Sociology/beginning

What is sociology?

What is sociology?

The study of development, structure and function of human activity.

What are conflict theories?

That society is not 100% consensus and that under the surface groups may be dominant/powerful over others.

What are consensus theories?

Society works best when their members agree on how society should be ordered → social life predictable with social order

What are the sociological theories?

• Consensus theories (functionalism, new right)

• Social action theories (Marxism, feminism)

• Postmodernism = how society has progressed to an era beyond modernity.

What does norms mean?

Typical, something usual

What do values mean?

Something held to a standard of importnance

What do beliefs mean?

Something someone thinks is true or real.

What is social solidarity?

The independence between individuals in a society.

What does anomie mean?

Different/lack of usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group.

Wha is socialisation?

Mixing with others socially

What is collective consciousness?

A shared belief, idea or moral attitudes that unify a group of people/society.

Wha is functionalism?

• Structural and consensus theory

• Everything works too benefit society

Who was Emile Durkheim?

• Made sociology - realm of social facts, societal science - social structures, cultural norms and social action

• Like science we can study human behaviour and predict what may happen.

• ‘A shared set of beliefs and values = collective consciousness, much hold some values, formally via laws, can also be informally via the family’

What is religion?

Sense of social solidarity, collective worship, shared symbols and brings society together at times.

What did parsons do?

• Argued that socialisation has importance in creating value consensus in socieyy

• Generations would pass on shared norms and vales to newer generations, like school and family → to ensure stability in society.

• Family works best when everyone knows their roles, men (instrumental) vs women (expressive).

• Social system in parsons theory : 25% each, adaptation, goal attainment, pattern maintenance and intergration.

(Functionalism) what was the function of family in an industrial society?

• Socialise children

• Teach children to take their place in society.

• To teach children to be obedient workers.

• A personality factory

What are criticisms of functionalism?

• Doesn’t allow too much creativity - everyone has a fitted place, doesn’t let people be individual.

• Outdated?

• Fails to explain conflict in society - assumes society operates for everyone benefit equally

Who was Adam Smith?

• A new right sociologist

• 1773-1990

• Said economy should be left to hidden hand of the Marheta and determined by supply and demand.

• More people want it = price will go up → if suppled more price will go down

• ‘Don’t interfere’ - what smith believer.

Who wad Friedrick hageth?

• A new right sociologist

• Relieved Smith’s ideas

• Argued individuals had the greater freedom in free marker capitalist society.

• Welfare state (labour) creates more problems with a ‘road to serfdom’

• Hagen’s ideas influenced PM Margaret Thatcher from 1979.

What is the consensus theory: New right?

The new right combines neo-liberal economics (free marker and minimal governal intervention) with more conservative views of social issues.

Shares many views of functionalists with main difference being that they argue that the late 20th century in countries like the UK and USA society became dysfunctional - consensus broke down.

What are the 4 main features of the New right?

1. An emphasis on induce dual freedom and self interest

2. Reduce spending by the state

3. A defence of free market

4. A stress of the importance of traditional institutions and values.

What is Marxism?

An economic and political theory that examines the flaws inherent in capitalism

Marxism is the divide in classes with ruling wealths benefiting and lower/working classes not → everything works for the benefit of capitalism.

What did Karl Marx say/argue?

Argued historically all societies are based on class divisions, those who did benefit and those who didn’t. He describe economic systems like UK and USA as capitalist societies, with wealths owning and working class with little/no money → unequal and exploitative. Marx said working class would be aware of their exploitation and make a communist society.

Who is Louis Arthur?

• Mar it sociologist

• 1918-1990, came up with ideological stat apparatus (ISA’s).

• Apparatus or equipment used by the state or ruling class to push their capitalist norms and uses them to justify inequality.

• ISA, include educational systems, media, families etc.

• Created false consciousness- the working classes cannot see any alternative to the capatalist.

What are life chances?

Chances for success/to thrive → would have to ‘tick’ boxes to have better chances.

What are the attractions an d limitations to Marxist ideas?

Attractions:

1. Critical view of capitalist societies

2. Helps to create social inequality

3. Class is very important

Limitation:

• Working class brainwashed

• Capitalism has brought a higher standard of living.

