Sociology Specific Theories

Question 1

In what 2 ways do Marxists see the capitalist system divided into?

Answer 1

The superstructure and infrastructure:

1.) The superstructure is made up of social institutions such as the family, education system, mass media, politics, religion - they all spread dominant ideology (in the form of ISAs) in order to maintain inequality & oppression in persuading the WC to conform

2.) The infrastructure (or economic system) is comprised of the divide between the social classes of the bourgeoisie and proletariat

The superstructure maintains & legitimises the infrastructure

Question 2

According to Marxists, why does capitalism run society?

Answer 2

Because people need to attain material goods to survive, therefore they’ll exchange their labour to:

-Produce these goods
-To obtain wages to afford these material needs

This creates the division of labour, as this exchange isn’t equal

Question 3

What is the division of labour?

Answer 3

The divide between:

-The labourers themselves
-Those who own the means of production

Those who own the means of production (the bourgeoisie) can exploit the labourers by paying them low wages so that they can’t be socially mobile enough to overthrow the bourgeoisie

Question 4

Criticisms of Marxism

Answer 4

-The RC are in the minority, therefore their ideology may not be coherent or applicable to many

• The proletariat have a dual consciousness : they begin to see through the dominant ideology as they experience everyday poverty & exploitation

-Functionalists argue that Marxist ignore consensus values (e.g work ethic, respecting authority, valuing education & families)

-Marxists ignore gender and ethnic inequalities

Question 5

How do liberal feminists believe equal rights can be brought into society?

Answer 5

By gradual reforms (without the need for a major revolution): these reforms can be brought by changes in legislation, e.g :

• Equal pay act (1970)
• Employment Protection Act (1975) : This made maternity leave a statutory right

Also changes in the family (e.g making men contribute more to domestic labour) and the education system (more female role models in male dominated subjects such as STEM)

Question 6

What do radical feminists (extreme) believe?

Answer 6

All men oppress all women, as men benefit from patriarchy (e.g benefitting from women’s unpaid domestic labour & sexual services)

Question 7

What are radical feminists’ solution to improving society?

Answer 7

Given that patriarchy (& therefore women’s oppression)is reproduced through sexual relationships, radical feminists advocate for:

1.) Separatism: Men & women living apart (creating a new culture of female independence, abolishing the family and any new offspring)

2.) Political lesbianism: Heterosexual relationships are perceived as “sleeping with the enemy”, therefore radical feminists advocate for lesbianism

3.) Consciousness-raising: Encouraging marches & protests

Question 8

What do Marxist feminists believe is the main cause of women’s oppression?

Answer 8

The main cause is capitalism:

-Women are put in the role of being an unpaid domestic housewife
-They’re also made to be economically dependent on their husbands

This way, capitalism remains intact, as the husbands are given a purpose to & are able to carry on working for the capitalists, preserving their interests