Soc 33 (Massey)
Gender Theories Handout
Spring 2005
Order Theory
Order theory focuses on social institutions and their functions in meeting needs of members in a society. Its central question is:
How is society held together? Its answer is: that shared values are held by a majority in a given society and these values are
reinforced through people’s participation in social institutions. Success depends upon each individual conforming to societal values
and norms and participating in social institutions. Social conflict is seen as dysfunctional and is to be minimized or avoided under this
theory. Inequality is functional for society. Social change should occur slowly and from within the existing social institutions.
In gender relations, order theorists focus on how different roles for women and men meet societal needs and the functionality of the
traditional gendered division of labor.
1. Gender Role theory
2. Human Capital theory
3. Davis-Moore hypothesis
4. Culture of poverty thesis
Conflict Theory
Conflict theory focuses on divisions and inequalities in society. Its central question is: How is society
divided and unequal? Its answer is: that the powerful in society (economic and political elites) control social institutions which serve
interests rather than the general populace. Elites use both fraud (propaganda) and force
(violence or threat of it) to protect and advance their interests. Systems of inequality and domination have both ideological bases
(information, belief systems) and material bases (control over resources and access to them).
Forms of discrimination based on gender, race, class, sexuality, age and other systems of inequality and domination are used be elites
to divide the general population, and to prevent class consciousness and possible class revolution. Conflict is seen as inevitable in
society. Inequality is seen as problematic and struggles for justice and equality are advocated and supported by conflict theorists.
Societal conflict is capable of generating rapid social change from those outside the mainstream social institutions.
In gender relations, conflict theories focus on men’s domination in societal institutions and their control over societal
resources. In addition, the focus is also on women’s struggles to challenge men’s societal domination.
1. Feminist theories
2. Gender Hierarchy
3. Split labor market theory
Symbolic Interaction Theory:
Symbolic Interaction theory is generally concerned with how society is experienced by those living in it. Society is cumulatively
composed of all the small group interactions of all of its members. People create, maintain, and change their social worlds through
their interactions with others, through the meanings they give to their experiences, and through the symbols that they use.
In gender relations, self-perceptions and others' perceptions may build identities, reinforce a sense of group belonging, or
cause labeling, with stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination resulting. How a person presents herself or himself to the world, can
help to explain her/his motivations, and intentions, and other peoples' reactions to, and treatment of that person in the larger societal
context.
1. Labeling Theory (and its process)
2. Impression Management
3. Identity