Role Of Structure And Agency In Shaping Relation Of Individual +Socieý Flashcards
Explain what is the basic view of structuralists?
Structuralist theories OR macro sociological perspe such as Marxists +functionalists argue → how society is organized on an institutional level
Where social institutions→ fam + govt + Ecco → determine how individuals view + behave in the world
Society how ppl think + behave
From structuralist perspective—- social action is the product of deep underlying forces in society → that reach beyond the level of individuals conciousness and self control
Marxists argue →capitalist relations of production → are the main structural force in contemporary industrial societies
Functionalists argue → social institutions perform diff but interlinked functions that create order + structure in society
For all structuralists → established social order represents a powerful force → that cannot be easily opposed by individuals
In contrast to studuralists what do Interactionist’s or micro-sociological theories assert
They assert → howirdiales pencieve + shape the social world
Ppl have agency + individual conciseness + control
Micro-sociological theories refer to———————— ,———————- + ————— ——————-
Phenomenology
Ethnomethodology
Symbolic interactionism
Explain the functionalism view relating to slucturalism
Idea that social institutions such as family education and religion work in harmony to create an interdependent society
Similar to functions body achieves by the schronized functions of all organs
What ae the 4 functional subsystems that perform functional pre-requisite that adress societal problems according to parsons
Economic system —- solves basic physical survival problems on the basis of work based relationships that produce shelter and food
Political system—— solves problem of order + governs + controls ppl and manages conflict
Cultural system —- solves the problem of social integration + communion
Family system —— solves the problem of socialisation
How ae these prerequisites done
They do these by developing
Goal maintaince —- provide ppl with goals to achieve
Adaptation —— provide a conducive environment for achieving goals
Integration —- motivatinal elements to encourage a sense of belonging in the social system
Latency ——- conflict management in a social system through +ve and -ve Sanctions
These result In the creation of a community with :
Predictable behaviours
Maintaince of social order based on value consensus
What criticism does functionalism face
Gouldner says they donot highlight the conflict on socialization at all
Children do not accept everything being taught to them by parents + teachers
Children will not exclusively identify with adults in the formation of their personality
Over socialised view of man acc to DEnnis WRong
Functionalists emphasis socialization to an extreme so that there is little space left for human agency
Humans construct their own identities aswell
Define conflict structuralism
While functionalists determine a beneficial + harmonious flow of society due to social institutions
Conflict structuralism argue that —-institutions divide society by maintaining a dominance of powerful groups over marginalised groups
There is conflict of interest between groups that runs society
Marxists focus on class conflict
Feminists focus on gender conflict
What do Marxism assert in relation to conflict structuralism
Work is the essential approach to surviving in society
A rs between the base and supperstructure form the basis for social order and control
Explain the exploitation from the ruling class according to Marxists
In capitalist society —-means of eco production (factories machines) used to create commodities and wealth are owned by the minority ruling class
Minority is forced to sell their labour — since they own little to nothing
This forms the forces of production — as they are the ways through which tech and labor can be transformed into commodities
The bourgeoisie reap products and focus on profit maximisation —-where as wc remain poor
Ruling class economically + politically dominate —-the social hierarchy
Althusser mentions their means to control repressive state apparatus or ways of inforcing conformity amongst working class individuals through law enforcement and police
Ruling class also uses ideological state apparatus
Such as educational institutions teaching value of competition + induvidualzm + respect for authority needed in capitalist workplace
Or religion supporting nobles and bureaucracy
Creating separate gods for wc induvidals (Hinduism + hanuman)
Most ppl are stuck in a capitalist regime to lfullfil their need of providing for themselves and family
Socialization is form of ideological control, that seeks to convince ppl that the interests of rulllimg class are generalisable to everyone’s interests and need no opposition
What criticism do Marxists face
Too exaggerate the success of socialization
Children might challenge the authority of parents + schools
Define the neo-marxist concept of socialization
Paul Willis lads study
The lads challenged the school culture by forming a youth subculture
Even though they resisted school + authority of teachers —-they were still socialized acc to the demands of the capitalist system
Gramcis view on dual consciousness
Ppl are indoctrinated through state institutions
However their day to day experiences shape their identity aswell
They are able to see through the capitalist exploitation
What criticism do neo-marxists face
Class remains imp in neo Marxists analysis of socialisation
However there are other forms of inequality aswell such as gender age enthicity
Post modernists and feminists take them into account for ignoring these
Mention what does feminism assert in relation to conflict slucturalism
All branches of Feminism believe that modern societies are patrarichal + serve the interest of men rather than providing equality for all genders
Define interpersonal power
Form of physical voilence + exploitation of women in family
Define cultural power
Form of male dominated societies structured in ways that oppress women in eco + political + cutlural institutions to —establish patriarchal Order + control in a society
Mentor what liberal feminists + radical feminists + Marxist feminists say
Liberal fems—-seek to bring equal opps for men + women without changing the system
Marxist fems —- argue women are being exploited by capitalism + patriarchy
Radical fems —- focus on patriarchy as source of female oppression in public + private levels
What were the findings of Ann Oakley
There are distinct gender roles for men and woman that are derived from culture rather than biology
Parents manipulate self image of children
Orient boys and girls towards diff activities
Give boys and girls diff toys to play with
Encourage them to do diff activities acc to gender
In school segregation continues
Many activities reinforce differences between boys and girls and patriarchal nature of society
Reading schemes enforce gender biasss
Media even enforces gender differences
Creates stereotypical images for boys and girls
What do feminists face criticism for
Socialization might not involve patriarchal domination of men over women only
Children might grow up with nuetral view of both genders in some fams
Audience sometimes reject stereotypical images of male + females on TV
Gender socialization is a complex phenomenon
There are sometimes many contradictions. +. Conflicts at play
What do interactions base their idea upon
Idea is based that ppl create and recreate society on a daily basis by producing and reproducing social order through their Induvidual and combined behaviour
Society exists mentally
Social life envolves —-a series of encounters that give the appearance of order and stability
Ppl must develop a shared definition of situations according to interact
Meaning of reality can be negotiated
What does schutz say about subjective meanings
Argued subjective meanings give rise to aprappranly objective social world
We live in a symbolic and complex world in which —- meanings of our actions + choice of clothes or language we use are always open to interpretation
Meaning of behavior can also change as per social context
What does Wong say about human benavior
Rejects the idea that human behaviour is governed entirely by the effects of socialisation
Assets that ppl exercise their freedom and resistance from social norms
Therefore structuralists have an over socialized concept of man
Define labbelig theory
Labelling theory in interactionism perspective argues that when we name something such as categorizing ppl by their genders —we associate the name with a set of characteristics that guide behaviour and attitudes to people
Such as women were carogotixed with motherhood and marriage earlier
Now they are labelled with greater definitions of career and single hood as-well
What are the 3 ingredients of socialization according to Handel
1) sense of self —- children must be able to distinguish themselves from others
2) empathy —- putting oneself In the shoes of others
3) communicating effectively —- acquisition of language vocabulary and grammar
