Different perspectives

Question 1

Functionalism
Who started it?
What does it focus on?
What is value consensus?

Answer 1

• Started by Emile Durkheim
• society runs smoothly and is made up of different parts which all work together to keep society stable
• people agree on what is important (there is a value consensus) and generally conform to society’s norms.
• focuses on the positive functions of different parts of society

Question 2

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)

Answer 2

• Division of labour in modern society weakens social solidarity
• it promotes individual freedom but must be regulated to stop egoism
• rapid change destroys old norms without making new ones
• this creates anomie (normlessness) which threatens social cohesion

Question 3

Talcott Parsons (1902-1979)
How did he believe social order is achieved?
What did he believe is needed for social order?

Answer 3

• social order is achieved by a central value system and beliefs
• social order is only possible if members agree on these norms and values, this is called value consensus

Question 4

Marxism
Who started Marxism?
What does it focus on?
What are the main classes called?
What do they believe about the classes?

Answer 4

• focuses on inequalities based on social class, they believe this is the main inequality in society. (based on the ideas of Karl Marx)
• argue there are two main classes: the working class (proletariat) and the ruling class (bourgeoisie)
• believe the ruling class owns and exploit the workers, treating them badly and giving them low pay so they can make more money for themselves.

Question 5

Feminism
What do they see as the main inequality in society?
What kind of structure do they argue society is?

Answer 5

• see gender inequality, inequality between men and women, as the main inequality in society.
• argue women are treated badly and exploited by men, and that society is patriarchal (male-dominated).

Question 6

Postmodernism
What do postmodernists believe?
What is relativism?
What is multiculturalism?

Answer 6

• No grand narratives, no absolute truth everything is subjective
• the line between media and reality is blurred
• relativism: everything is relative, no criteria for truth or beauty
• Globalization and multiculturalism (cultures mix with each other)

Question 7

Globalization
What is globalization?
What group supports globalization?

Answer 7

• global networks linking economies
• the movement of people (immigrants) creates a shared culture
• Some international businesses have more power that some countries

Question 8

Structural approaches

Answer 8

Theories about how society is structured. Each theory is like looking at society through a different lens. Sometimes called social system or structuralist approaches They believed the individual is controlled by society, our behavior is shaped by the social structure. We are kept in line by learning roles, values, and norms and act accordingly