Download Sociological Perspectives

Sociological Perspectives
Summaries
Theory—a set of logically interrelated statements that attempts to
describe, explain, and (occasionally) predict social events.
Perspective—an overall approach or viewpoint toward some
subject—for examining various aspects of social life. The major
theoretical perspectives that have emerged in sociology are
functionalism, conflict theory, feminist, and interactionist. Other
perspectives such as the postmodern have more recently gained
acceptance among some social thinkers.
Functionalist
Strengths
1) There is a general consensus about the values and norms of society by the
majority e.g. wealth is good, murder is bad. They wish to keep the statusquo. Individuals and groups have to accept their roles in society.
2) Society is made up of integrated parts that are tied together, thus if
something is wrong with one it will effect the others. (It functions like the
organs of our body). These parts in society are the institutions of our society
e.g. family, school, economy, justice system, etc.
3) Society tends to seek stability and avoid conflict. Conflict is seen as
dysfunctional.
4) Macrolevel analysis
Weaknesses
 They do not see anything wrong with inequality in a society based on
class, gender or race.
 Is not open to social change
 Does not look at the causes (root) of social problems
Conflict
Strengths
1) Societies are always in conflict with a battle over power to control the
norms, valves and resources of a society. This control in power is
characterized by a group called the “power elite”
2) Conflict and power differentials are always present in the society as
groups pursue their interests. It looks to investigate social inequality
as it relates to class, gender, race/ethnicality.
3) Conflict is a major contribution to change.
4) Macrolevel analysis
Weaknesses
 In the past the focus of the perspective was based largely on class
inequality.
 There is little focus to social stability and shared valve.
 There is a claim that this perspective has lost scientific objectivity
because in most cases sociologist are encouraged to be activist of
social change for those issues that they are studying.
Feminist
Strengths
1) It is believed that Sociology of the past focused on issues as to how
they affect men thus applying analysis with little or not consideration of
women.
2) The public and private spheres of life are both socially create thus
gendered (that is, unequal for men and women).
3) Patriarchy, or male control, is present in all society.
4) Because of routinely different experiences and differences in power,
women’s and men perceptions for reality differ.
5) Its analysis is from a micro and macrolevel
Weaknesses
 Feminist has been critical of traditional roles of women and at times
looking down on the roles that women play e.g. the family.
 Feminist of colour have been critical of this perspective in its lack of
analysis of issue on race and class as factors in shaping social reality
as it relates to inequality.
Symbolic Interactionist
Strengths
1) People are, above all else, symbol users; they acquire these symbols and
their shared meaning through social interaction with others.
2) People respond to others and to other’s actions based on their
understanding of meaning in the particular situation--- their definition of
the situation.
3) Society and social groups within it are process whereby people have
constructed meanings and have negotiated social interaction.
4) Microlevel analysis
Weaknesses
 Due to its analysis on a micro level critics have stated that it has
limitations as it relates to the larger social issues imposing in society
that are beyond the control of individuals e.g. class, race, gender,
economy.
 Focus on small-scale, relatively trivial, aspects of social life
 Over-emphasis on "the individual" (little sense of social structure)
 Too much focus on individuals (and their "common sense",
subjective, interpretations)
 Doesn't explain how or why societies change
 Questions of social order and social change not adequately explained
 Social Structures (doesn't explain why these may be important)
 How do structures affect individual perceptions, meanings and
interpretations?
 Power relationships (where does power come from?).
Post Modern
Strengths
1) Reflects the believe that some nations were entering a period of postindustrialization, these post modern societies are characterized by an
information explosion, rise in consumer society, and the emergence of
a global village
2) They value the free flow/sharing of ideas from various academic
disciplines (e.g. history, economics, political science, geography etc.)
3) Recognize influence of tech. in shaping social life & also influence of
history itself…
Weaknesses
• Over-emphasis on individuals, consumers, choice, etc.
• Under-emphasis on how "choice" is socially-created / produced
• No empirical evidence to support post-modernist "theories"
• Ignores power structures in society
• Capitalism does not produce empowered, knowledgeable, consumers
• Social class clearly related to life chances
"Science" is not simply an ideology (describes empirical reality)