• Ignores other sources of inequality

• Society has changed

• Revolution didnt happen (UK)

• How relevant is social class today

• People do have the ability to change their class position

How did Max Weber disagree with Marx?

• German sociologist 1864-1920

Ideas:

• Disagrees in a way Marx analysed social inequalities.

• Said that status and power were important but not linked too economic or class inequalities.

• Inequalities could arise of class, but also status and party’s

• Status rather than social class

• Social class not only limiting thing

• Weber could be more useful that Marx because he considers more reasons of why someone would be discriminated and have less ‘less life chances’.

Who is thinker Charles Murray? (Criticisms as well)

• New right

• Argues US/UK created a dependency culture providing the poor with benefits.

• Unemployed and lone parents rewarded for irresponsible behaviour → emergence of underclass.

• Blamed rising levels of crime on lone parent families.

Criticism:

Blames mothers- father should be held responsible → blames certain groups of people, singling out.

Give an evaluation of new right:

Good because it is an alternative to dominant Marxism, focusing on alleged problems of living in an unequal society.

Bad because not based on clear sociological evidence, e.g Murray’s assumptions that the poor are reckless.

What is a structuralist approach?

• Known as macro theory

• Structural approaches are seen as to be top down

What is a micro theory?

Looks first as person individual and then a group

What is macro theory?

Looks at the ‘big picture’ aka society

What are social action theories?

Social action theories look at people as social actors and their actions in society

• Theories as seen as bottom up

• Small scale and focus on individuals and groups (sub-cultures).

• Also take into account free will → actions unintended

• Look at the daily lives of these individuals and how they are socially constructed.

What is interactionism?

• Small scale interaction -how people attach meaning to social world around them.

What are norms and values? (How are they formed?

Norms and values and identity not thought through process of socialisation but instead are constructs redefined and negotiated through our interactions.

What is the labelling theory?

A level is given to an individual. The person is treated accordingly to the label and thus finds others with the same labels (subcultures). The label becomes the normal way of behaviour for the individual. They then become the label that has even attached. Their master status is altered.

Give an evaluation of social theories/micro sociology:

Good:

• Rich, detailed research focusing on lives of a small group of people

• Insight into he world through the eyes of that live then.

• Free will

Bad

• Micro sociology ignores trends in society → cant be applied to general population.

What is post modernism about?

The old ways are fragmenting and changing

• Cant be a theory - takes a variety of ideas

• Lyotard (1984) claims we should abandon mettanorritavies or grand ideas.

• Focus on small parts of social world and understand a variety of view points.

What does postmodernism say about the family?

The family= a breakdown of structures in postmodern word such as the family.

What are some examples of how society has changed?

• More accepting - LGBTQ+

• Technology different/adavanced

• People working at home

What did Polhems say?

• Postmodernist’

• People increasingly able to cheese who they want to be, he argues society is based off the ‘super natural style’ → means we can pick and choose who we want to be, and this can change as often as we want.

• We can take bits of other peoples style and culture and incorporate them into our own and create our own distinct identities that are unique to us.

What did Beck say?

• Postmodernist thinker

• Risk society is the idea that people no longer identify with traditional social ideas.

• Beck suggests we are not part of collective group, no longer concerned of our entire social class - just care for themselves →idetity’

• People no longer like to take risks -E.g kids and marriage.

What are strength and weakness (evaluation) of postmodernism?

Strengths of the concept of postmodernism is that it recognises the changing nature and social structures/processes and challenges of assumption.

It has a number of weaknesses, including the fact that some sociologists believe we never left the age of modernity.

What is the difference between Marx and Althusser?

Althusser key idea is that capitalist society are still here but hidden by institutions but there is entertainment/joy for working class but Marx’s believed there was no benefit for working class.

What is feminism?

Everything works for the benefit of the patriachy.

What is the patriachy?

A social system in which men have a privileged position in society.

What des feminism say and do?

• Feminism has encouraged the focus on gender inequality and woman’s experience in the social world.

• Feminist believe that we live in a patriarchal society, meaning that society is ruled by men, in the interest of men.

• They are the Dominicans group in society and woman are the subordinate group who are exploited and oppressed.

