Introduction To Sociological Theory Flashcards
What are the two main approaches that sociologists view of how society is organised
Structuralist
Action
Explain structuralist
Society is seen as a social system where institutions like the family, media, education interconnect and work together
Explain action
These focus upon the individual and the importance of the meaningful actions they take rather than the institutions of society
What do structural theories look at
How the institutions of society influence and mould our behaviour.
These institutions that are believed to determine our behaviour so that individuals fit into society easily no keep it running.
Look at the over all picture of society and how institutions connect together.
What are structural theories often called
Macro theories
Examples of institutions
Family
Education
Media
Religion
What are deterministic theories
They believe our behaviour is moulted and constrained by society so there is little if any opportunity to have free will and to act as we choose
What are three structuralist theories
Functionalism
Marxism
Feminism
Who are the key writers in functionalism
Emile Durkheim
Talcott Parsons
What are four key issues in functionalism
- Biological analogy
- Value consensus
- Functional prerequisites
- Share the same values
Explain biological analogy
Where society is like a body where are parts are inter-connected and inter-dependent
Explain values consensus
Society exists in harmony with little conflict as through socialisation the key values of society are transmitted to everyone and everyone accepts and believes these values
Explain functional prerequisites
Society has basic needs and requirements the must be met to survive.
These would include matters such as socialisation, production of food and care of the young.
Social institutions exist to ensure that these are met
Explain sharing the same values
Society runs smoothly as we share the same values which maintains social order and any change that occurs is slow and gradual like the changing role of women in society rather than a fast revolution such as the French Revolution
Who are the two key writers in Marxism
Karl Marx
Frederic Engels
What are seven key issues in Marxism
- Economic determinism
- Infrastructure and super-structure
- Ruling class ideology
- The two social class groups in society
- False-class consciousness
- What Marx would predict that the subject class would develop
What is economic determinism
The economy is the driving force of society and it determines social institutions and our values
What is infrastructure
The economy forms the infrastructure of society
This consists of the means of production which is the way in which society those needed by society such as factories, land and the relations of production
What is super structure
This is the other institutions which transits beliefs needed for society to keep going these benefit those who own the means of production which is called ruling class ideology E.g. Family Education Politics Mass media Religion
What is ruling class ideology
The superstructure transits beliefs needed for society to keep going these benefit those who own the means of production
What are the two social groups in society
Ruling class Subject class
Explain what happens between these two groups ruling class and subject class
The proletariat sell their labour to the ruling class in exchange for wages however they are exploited and oppressed by the ruling class who pay them little so that they can make surplus profit.
Explain false-class consciousness
The subject class do not accept that they are being exploited and oppressed as the ruling class ensure that the values passed on in society continue to justify the inequality between the two groups and encourage the subject not to question it
What did Marx predicted that the subject class would develop
Class consciousness and a revolution would occur. He predicted that society would change and we would live in a society organised as a communist state and there would only be one class with no equality and everything collectively owned
Explain communist state
Where the means of production is shared
What are the three different types of feminists
Liberal
Radical
Marxist
Give 4 ideas from liberal feminists
Women’s position has improved in society
Gender role socialisation is key to changing the position of men and women
Equal rights have helped change the position of women in society
Legal change and education is essential in removing sexism and inequality
What do liberal feminists mean about Bradley
The ‘acceptable face of feminism’
What do liberal feminists mean about the glass ceiling
The glass ceiling limiting women in areas of employment is being eroded
What do liberal feminists mean about wilkinson and the gender quake
A gender quake has occurred with women today having radically different attitudes to those in the past
Give five key ideas for Marxist feminists
Women are oppressed in society
The cause of oppression is capitalism
The ruling class reproduce gender inequalities as it helps maintain capitalism
Men benefit from the oppression of women but they are not the main cause of it
Women will be equal to men when the subject class revolt and a communist society is developed
Give five ideas of radical feminists
1.Women are oppressed in society and the cause is patriarchy
2.Men reproduce gender inequalities to benefit themselves and keep women oppressed
3.Institutions socialise women into accepting patriarchal ideology
4.Men and women form different sex classes and heterosexual men dominate society through force and fear of force and ideological
control
5. They draw attention to legal inequalities and personal areas of life where women are oppresses such as domestic violence and issues relating to sexuality
What is patriarchal ideology
The beliefs and values transmitted by men to benefit themselves
What is social action theory
Argues that the individual is the most important area of study than the structures of society
How do social action theories compare to structural sociologists
Social action believes that individuals are not determined by society but have free will this means that they believe individuals are not moulded by external forces
In social action what are sociologists concerned with studying
sociologists are concerned with studying the interactions between individuals and trying to understand how they make sense of everyday actions and how they define their own identity.
What is a micro theory and give an example
Where the theory looks at small scale interactions
E.g. Social action theories
What did parsons argue about a geographically mobile workforce
That is is easier for the compact two generation nuclear family to move than a three generation family to move do a nuclear family is better cuffed to the need that modern industry has for a geographically mobile workforce
What did parsons argue about a a socially mobile workforce
The nuclear family is better equipped to meet the standards of the industrial society as an three generation family the father has a higher achieved status even if the son has a higher achieved status.
