sociological perspectives

Question 1

what is the problem with malestream sociology?

Answer 1

sociology has failed to deal with the concerns and interests of women + the unequal position they have traditionally occupied

Question 2

what do postmodernists argue?

Answer 2

it is nonsense to talk of ‘family’ as people live in such a wide range of ever changing personal relationships

Question 3

what are the 4 main features of new right?

Answer 3

-emphasis on individual freedom & self interest
-reduced spending by the state
-a defence of the free market
-a stress on the importance of traditional institutions and values

Question 4

what did Marx argue?

Answer 4

workers produce more than is needed for employers to pay them their wages- Marx called this surplus value. this means workers dont get full value of their work, therefore being exploited

Question 5

what were the stages Auguste Comte believed society developed in?

Answer 5

-theological stage- people understand society as natural
-positivist stage- society is governed by reliable knowledge understood in light of scientific knowledge

Question 6

what do structuralists believe?

Answer 6

the behaviour of individual human beings, they way they act, and the foundation of their identities are the result of social forces which are external to the individual

Question 7

what do functionalists believe?

Answer 7

any society has certain functional prerequisites that must be met if society is to survive

Question 8

what does the economic base consist of?

Answer 8

-means of production- land, factories, raw materials and labour necessary to produce societys goods
-the relations of production- shared ownership, between those involved in production; relationship between owners and non-owners

Question 9

what does structuration involve?

Answer 9

individuals can make choices within structures & act accordingly. while people operate with constraints of social structure, they can also act, make choices, and change the structure

Question 10

in ‘new right’ what does “an emphasis on individual freedom and self-interest mean”?

Answer 10

reducing control of the individual by unnecessary state interference

Question 11

in ‘new right’ what does “reduced spending by the state mean?

Answer 11

makes individual more self-reliant. by cutting welfare benefits and encouraging people to work

Question 12

in ‘new right’ what does “a defence of the free market” mean?

Answer 12

free competition between individuals, companies, schools, and other institutions is encouraged, giving individuals maximum choice

Question 13

in ‘new right’ what does “a stress on the importance of traditional institutions and values” mean?

Answer 13

traditional family life and traditional education and a condemnation of anything that challenges these values

Question 14

what do postmodernists suggest?

Answer 14

society and social structures have ceased to exist, and replaced by individuals making choices about their own lifestyle and identities, free from traditional constraints like social class, gender or ethnicity

Question 15

what was Marxs solution?

Answer 15

-in order to promote equality in society, capitalism must be destroyed
-the proletariat must rebel against the government and society must start again
-a communist society

Question 16

what is functionalism?

Answer 16

sociological perspective which sees society as made up of parts which work together to maintain society as an integrated whole

Question 17

what is functional prerequisites?

Answer 17

the basic needs that must be met if society is to survive

Question 18

what is marxism?

Answer 18

structural theory of society which sees society divided by conflict between two main opposing social classes due to private ownership of the means of production

Question 19

who are the bourgeoisie?

Answer 19

the class owners of the means of production in industrial societies

Question 20

who are the proletariat?

Answer 20

the social class of workers who have to work for wages as they have no means of production

Question 21

what is dominant ideology?

Answer 21

the sets of ideas and beliefs of the most powerful in society, which influences the rest of society

Question 22

what is malestream sociology?

Answer 22

feminists argue that a lot of mainstream sociology has been focused on the concerns of men

Question 23

what is marxist feminism?

Answer 23

emphasises the way in which women are doubly exploited as workers and women

Question 24

what is radical feminism?

Answer 24

focuses on the problem of men and male domination under the patriarchy

Question 25

what is liberal feminism?

Answer 25

focuses on the measures to ensure that women have equal opportunities with men within the present system

Question 26

what is postmodernism?

Answer 26

stresses that society is changing rapidly and constantly marked by chaos, uncertainty and risk

Question 27

what is structuralism?

Answer 27

overall structure of society, and the way social institutions work, constrain or limit and control individual behaviour

Question 28

what is social action?

Answer 28

understanding interactions between people, and how people interpret and see things as they do. focuses on the labels people assign to people and things around them

Question 29

what is structuration?

Answer 29

constraints from social institutions limit & control the behaviour of individuals and groups, and have influence on the formation of individual and group identities

Question 30

what is capitalism?

Answer 30

economic system that is based on private ownership of the means of production. individuals & businesses compete with each other to provide goods + services to consumers

Question 31

what is communism?

Answer 31

a society based on equality. no private ownership, all property belongs to the state