AS Sociology
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Outline the central principles of five
sociological theories:
Functionalism
Marxism
Feminism
Interactionism
Postmodernism
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A point of view.
A way of seeing the world...
...and therefore, a way of understanding the
world and everything in it.
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People can interpret identical things
differently.
A sociological perspective may form when a
group of people interpret something in a
similar way and use that interpretation to
explain their world...
In the example given, two new perspectives
might have arisen: X Factorists and Anti-X
Factorists...
The X Factor exists purely to distract the
masses from the serious problems in their
society. It is a trick played by the rich, on
the poor to keep them sedated on their
sofas rather than marching against tyranny.
I disagree: The X Factor people that by making the
most of your talents and working hard you can
achieve huge rewards. Therefore, it inspires normal
people to make the best of themselves and to follow
their ambitions rather than sit and do nothing.
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Complete the ‘perspectives’ questionnaire.
Which sociological perspective best matches
your personal views?
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Why do you go to work?
Is the money you are paid fair for what you
do?
Is there any conflict of interest between
yourself and your boss?
What was the Marxism activity we did in the
taster session (and what was the point of
it)?
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Society based on conflict between two
economic classes – bosses and workers.
‘Bosses’ aka Bourgeousie;
Ruling Classes; Capitalists…
‘Workers’ aka Proletariat;
Working Classes…
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
How should
wealth be
divided between
social classes?
If the total UK wealth
was represented by
100 coins, how
should we divide
them between five
social class groups?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOJ93tA
bPP0
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj2LA8r
EqQ4
If the situation is so unfair, why do the ‘rest’
of us not do anything about it?
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Marxists believe we are brainwashed by
ideology.
The rich, ruling classes use institutions like
the media, the education system and
religion to socialise us into believing
inequality is normal and natural...
How might the media, religion and education
work to ‘brainwash’ people into believing
that inequality is normal?
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Marxists believe that being brainwashed
gives us a false class consciousness.
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However, they also believe that one day we
will realise the truth and will rebel against the
capitalist system...
Homework: Research the life and work of
Karl Marx (if this means just reading his
Wikipedia entry, then I’ll let you off this once)...
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Not really a single perspective...
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Describes a wide range of
views, beliefs and arguments
inspired by Marxism but either
extending or amending some of the key
ideas of traditional Marxists.
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Based on the ideas of Max
Weber (1864-1920).
Sometimes called “the ghost of
Marx”...
Agreed with some of Marx’s key ideas, but
thought that social status and party (political
influence) were just as important as class in
creating social stratification.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Would the following four people occupy high
or low class, status and party positions?
Black female MP
White, working class plumber who helps
run local boy’s football team
35 year old ‘Euromillions’ winner (worth
£35m)
Elderly man on state pension
http://www.emile-durkheim.com/
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Society is like a human body (organic analogy)
because...
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...It gradually develops and changes.
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...All of its parts work together and depend on
each other.
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When problems occur, it has mechanisms for dealing
with them (e.g. the police, the legal system).
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Every society has a value consensus: We
agree on what values are important and how
we should behave. We share a common
identity.
The division of labour is specialised meaning
inequality is natural and necessary.
Every social institution has many important
functions to perform.
When looking at a part of society, functionalists
ask: “What is its function?”
What are the functions of:
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Family
The Education system
Religion
The Mass Media
Crime
Police
(Min. 3 for each)
Discuss: What is meant by a ‘feminist’?
There are many different types of feminism (liberal,
radical, Marxist, postmodern etc.)
 In general, feminists believe much of society is
patriarchal (male-dominated). Men hold power over
women and restrict their opportunities.
 Feminists work to change things for women,
campaigning for equality in all aspects
of social life.
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First Wave – Women’s Suffrage (late C19thearly C20th)
Second Wave – Equality; Anti-discrimination
(1960s-present)
Third Wave – Fighting the backlash from the
second wave! (1990s-present)
Fourth Wave??? - ??? - ???
Post-Feminism – Mission Accomplished
(1980s-present)
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What evidence can you think of/find that
females are disadvantaged in the UK?
See also:
Labelling Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, Social Action Theory, Interpretivism
What is happening
in this picture and
why?
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There are different ways of interpreting
everything – and every interpretation is as
valid as every other.
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It is through our interpretations that we give
meanings to things.
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Our societies and cultures are shaped and
developed through the shared meanings we
create.
Labelling Theory is one of the key interactionist
ideas we study at A Level...
 It focuses on how the way in which we ‘label’ each
other (verbally or through our behaviour towards
them) can influence the way they behave, often
becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
 For example, if a teacher labels a student as ‘lazy’ or
‘thick’, how could this influence their behaviour in
school?
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On your post-it note,
anonymously write
one word which
describes your first
impressions of this
person e.g. What
might they be like?
What might they do?
Individual
publically
labelled as
‘deviant’
Becker: Possible
Stages of the
Labelling Process
Individual is
rejected by
family, friends,
employers etc.
Being rejected
leads to
further
deviance. The
beginnings of
a deviant
career.
Individual joins an
organised deviant
group; they accept their
deviant identity.
From within the
group, a deviant
subculture
develops; the
norms/values of
these support and
justify deviant
identities.
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Using Becker’s stages of labelling, write a
short story or article describing the effects
on a person being labelled as deviant.
You can use a contemporary example if you
wish.
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Because the world is constantly changing, it is
impossible to explain it through one single ‘big’ theory
(meta-narrative).
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Societies today are media-saturated; we can find it
very difficult to separate media images from reality. In
essence, there is no longer a such thing as objective
reality...
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People are no longer restricted by their class,
gender, ethnicity etc. We are now free to
make choices about how we live.
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Life is a now an endless supermarket: We
construct our identity through the products
we consume.
Homework:
Research (briefly) the life and
work of Jean Baudrillard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYBNRUStZsg
Macro Sociology
The large-scale, structural approach to
studying society. Interested in how society
shapes individuals.
E.g. Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism
Micro Sociology
The small-scale, agency approach to
studying society. Interested in how
individuals shape society, through their
interactions and the meanings they place
on things.
E.g. Interactionism
Sociological perspectives
are EITHER macro or
micro. Some can ALSO be
EITHER based on
consensus or conflict.
Consensus Theories
Theories that suggest that the
culture of a society is agreed upon by
its members, who want to keep it
that way.
E.g. Functionalism
Conflict Theories
Theories that suggest the culture of a
society is imposed on everyone by
powerful groups to suit their own needs,
creating conflict in that society.
E.g. Marxism, Feminism
Write 750-1000 words on how you think
different sociological perspectives might
consider the TV show ‘The X Factor’.*
*If you’re not familiar with the show, ask to be allocated a different one!
Due In: This Time Next Week