Theories Flashcards
(37 cards)
key phrases to identify a theories question
‘today’s society’
‘concepts’
synoptic links must be…
from the same theory as the one in the Q
for example for a functionalism organic analogy paragraph the synoptic link must e a functionalist theory such the role of education being secondary socialisation
Functionalist concept
Organic analogy A01
Durkheim believed society = like a biological organism - various parts of society working together to help society survive like organs in the body
an example of the organic analogy is when we see education and the family working together to ensure that young people are socialised ‘correctly’
primary socialisation - teaches basic manners habits and language skills
secondary socialisation - acts as a bridge between wider society and the family
Parsons sees society as a system similar to Durkeim’s organic analogy in three ways -
system - both are self regulating systems of interrelated independent parts that fit together in fixed ways. In society the parts are social institutions, individual roles etc
system needs - needs that must be met in order to survive e.g societies members have to be socialised if society is to continue
+ functions
organic analogy synoptic links
family - primary socialisation
education - secondary socialisation
beliefs - provides comfort
crime - boundary maintenance
organic analogy A03
New Right - the number of NEETs/ the underclass prove the education system is failing
Marxism - passes on capitalist values not shared ones
Functionalist concept
value consensus and social order AO1
Parsons is interested in how social order is possible
It is achieved through a central value system or a shared culture (value consensus)
= the glue that holds society together
value consensus makes social order possible by integrating individuals into the social system and directing them towards meeting the systems needs
there are two mechanisms for ensuring that people conform and work to meet societies needs -
socialisation - internalise the systems norms and values so that society becomes part pf their personality structure
social control - positive sanctions reward conformity negative sanctions punish deviance
value consensus and social order
synoptic links
social control
crime - boundary maintenance
value consensus and social order A03
Left realism - EMs are margianlised , don’t have same values
Functionalism concept
GAIL needs
(only need to go into detail about 2)
Goal attainment
Adaptation
Integration - ensuring individuals feel they belong to something bigger than themselves - provides socila glue to hold society together e.g religion
Latency- allows people to let off steam when they need to , keeping them motivated to carry on and perform their roles (talk about warm bath theory synoptic link)
first 2 are instrumental needs and last 2 are expressive needs - by carrying out their roles social stability is maintained
GAIL needs
synoptic link
warm bath theory - link to latency point
GAIL needs
A03
Goal attainment - glass ceiling, women can’t set the same goals if any in the workplace - radical feminism
How would interactionists criticise functionalism
deterministic - functionalists see individuals as passive puppets on the strings of the social system. They fail to acknowledge their free will and choice
New right concepts
Underclass
NR = a political stance, particularly associated with theorists such as Charles Murray, which has been influenced by functionalist thought
traditional roles and values are crucial for society
believe that the progressive social changes of the 60s and 70s threaten society - gay marriage (2014) undermines traditional nuclear family
in particular concerned with gender roles and the breakdown of the nuclear family - they see this as the cause of rising crime and the lack of social cohesion
Murray thinks we should abolish welfare state as it creates an underclass of welfare dependant single mothers and family problems.
The welfare state acts as a perverse incentive - encourages people to behave irresponsibly - people know the welfare state will always support them and so they continue to have children that they cannot afford to provide for
this creates a dependency culture - unfair expense for tax payers
govt has become a nanny state - intervenes too much and fails to encourage self-reliance
Abolishing it could correct this
Underclass
synoptic links
crime - inadequate socialisation
families - lone parent families headed by single mother - lack of disciplinary figure - inadequate socialisation
Underclass AO3
radical feminism - places the blame for the underclass on women but the men are not fulfilling their role either - not around to provide for the family
New Right concepts
Education as a free market AO1
people should have a choice in what they consume - including public services such as education and healthcare
They services are best run by privately owned businesses that aim to make profit. Creates a motive for improvement and drives up standards
they therefore suggest that education should be run like a market. Schools should be accountable to customers (students and parents) and parents should have a choice about what school their child attends. schools must therefore compete for students which drives up standards - talk about synoptic link here and Davies parentocracy
Education as a free market
synoptic links
educucation - marketisation policies
Education as a free market A03
Gillbourne and Youdell -
A-C economy
Gerwitz - privileged choosers
Marxist concepts
Marxist feminism A01
Women’s subordination is deep rooted in capitalism
Although individual men may benefit from capitalism, the main beneficiary is capitalism
women’s subordination results from their primary role as unpaid homemakers - places them in an economically dependent situation
This functions for capitalism:
women are a reserve army of labour (e.g WWII)
reproduce the labour force
women absorb anger - Ansley ‘takers of shit’ male domestic violence (synoptic link myth of the warm bath)
Barrett - the ideology of familism - presents the nuclear family and its sexist division of labour as natural
Because of the links between women’s subordination and capitalism, marxist feminits think that women’s interests lie in the overthrow of capitalism
Marxist feminism
Synoptic link
myth of warm bath - relate it to women absorb anger
Marxist feminism AO3
Unpaid domestic labour may benefit capitalism but this doesn’t explain why it is women and not men who perform this role.
Hartmann argues that Marxism is ‘sex blind’
Feminism concepts
Marxist feminism
same as before
Feminist concepts
Radical feminism AO1
patriarchy is universal - male domination of women exits in all known societies
according to Firestone the origins of patriarchy lie in women’s biological ability to bear and care for infants
men are the enemy
patriarchal oppression is direct and personal as it occurs in the private sphere as well (through domestic violence, unpaid housework etc)
All relationships involve power and become political when one person dominates the other - therefire relationships between men and women are always political
Radicals refer to these poer relationships as sexual politics - for example Brownmiller argues that the fear of rape is a powerful deterrent against women going out alone at night
they argue that patriarchy constructs sexuality to satisfy men’s desires - e.g women are portrayed as passive in pornography
they offer tow solutions to this
separatism - Greer argues for the creation of matrifocal households as an alternative to the traditional family
Political lesbianism - avoid ‘sleeping with the enemy’
Radical feminism
synoptic links
families - men enforce power divisions through not doing housework - Anne Oakley etc
