Theory Flashcards
Parsons- the organic analogy
-Society -> biological organisms
System:
-organisms + societies both self-regulating of independent parts that fit together
-body = organs + cells, society = institutions
System needs:
-organism = basic needs to survive
-society also has needs for it to survive e.g. adequate socialisation
Functions:
-function of any system is the contribution it makes to meeting the systems needs e.g. economy helps maintain the social system
Parsons- value consensus
-social order achieved through value system- shared culture
-norms + values allow for cooperation
-social order only possible if people agree on values (value consensus)
-society suffers when value consensus breaks down e.g. London riots
Parsons- central value system
2 mechanisms:
1) socialisation = individuals are taught to want to do what is needed to be done, norms + values = internalised
2) social control = positive sanctions reward conformity + negative punish deviance
Parsons- the systems needs
-Adaptation = material needs met through economic sub-system
-Goal attainment = goals are set + resources provided to meet through political sub-system
-Integration = parts of society must be integrated to pursue shared goals through education, religion, media sub-systems
-Latency = processes maintaining society over time, kinship sub-system provides pattern maintenance + tension management
Parsons- social change
Traditional society:
-put collective first
-ascribed status
-particularistic standards (different based on position)
-specificity (relationships = specific + professional)
-affective neutrality (strict level of emotion in each situation)
Modern society:
-pursue own self-interest
-achieved status
-universalistic standards
-diffuseness (relationships/interactions = integrated)
-affectivity (freedom of emotion in all situations)
Functionalism- evaluation
-Logical criticism = state that things exist due to function- real explanation should identify somethings cause
-Conflict perspective = society isn’t harmonious- view = harmful (legitimises status quo + inequality)
-Action perspective = fun views people with no free will- individual create society
-Postmodernist = todays society = so fragmented- no meta-narrative can explain society
Merton’s internal critique of functionalism (criticises 3 key assumptions)
-Indispensability = Merton says assuming everything is indispensable is an untested assumption, can be ‘functional alternatives’ (e.g. not just nuclear fam performs soc)
-Functional unity = in complex societies, some parts may only be distantly related (not all parts = tightly integrated), may have ‘functional autonomy’
-Universal functionalism = some things may be functional for some + dysfunctional for others- may be conflicts of interest + power
Marxism- historical materialism
-we use means of production to meet material needs
-standard human labour has changed with tools + > cooperation
-industrialisation -> class who own means + class who use it
-economic base shapes society + superstructure arises -> includes ideas, institutions, beliefs + behaviour
Marxism- class, society + exploitation
-Early human society = no class, private ownership- everything shared (primitive communism)
-Forces of production > -> different class societies
-Modern society = ruling class controls ‘surplus product’
Capitalism
-division between bourgeoisie + proletariat
1) workers = legally free- labour power in return for wages
2) means of production = concentrated in < hands, competition forces < wages
3) capitalism continually expands forces of production in pursuit of profit
4) concentration of ownership -> class polarisation
Class conciousness
Marx:
-capitalism sows seeds for its own destruction -> polarising the classes- develop conciousness of their own interests + overthrow ruling class
-proletariat moves away from being class in itself to becoming a class for itself (aware of the need to overthrow capitalism)
e.g. students from low-income backgrounds become aware of class + therefore distance themselves from ruling-class
Marxism- ideology
-Class owns means of production + also controls means of mental production- production of ideas
-Dominant ideas of society are ideas of ruling class
-institutions producing ideas serve dominant class by producing ideologies
-> false conciousness + sustains class inequality
Marxism- Alienation
People feel separated from the results of their work
e.g. Foxconn
Marxism- the state, revolution + communism
-State = armed bodies of men -> protect interests of class owners
-Revolution overthrowing capitalism will be first revolution overthrowing majority
-will abolish state -> classless communist society -> abolish exploitation/private ownership
Marx Evaluation
-Simplistic, one-dimensional view of inequality- class as only important division (can evaluate with Weber)
-Class polarisation = not occurred
-Economically deterministic -> other factors can be important
-Revolution = not occurred in much of the
Liberal feminism- Ann Oakley
-Distinguishes between sex + gender:
-sex = biological makeup, hormonal/physical differences
-gender = what you socially regard yourself to be -> culturally constructed roles + ideas about abilities (through socialisation)
-Lib fem seeks to promote role models in family + education- change societal socialisation patterns
How do feminists criticise Parson’s theory of gender roles?
Argue men + women capable of performing both instrumental + expressive roles- the traditional roles prevent men + women leading fulfilling lives
Believe men can perform expressive role just as well as women
The Enlightenment Project- Feminism
Period in which scientific knowledge is providing the truth, not religion
Believe its resulting in better understanding of women’s oppression -> improvements:
-Changes in socialisation + culture = leading to > rational attitudes towards gender - overcoming ignorance/prejudice
-Political action introducing anti-discriminatory laws + policies = bringing progress- giving women > freedom/rights- to get to a society where gender isn’t important
Liberal feminism evaluation
Strengths:
-studies led to legitimation of demand for reform in areas e.g. equal pay, employment practices
-have demonstrated that gender dif are result of dif treatment + socialisation patterns
Weaknesses:
-over-optimistic (believe prejudice can be overcome by ‘march of progress view’
-ignore that there are deep-seated structures causing women’s oppression e.g. patriarchy, Walby = offer no explanation for overall structure of gender inequality
-Marxist + Radical fem = fail to recognise underlying causes of women’s subordination- naive to believe attitude change is enough
Radical Feminism
