Key Theories/beliefs Flashcards
What do functionalists believe about society?
Functionalism interprets each part of a society in terms of how it contributes to the stability of the whole society
Who are the key functionalist theorists?
Durkheim, Parsons, Murdock
What do radical feminists believe about society?
Society is patriarchal (ruled and dominated by men), blame the exploitation of women on men
What are Radical Liberation feminists?
Believe it is possible and desirable to eradicate gender differences, and aim for a state of androgyny
What are Radical Cultural Feminists
Believe in the superiority of the feminine. Celebrate characteristics such as emotion and are hostile towards those deemed as masculine such as hierarchy
Criticisms of rad feminists
The concept of patriarchy is criticised for ignoring other forms of oppression, tends to portray women as universally good/men as universally bad
What is the organic analogy? Who follows it?
Sees society as a system similar to a body, with its own needs and vital institutions (functionalists)
What are the criticisms of functionalists?
Ignores power inequality and exploration, is too idealistic(society is not as stable, orderly or predictable as functionalists believe), not everyone works in harmony
What do Marxist feminists believe?
Capitalism, rather than patriarchy, is the main source of women’s oppression
Criticisms of Marxist feminists
Rad fems: ignores other sources of inequality such as sexual violence, patriarchal systems existed before capitalism, the experiences of women have not been particularly happy under communism
What do liberal feminists believe?
Nobody benefits from existing inequality, which exists not so much in structures and institutions but in a society’s cultures and values. Want to change the existing system to be more equal, such as through the law
Examples of laws that would help women (under a liberal feminist perspective)
Equal pay act(1963), sex discrimination act (1975)
Criticisms of liberal feminists
Based upon male assumptions and norms and encourages women to be more like men, Rad/Marx fem: fails to take into account deeper structural issues, based mostly in the experiences of educated, middle class women
What do Marxists believe?
Society is divided into two classes under capitalism: proletariat and bourgeoisie. Society will become more polarised until the proletariat realise it’s exploitation and revolt
Key theorists of Marxism
Althusser, Zaretsky, Engles
Criticisms of Marxism
People are not “cultural dopes”(the subject class is aware of their exploitation), revolution never happened and instead the middle class expanded, other social factors are more important
