Institutionalism, Feminism, and Hermeneutic Phenomenology in Social Science

Institutions

Organizations, other formal structures that govern a field of action, such as education.

Institutionalism

Understanding society through institutions.

Social institutions

Systems that govern human interaction and shape norms, values, and behaviors.

Functions of social institutions

Serve essential functions like socialization, regulation, resource allocation, and maintenance of social order.

Max Weber

German historian and sociologist (1864-1920).

Formal institutions

Made through a series of explicit social interactions.

Informal institutions

Widely implied understanding of how to behave in society; has no explicit law or doctrine, but still generally followed.

Habits

Repeated actions that become recognized by an individual.

Customs

Habits shared within a group; integrate a social aspect in an individual's habits.

Conventions

Procedures agreed upon by society formed to establish social stability.

Authority figures

Implementers of institutionalization.

Family as an institution

First area of socialization, cultivates values, beliefs, norms, and reinforces social roles.

Religion as an institution

Unites members through shared values and customs, maintains order by forbidding certain behaviors.

Law as an institution

Society places great value on belief, rights to freedom of speech becomes protected.

Gender

Socially or culturally prescribed characteristics, behaviors, and interests appropriate for men and women.

Gender roles

Expectations of what is appropriate behavior for men and women.

Feminism

Awareness of women's oppression; collective action against gender inequality.

Liberal feminism

Gender inequalities rooted in social and cultural attitudes, different spheres like discrimination in the workplace.

Radical feminism

Believes that patriarchy is the root cause of gender inequality.

Intersectionality

Acknowledging one's class, race, religion, and gender.

Feminism in Media

Power asymmetry; characterized by the male gaze.

Black Feminism

Oppression of nonwhite women; an example of intersectionality.

Post-modern

Questions the very notions of gender; considers gender as fluid.

Hermeneutics

Study of interpretation; discovery of meaning through interpretation of words that describe the experience.

Phenomenology

Study of experiences that considers reality as subjective.

Hermeneutic Phenomenology

Qualitative research method that attempts to interpret the essence of lived experiences that emerged from the theory and philosophy of hermeneutics and phenomenology.

Hermeneutics (Greek origin)

"hermeneuein" - to interpret.

Phenomenology (Greek origin)

"phainomenon" - thing appearing to view.

Hermeneutic Phenomenology (definition)

Study of lived experiences by interpreting them through language.

Human-Environment systems

Symbiotic relationship between humans and the environment.

Examples of Human-Environment Systems

Farming as a source of livelihood in plains with rich soils.

Cultural Influence

Polyandry in the Himalayas due to scarcity of land.

Urban Migration

People from rural areas moving to urban areas for job opportunities.

Environmental Impact

Construction projects of corporations causing deforestation.

Renewable Energy

Using solar panels as a source of energy.

Resource Consumption

Culture influencing the amount of natural resources consumed.

Overpopulation

Migration leading to overpopulation; and overpopulation leading to increased waste and pollution.

Sense of Place

Feelings, symbols, or memories that a person attaches to a particular place.

Spatial Distribution

How phenomena and people spread all over a particular place.

Spatial Processes

Any action or process that occurs in a particular area.

DPSIR Model

Drivers, pressures, state, impacts, and responses; relationship between environmental issues and other aspects of society.

Drivers

Trends that can affect the environment.

Pressures

Emissions or wastes resulting from drivers.

State

Particular element of the environment.

Impacts

Large-scale effects on the environment.

Response

Actions people take to address the impacts.

Sustainability

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Resource Management

The management, use, and protection of a natural resource to prevent overexploitation or destruction.