused much of his work on structural functionalism.
He believed that individuals associate themselves with a society based on their relationships within that society.
He also felt that strong social ties allowed individuals to feel connected.
What did Emile Durkheim observe?
Durkheim observed that humans are social creatures and define themselves by their social interactions at home, work, play and worship
He also believe that society is in a constant state of flux which meant that society was getting more diverse
He viewed diversity as positive and necessary and called it functional differentiation and would allow groups to work better together
What is conflict theory
Conflict theory studies competition between different groups of power
The competition is a byproduct of economic and political power and who has this power
Karl Marx is one of the founders of this theory
What does conflict theory propose?
Conflict theory proposes that society is composed of groups of people (classes) constantly vying for power.
Those classes with power try to create social structures that will reinforce their power.
Those without power seek to overthrow the current set of norms that are keeping them down.
This constant struggle can bring about social change through both violent and nonviolent means.
Who is Karl Marx?
Was a German philosopher interested primarily in economic history
He focused on the idea of class conflict, it role in social evolution, and its usefulness in understanding social issues
His ideologies stemmed from the industrial revolution and how he observed factory owners exploiting workers who wired long hours for little pay
He predicted that the workers would one day revolt against the factory owners
He continued to examine society through economic organization and found that western society is based on a system of property ownership and labour exploitation, in the capitalist economy
What did Karl Marx argue?
He argued that society was almost always in competition for power and wealth
The wealthy class would make it impossible for the poor to ever achieve economic equality and the only way for the working class to achieve equality would be to topple the wealthy class out of its power
Thus conflict theory- conflict between social classes created isolation which would lead to disruption and change
What is feminist sociology?
Feminist sociology is a type of conflict theory, but it covers so many issues that it’s usually given its own name.
It focuses on gender roles within society, as well as issues of gender inequality and discrimination.
The core of feminist sociology is the idea that most societies systematically oppress women and that the historical dominance of men has led to many social problems such as spousal violence, abuse, rape, and poor economic growth.
Who is Simone de Beauvoir?
Simone de Beauvoir was a French philosopher and writer who is one of the pioneers of the feminist movement in the mid-twentieth century. She is best known for her book The Second Sex, which analyzed women’s oppression in modern Western culture. She is recognized as one of the founders of feminist sociology.
Who is Dorothy E. Smith?
Dorothy E. Smith is a Canadian sociologist with research interests in many disciplines including feminist theory, psychology, and educational studies. She pioneered a new method of sociological inquiry that explores the social relations that structure people’s daily lives, especially women’s.
What is symbolic interactionism?
Symbolic interaction proposes that people are mostly internally motivated by what they have learned and interpreted, rather than externally motivated by social or economic conditions.
The theory today proposes that people behave towards things based on the meaning those things have for them.
This means that everyone will behave slightly differently towards the same thing because each person has a unique life experience that shapes how they perceive meaning for that thing.
