Lecture 3: Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology, Applications and Limitations Flashcards
Define ‘Social Change’
Society is a web of social relationships. Therefore, ‘social change’ means there are changes in the human interactions and interrelations as a result of a change in the system of social processes, social interactions and social organisation.
(Changes in human behaviour… organisation)
Explain Emile Durkheim’s perspective on the relationship between society and suicide
Dirkheim concluded that individuals were more likely to commit suicide if they were dislocated from the society, as the individuals lacks connection and belonging to the collective organisation (anomie).
Dirkheim saw that welfare professional play a few critical roles such as normalisation and moralisation.
NORMALISATION (inclusivity)
- this helps in reducing suicide because even the special needs, elderly.. they feel integrated to society and included
MORALISATION (doing good)
Explain Bourgeoisie’s behaviours towards the Proletariat
The Bourgeoisie exploits Prolatariat by paying them the minimum.
Their justification towards proletariat:
“I pay them”, “We pay them LOW WAGES, not NO WAGES”, and “They have a choice”.
Describe how Karl Marx and Max Weber defined modern industrial society (key attributes and beliefs)
KARL MARX
- Explores the changing nature of the industrial capitalism
- in the 19th century
- shift in the nature of economic and social relations
- from a society based on feudal principles to one that was based on the notion of waged labour
- Marx viewed society as a division into TWO SOCIAL CLASSES: bourgeoisie and proletariat.
- Bourgeoisie: small but dominant class, who were the owners of the means of production and the capitalists. They owned the factories, raw materials and had control over the process of production.
- Proletariat: Much larger group of people who did not own anything except their own labour power which they sold to gain wages. These were the working class.
Marx argued that the bourgeoisie were motivated by profit accumulation, making workers produce in excess to create a surplus value. The bourgeoisie could make enough money to cover capital and labour costs from the sale of a percentage of goods and the remaining was sold for profit. The proletariat became alienated from the processes of production through the fragmentation of tasks.
As socio-economic conditions worsened for the proletariat, they developed a class consciousness that revealed their exploitation by the bourgeoisie.
Different classes develop their own ideology which is collectively shared throughout the class. Marx believed that the proletariat would develop their own ideologies and overthrow the ruling bourgeoisie for fairer distribution of power and resources.
MAX WEBER
Max Weber also views the whole development of modern societies in terms of a move towards rational social actions. In other words, modern societies are undergoing the process of rationalisation. Weber believed that institutions, classes and groups were important elements of society. However, he believed that it was the individuals who influenced and created the structural elements of society. To him, bureaucratic organisations are the dominant institutions in society and these bureaucracies (institutions) consist of people carrying out rational social actions designed to achieve the societal or organisational goals (which are the ‘meanings’ of the actions).
Describe Max Weber’s perspective of ‘Social Action’
Max Weber’s perspective of ‘social action’ describes that it is an action carried out by an individual to which that individual attaches a meaning.
Accidental action - not a social action as the action is not a result of any conscious thought process. Deliberate intent to cause hurt, for example, is ‘a social action’.
Weber views the development of modern societies in terms of a move towards rational social actions, where individuals of institutions influenced and created the structural elements of society, and carry out rational social actions to achieve the societal or organisational goals (which are the ‘meanings’ of the actions).
Define ‘Affective Action’, ‘Traditional Action’ and ‘Rational Action’
- Affective / emotional action: the individual acts in a certain way based on his/her emotional state at a particular time.
- Traditional action: the individual acts in a certain way according to the established customs or habits that is acceptable by society.
- Rational action: the individual acts in a certain way to achieve the set goal(s) that are clear.
Distinguish between ‘I’ and ‘Me’ (George Herbert Mead)
According to Mead, the ‘self’ has two sides or phases: ‘me’ and ‘I’.
“Me” is developed through socialisation and is the social self. It represents learned behaviours, attitudes, and expectations of others and of society. “Me” aspect is the awareness of how others expect us to behave in given situations.
The “I” aspect is the opinion of ourselves as a whole. We respond to the bhaviours of others as an “I” alias, the unsocialised self.
When an individual gets hurt in an incident, the “I” expresses how the individual reacts to the pain. But the “Me” chooses how the individual expresses that pain accordingly to the situation he or she finds herself in, such as whether the individual is with friends or family or in the public. His or her socialised process will determine “Me”’s reaction.
Define ‘Sex’ and ‘Gender’
‘Sex’ refers to the biological, anatomical and physiological differences that define male and female bodies.
‘Gender’ refers to psychological, social and cultural differences and hierarchies between males & females. It refers to the social meaning of masculinity and femininity and not necessarily a direct product of biological sex. It shapes how we think about ourselves, guide our interaction with others and influence the roles we play in our family and workplace.
