Theory And Methods Flashcards
What is radical feminism?
They regard patriarchy as most fundamental form of inequality, the world is divide into to 2 “sex classes” or men and women.
Men dominate and control women in all areas of society both public and private. Irrespective of their social class or ethnicity all men seem as the enemy who oppress women through violence and fear and make them sex objects for their own pleasure
Eg 2018 world health organisation estimates 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced some form of partner/non partner violence in their lifetime
What are some solutions for radical feminists
Advocate for complete destruction of patriarchy including carrying out childbirth independent from men.
They believed in seperatism (living apart from males, consciousness raising (reclaiming power through shared experiences. And political lesbianism (avoiding heterosexual relationships**
What do Marxist feminist believe
Gender inequality primarily arises from nature of capitalist society rather than independent system of patriarchy. Captalism intensifes patricahoal inequalities in pursuit of its own intrests
Women used as cheap labour force and reserve army of Labour that can be sacked and re hired depending on the economy, can also perform free unpaid domestic labour and childcare
Women’s expressive world is to absorb men’s anger and frustration at exploration at work keeping captalist stable (Ansley safety valve)
As capitalism is root cause of inequality improving women’s position involves fundamental changes in capitalism and class inequality rather than Separating them from men
What is a critism of Marxist feminism
Doesn’t explain womens subordination in communist countries so must be more than capatslim
Other types of feminist say we need to look at everyone not jusy capatlism
What do liberal feminist believe
Women’s inequality arises primarily from factors like sexist stereotyping, gender role socialisation and sex discrimination through phrased laws and opportunities
This gives women lack of opportunities and keeps them in lower-paid lower status occupations eg in 2022 only 25% of women were breadwinners of households
Gender equality can only be achieved through legal, economic and social reform allowing women to take part in wider society
For example: 2010 equality act, 1970 equal pay act
What is an example of a radical feminist
Andrea Dworkin, she says marriage developed from rape as a practice as marriage takes ownsership of someone like old definitions of rape
Could link to political lesbianism or seperatsim
What are 2 liberal feminists
Jenny Sommerville: she says feminist have failed to acknowledged progress that has been made like laws for paid work and their improved social postion mean they can leave men in a relationship
Anne Oakley: did studies on domestic labour and found only 15% of men participated
What is difference (post modern feminism)
It includes black feminism which emerged over fears feminism focused too much on subordination of white middle class women.
Difference feminism emphasise all women suffer same problems not all women are in same position, oppression can take diverse forms in diff context and in diff social groups eg some may face mutiple opression like homophobia, racism and patriarchy
This is particularly true in postmodern societies where structures like gender, class and ethnicity are weakened and people “pick n mix” identities and lifestyles in a media saturated consumer society
What is a critique of difference feminism
While it does recognise women are not homogenous groups with own experiences of oppression some would argue this divides the feminism movement in pushing for change making it less effective in liberation
What is durkheims theory of functionalism?
Suggesting society would fall into chaos unless they shared imminent values and co-operation in society. Places great importance on role of social institutions like family and education
These socialise people into the collective consciousness (set of shared beliefs and values as underlying force within society) this then creates social solidarity (emphasise interdependent between individuals)
This then means in situations can act as sources of social control to maintain order and prevent deviance creating stability and harmony
What is parsons functionalist theory of prerequisites and structural differentiation?
Idea that soxisty has basic requirements that must be met for society to survive. Include food, care of young and socialisation of new generation into society, institutions like family, education and workplace satisfy these needs and work togther to benefit society
Also noted how societies become more complex and had idea of structural differentiation explaining how modern societies are becoming more specialised, and new institutions perform new or old functions eg NHS replace monasteries
What is Parsons GAIL model
In order to survive in healthy state societies have to satisfy 4 functional prerequisites which is met by GAIL model:
- Adaptation: adapting to environment providing basic material necessities for existing sand recourses to active societies goals done through economy, factories and shops eg climate change=renewables
- intergration: coordinating All parts of system to achieve shared goals through socialisation into shared beliefs, promotes social harmony and control and prevents deviance eg media, education socialise and CJS restrict deviance
Also goal attainment and Latency
What would be critism of Durkheim and parsons
Durkheim: Merton would say is institutions have latent functions (unintended consequences) and don’t all work in harmony eg family socialises but also can abuse and neglect
Parsons: postmodernist would say this is outdated as we now have our own meta narratives and don’t shared functional prerequisites or have intergrated system
What does Marx say about classixal Marxism
Marx believed economy was driving source in society and was divided into two parts superstructure: not to do with production eg education or media which maintains base: the things related to production eg factories
He argues Labour is the source of wealth and after industrialising two classes emerged bourgeoise who own means of production and proletariat who sell labour as a commodity (wage Labour)
Filing class can decide superstructure of society to protect wealthy minority creating “false class consciousness”misleading them about nature of their class existence
Marx also believed Revolution would happen when workers achieved class consciousness and overthrow bourgeoise, then own means of production creating communism
What is althussers theory of structural Marxism
Structural marxist see social structures shape society and not individuals
Althusser rejects economic determinism and humanism of Marxism and says structure of capitalism more complex as it has 3 levels
- economic level: means of producing to satisfy society
- political level: all forms of organisation
- ideological level: ways ppl see themsleves and world
Says political and ideological levels have relative autonomy from economic level but can also effect what happens in economy. So there 2 way causality
What is the two different apparatuses in althussers theory?
Repressive state apparatus (RSA): enforce behaviour directly like police or CJS so force can force u to behave
Ideological state apparatus: institutions that spread bourgeoise ideology and ensure proletariat is in state of false class consciousness eg media or education
Neo Marxist humanist Marxism-Gramsci and how do bourgeoise maintain power
Gramsci rejected economic determinism of classical Marxism as economic conditions alone wont make communism ideology plays bigger role
Bourgeoise maintain power in 2 ways:
- coercion: army, police CJS to accept rule
- consent (hegemony): ideas and values persuade ppl their rule is legitimate
In advanced capitalist societies they rely on consent cause they control institutions like media and education so Revolution can’t happen
Why can ruling class hegemony never be complete according to Gramsci?
- Ruling class is minority: have to create power by allying with groups like middle class
- proletariat have dual consciousness: influenced by bourgeoise ideas but also
Material confirms so can see through ideology eg British train strikes
So ruling class ideology can be undermined in times of economic crisis makes ppl question status quo
But working class can only do this by creating organic intellectuals (ppl who challenge dominant ideology) creating a counter hegemony offering new idea of socialist society
What is Webers social action theory?
Introduced idea of verstrhen emphasising putting sociologist in position of those they studying
Weber rejects determinism of structural theorist but also people not entirely free to behave how they wish and somewhat restricted by structures of inequality
Instead class and status shape peoples lives and their choices available. And says understanding of structure and action approaches needed to understand society analysing social factors (level of cause) and subjective meanings to beh (level of meaning)
What are are two types of subjective meanings people give to their actions (Weber)
- traditional action: customary, routine actions without need for rational thought
- effectual action: action thay expresses emotion eg protesting in Ager or crying out in grief eg political and religion use emotional appeals to invoke action from followed
However too simplistic as something like giving gifts at Christmas can be affectionate and traditional action
What is meads symbol vs instincts theory?
Unlike animals out beh isn’t fixed and instinctual. We respond to world by guiding meanings to things significant to us and attaching symbols to them
These develop work interaction with others and can change in place and time and between people
People interpret meanings of others by imaging themsleves in their position called role-taking so we need to see ourselves as other see us so we develop concept of self
Eg language or red means stop