What is liberal feminism?

Centres on equality in the public sphere between women and men, to be achieved through legal change. It’s primary aim is to enable equal access for woman to education, health provisions and the workplace.

What did Marxist-Feminist Sylvia wallaby say?

• That the relationship between capitalism and patriachy is not to be binary ‘black and white’ nature bur lateral thinking.

• Even though capitalism does benefit from the patriarchy (sexual division of labour) this is not always the case → for example women entering the workplace during the world wars, patriachy did not benefit, abeit capitalism did - relationship much more complied than originally believed.

What was Christie Delph’s ideas?

Radical feminist

For delph’s, gender is a position in the mode of production (domestic labour). In this view, the main enemy of woman as a class is not the capital but the patriachy. She developed

What did Sue Sharpe find?

• Radical feminist

• “Just like a girl” 1976

• Found that the main priorities of thee 1970’s girls were ‘love marriage, husband and childen’

• By the 1990s this had changed to ‘job career and being able to support themselves’ with education being the main route t a goo job → want top roles/jobs now.

What was the first wave of feminism?

• 1800’s - female suffrage ((right to vote)

• Led by middle class woman

• Fought for higher education for girls

• Open up professions for women

• Want to change laws. E.g men having all rule of money, assets, ect.

• Divorce equality- women can without permission from husband, and can see children after.

What was the second wave of feminism?

• 1960s and 70’s-linked to other campaigns such as civil rights, gay rights, anti-war.

• Slogan ‘the personal is political’ - women experience personal problems due to the unequal way society is organised.

• Women are the oppressed in the private sphere of the home, leading in inequalities in the public sphere ie. Work and politics

• Feminists aimed to raise woman’s awareness and create ‘girl hood’ where woman worked together for a common goal.

What are the 4 demands in the second wave of feminism?

1. Equal pay for equal work

2. Equal education and job opportunities

3. Free contraception and abortion on demand

4. Free 24hr nurseries.

What other demands were added later in the second wave of feminism in 1978?

5. Legal and financial independence for all women

6. An end to discrimination against lesbians

7. Freedom for all women from intimidation

8. An end to all laws, assumptions and institutions that predated male dominance.

What is the third wave of feminism?

• Mid 1990s onwards, some say this is the current wave.

• More diverse and individualism - focuses less on political inequalities and the law and more on acknowledgment.

• Criticises second wave for being about the interests of white middle class women.

• Wants women to define feminism for themselves.

• Focuses also on mainly changes to traditional ideas about sexuality and abolishing gender rules including these seen in media.

Do men also suffer abuse?

• 1 in 4 women an 1 in 6 men.

• 2 women being murdered each week (104 every year) in sexual based violence and 30 men per year

  → shows that both suffer even if women more.

How might men be disadvantaged in a patriarchal society?

• Stay at home dads

• Paternity leave/pay is less

• Gender expectations → embarrassed to report domestic assault

• Jobs you can and cant do

• Brave/strong expectations

• Don’t talk about feelings → suicide rates higher.

Who set this system up?

What was the fourth wave of feminism?

• A contested concept

• Feminist claim is important

• 21st century to take action against sexism facing girls an women across the glove.

• Use the internet to bring out moves, e.g online petitions and direct action.

What are examples that the 4th wave feminists use to exclaim their powerful force in challenging sexism?

• ‘Everyday sexism project’ began 2017, documenting experience of sexism, harassment and assault to show how bad it is.

• Activism badge for girl guides ‘go for it! better change’.

• Growing online organisations e.g mumsnet.

• 2017 found 59% consider themselves feminists

• Uk femistar campaign against supermarkets displaying lad’s magazines.

In what 2 ways do Marxist feminists say women are exploited?

1) women work double time - paid less + work shift at home by caring for family, unpaid so benefits capitalism.

2) women forced into the ‘nuclear’ family by capitalism - men only want wealth and land to go to biological children - women must ‘produce heirs’.

What are criticisms of feminism?

• Radical feminists do not take into account all the ways men and women work together such as campaigns for gender inequality.

• Marxist feminists have been criticised for relying on revolution as a source of social change which so far has not occurred in major capatalism nations.