Describe the Feminist Approach - Liberal Feminism
Examine both strengths and weaknesses.
Liberal:
Ideas, explanations and opinions concern alleviating the ‘suffering’ of the females in society.
Inequality stems from the denial of equal rights.
The primary obstacle to equality is sexism.
Weakness: Ignore social structure in which society is divided along class lines and driven by economic exploitation.
- explains that gender inequalities based on social and cultural attitudes
- Liberal feminists accept the basic organisation of society; they do not see women’s subordination as part of a larger system or structure.
- seek to expand the rights and opportunities of women. - support equal rights, and oppose sexism and discrimination against women in the workplace, educational institutions and the media.
- equality in law is important to eliminate discrimination against women
Describe the Feminist Approach - Social/Marxist Feminism
Examine both strengths and weaknesses.
Socialist Feminism:
• Views women’s oppression as stemming from their work in the family and the economy
• Women’s inferior position is the result of class-based capitalism
• Patriarchy itself stems from the way in which women are generally exploited economically.
WEAKNESSES
Socialist Feminism:
• Criticised for being neither revolutionary nor radical enough to create lasting solutions to the problem of
female economic and social exploitation.
Marxist Feminism:
• Division of labor is related to gender role expectations e.g. females give birth and males left to support family.
• Male power and privilege is the basis of social relations
• Sexism is the ultimate tool used by men to keep women oppressed
WEAKNESSES
Marxist Feminism:
• Criticised for placing too much emphasis upon class relations in the economic and not paying enough attention to female experiences outside the labour market
e.g. within the family
It was developed from Marx’s conflict theory, although Marx had little to say about gender inequality. Socialist feminists have sought to defeat both patriarchy and capitalism. Marx’s friend, Friedrich Engels, argued that patriarchy (like class oppression) has its roots in private property. Thus, capitalism intensifies patriarchy by concentrating wealth and power in the hands of a small number of men. Capitalism relies on women to labour for free in the home, caring and cleaning. To Engels, capitalism exploited men by paying low wages and women by paying no wages. Socialist feminist argued that true equality under a state-centred economy that meets the needs of all can be achieved through a socialist revolution.
Describe the Feminist Approach - Radical Feminism.
Examine both strengths and weaknesses.
*State the weakness.
Bio and improvement in overall status.
Radical:
• Society view women as a “sex class” whose basic interest involves emancipation from men.
• Women’s oppression causes the most suffering.
• Men control the norms of acceptable sexual behavior and women’s refusal to reproduce is the most effective way to escape the snares.
Weaknesses:
• Over-emphasise the biological factors that separate women from men
• Making unsubstantiated / uncritical assumptions about male and female psychology
The core belief is that men are responsible for, and benefit from, the exploitation of women. Radical feminists are concerned with patriarchy as the systematic domination of females by males. They often concentrate on the family as one of the primary sources of women’s oppression in society. They argue that men exploit women by relying on the free domestic labour that women provide in the home. As a group, men also deny women access to positions of power and influence in society. Fundamentally radical feminists argue that men exert power over and through women’s body and sexuality in some form. For example, they argue that men control women’s roles in reproduction and child-rearing. As women are biologically able to give birth to children, women become dependent materially on men for protection and livelihood. Other radical feminists also point to male violence against women as central to male supremacy – rape, domestic violence and sexual harassment as systematic oppression of women rather than isolated cases with their own psychological or criminal roots. Radical feminists seek a revolutionary overthrow of the patriarchal system.
Describe the Feminist Approach - Black Feminism
Examine both strengths and weaknesses.
Feminists are critical of any ‘unified’ form of gender oppression and what it means to be a woman. They argue that the main feminist schools of thought (a) do not consider the ethnic divisions among women and (b) are oriented to the dilemmas of white, predominantly middle-class women living in industrialised societies. Thus, it is not valid to generalise theories about women’s subordination as a whole from the experience of a specific group of women. Black feminists contend that any theory of gender inequality, which does not take racism into account, cannot be expected adequately to explain black women’s oppression.
Define ‘Consumerism’
‘Consumerism’ is defined as the collection of values, attitudes and behaviours that are associated with the consumption of material goods.
(the need to consume - keep buying)
Define ‘Materialism’
‘Materialism’ refers to the social value of the material possessions which a person attaches to his/her life. These possessions provide the greatest sources of satisfaction and dissatisfaction to the person.
(Using only certain brands - place value on goods used as status symbol - attach certain value to it - consuming something of a certain status)
Explain ‘Consumer Culture’
‘Consumer Culture’ refers to the mass consumption and production of goods and services which fuel the economy and it shapes perceptions, values, desires and constructions of personal identity.
