theory key terms

organic analogy

• functionalism - durkheim

• society is like a body - interdependent organism that relies on institutions working in cohesion

interpretive methods

• preferred by social action theory - valid method as it helps us understand meanings

march of progress

• liberal feminism / functionalism

• society is gradually improving over time

alienation

• marxism

• proletariat are separated from means of production and isolated

means of production

• marxism

• materials used to produce goods e.g. land, factories - owned by bourgeoisie, used to exploit proletariat

dark side of the family

• radical feminism - dobash and dobash

• domestic violence allows men to maintain dominance and prevent revolution

political lesbianism

• radical feminism - greer

• dating men is “sleeping with the enemy”

traditional action

• social action - weber

• actions based on habits because we have always done them

patriarchy

• feminism

• dominance of men in society

value consensus

• functionalism - durkheim

• society agrees on a shared set of norms and values

taking the role of the other

• symbolic interactionism - mead

• when we interact with others we see ourselves/our behaviour from their perspective - helps us to decide how to respond

social solidarity

• functionalism - durkheim

• sense of connection within society - well-integrated society where all members are socialised into shared norms and values

meta-narrative

• postmodernism - lyotard

• ‘big story’ - criticism for other perspectives

AGIL

• functionalism - parsons

• requirements that must be met to maintain social order

• adaptation, goal attainment, integration, latency

glass ceiling

• radical feminism

• invisible barrier that prevents women from getting into higher-level positions of power

positivists

• functionalism - durkheim

• objective methods, value free, can draw social facts about society

capitalism

• marxism

• current economic system based on profit of bourgeoisie - needs to be overthrown by revolution and replaced with communism

hyperreality

• postmodernism - baudrillard

• we live in a world that is increasingly perceived and experienced via the media - media becomes more real than reality

dramaturgical theory

• social action - goffman

• front stage - presentation in front of an audience, impression management etc

legislation e.g. divorce reform act (1969)

• liberal feminism

• tool used to progress society e.g. dra widened grounds for divorce and made it cheaper (more accessible)

structural differentiation

• functionalism - parsons

• institutions take over the role of others and become more complex

simulacrae

• postmodernism - baudrillard

• media images are shown to reflect reality but have no real reflection of the real event - these images are seen all over the world showing people “what is happening”

hegemony

• neo-marxism - gramsci

• ruling class maintain their dominance through making their ideas seem to be ‘common sense’ and not worth challenging - reinforcing false class consciousness

global village

• postmodernism - habermas

• we live in a globalised society with technology to help us be interconnected

labelling theory

• social action

• micro theory - labelling leads to internalisation and self-fulfilling prophecy, master status, deviant career

• can also lead to halo effect