sociology key terms and perspectives

marxists views on family’s

that the nuclear family is an economic and social institution by capitalism to maintain class inequality and serve the interests of the ruling class

capitalism

an economic and social system where private owners run trade and industry for profit, rather than the government

social changes

the way human interactions, values and rules transform society overtime

means of production

the physical tools, factories, land, raw materials needed to make goods and provide services

capitalist

a person who owns the tools, factories and resources needed to make goods, rather than the working wage

bourgeoisie

the wealthy class of people who own the means of production-such as factories, businesses, land and offices- and make their own money by hiring workers

proletariat

the group of people who do not own businesses, factories or tools they use to work, and instead must sell their labour for a wage or salary to survive

petty bourgeoise

the lower middle class of small business owners and self employed wonders

lumpenproletariat

the lowest, most marginalized layer of society- and underclass that exists outside the normal society of regular employment and class structure

class struggle

the ongoing tension and conflict between different social economic groups in society

communism

a system where the community owns all property, land, and factories together, rather than individual people owning them

classless society

a social system where no one is born into a higher or lower social class than anyone else

functionalists views on family’s

a helpful engine that keeps society stable, organised, and running smoothly

social cohesion

the invisible social glue that holds society and community together through mutual trust, shared values, and strong bonds

feminists views on family’s

a place where women face gender inequality and unfair expectations

status

the rank, position, or social standing that a person holds inside a group or society

power

the ability of a person or group to get what they want, even when other people try to stop them

social stratification

the way society divides and ranks people into layers, or a hierarchy, like a pyramid

feminist

a way of studying society by looking how closely at how gender creates inequality and power differences between men and women

gender

the set of socially and culturally created roles, behaviours, and expectations that a society attaches to being a man or woman

sexism

the prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination of a person based on their sex or gender, usually rooted in the belief that one gender is superior to another

consensus

a general, widespread agreement amongst people in a society about core rules, values, beliefs

value consensus

a general agreement amongst people in society about what is right and what is wrong, important or normal

patriarchy

a social system where men hold primary power and authority in areas like politics, the economy and family