structural theories

Question 1

what are the key features of a structuralist study?

Answer 1

Positivist, macro sociology, a meta narrative

Question 2

which sociological perspectives are under the structuralist umbrella?

Answer 2

Functionalism, Marxism and Feminism

Question 3

Who are the leading structuralist sociologists?

Answer 3

Durkheim, Marx and Oakley

Question 4

Who are the “need to know” feminists for this topic?

Answer 4

Ansley, Oakley, Sharpe and Heidensohn

Question 5

Who are the “need to know” Functionalists for this topic?

Answer 5

Durkheim, Merton, Parsons and Davis and Moore

Question 6

Who are the “need to know” Marxists for this topic?

Answer 6

Marx, Bowles and Gintis, Althusser and Gramsci.

Question 7

What did Ansley say?

Answer 7

That women are the “takers of shit” in patriarchal society

Question 8

What did Oakley say?

Answer 8

Opposes Young and Wilmott, instead suggesting the idea of the “conventional family”

Question 9

What did Sharpe say?

Answer 9

Women’s position in changing in society, and hence girls’ aspirations have changed too.

Question 10

What did Heidensohn say?

Answer 10

Women are less likely to commit crime due to the patriarchal control they have faced in all aspects of society.

Question 11

What did Merton say?

Answer 11

Individuals experience strain due to blocked legitimate opportunities and because of this they turn to deviance or conformity

Question 12

What did Parsons say?

Answer 12

That there are two functions of the family, that schooling is meritocratic etc

Question 13

What was David and Moore’s theory?

Answer 13

Role allocation

Question 14

What did Durkheim say?

Answer 14

crime is inevitable, crime serves a function, education creates workers with specialist skills and leads to social solidarity

Question 15

What did Gramsci say?

Answer 15

There is cultural hegemony, which means there is domination or rule achieved through ideological control.

Question 16

What did Marx say?

Answer 16

all institutions would be far more effectively if privatisation occurred and we became less reliant on the state. there is a clear divide between the minority ruling class and the majority working class.

Question 17

What did Althusser say?

Answer 17

Individuals are controlled through Ideological state apparatuses and repressive state apparatuses. These being through socialisation into the value consensus and boundary maintenance and fear of punishment/consequences.

Question 18

What did Bowles and Gintis say?

Answer 18

They argues there is a correspondence principle between education and the workforce, the idea that schools teach the informal rules needed for the future through the hidden curriculum.