Key Perspectives

Question 1

What does Functionalism think society is like?

Answer 1

As if it was living. All parts of society work together and are dependent on each other
They are INTERDEPENDENT
Functionalists study the roles in society to bring shared/ stable behaviour- SOCIAL ORDER
But they believe we have shared norms and values- VALUE CONSENSUS which also goes to SOCIAL SOLIDARITY

Question 2

What are criticisms of Functionalism?

Answer 2

1. overplays consensus in society
2. Historically outdated- popular in 1950s but behaviour has changed
3. too positive- doesn’t allow social failure (e.g. child abuse)
4. power not equally distributed (Marxism)

Question 3

What did key thinker Talcott Parsons think?

Answer 3

socialisation is key to understanding human behaviour patterns
They passed on values through things like education and family. religion and media
Parsons has 2 strategies so individuals conform to shared norms and values
1. socialisation
2. social control

Question 4

What did Marxists believe and who was the main individual?

Answer 4

Karl Marx- started from his ideas
The system we live in is capitalist
believe system divides into 2 classes, bourgeoisie and Proletariat
Bourgeoisie (ruling class) controls society and benefit from how society operates
Proletariat (working class) workers in society and get less than they deserve

Question 5

What is criticism of Marxism?

Answer 5

It ignores the freedom of choice enjoyed by individuals- they’re not brainwashed by ideology
Too much emphasis on conflict
it claims that all cultural activities is geared to economic interests, ignoring religion,ethnicity and patriarchal

Question 6

What is Feminist ideology?

Answer 6

Argues gender is a source of difference, inequality and conflict
Point out that the UK is a patriarchal society,e.g. men generally have more power than women and women have less economic power than men.
Believe women do not enjoy equality of access to jobs and that men still monopolise professions

Question 7

What are the types of feminism and brief summary?

Answer 7

LIBERAL FEMINISM
- believe there are steady improvements in the position of women
MARXIST-FEMINISM
- patriarchy suits the capitalism system
- true equality can only occur when the capitalist system is dismantled
RADICAL FEMINISM
- believe patriarchal oppression and exploitation is built into every aspect of society
- believe family is where patriarchal is rooted
DIFFERENCE FEMINISM

Question 8

What are key features of Modernity?

Answer 8

• Industrialisation
• urbanisation
• centralised government
  -rational, scientific thinking

Question 9

What did these key features lead to?

Answer 9

New ideas and theories (meta narratives)
Competed to explain modern world
theories called for more social progress
Marx (Modernist)- point was to not just explain the world but change it

Question 10

What is Postmodernism?

Answer 10

Provides a powerful challenge to traditional ‘modernist’ society
Reject meta narratives
Focus of impact pf globalisation and also reject scientific thinking

Question 11

What criticism is there of Postmodernism?

Answer 11

Guilty of making too many recent social changes
Evidence is exaggerated
Points out failure of meta-narratives but doesn’t give an alternative method
Failure to accept everything isn’t a hyper-reality and people live in reality
Social class, gender and ethnicity for significant parts of our identity

Question 12

Where have characteristics been identified in society?

Answer 12

Work, Globalisation, Identity, Culture, Knowledge