Sociology Notes

SOCIOLOGY II
Lecture 1

Sociological Theories I

Social structures: the most basic, enduring, relative, stable, and determinative patterns of social relations

- Ex. Patriarchy, kinship, economy, politics, culture, sexuality, and racism

Structure vs. agency

Functionalism ----- Symbolic interactionism

3 levels of social structures

1. Microstructure
a. Patterns of social relations on the small scale (one-on-one interactions, intimacy, local)
 Ex. Status and social roles
2. Macrostructures
a. Patterns of social relations on a large scale
 Ex. Patriarchy, socio-economic class, racism, gender, and sexuality
3. Global structures
a. That encompass, crisscross, and permeate all societies
 Ex. International economic organizations, global communications, international political
organizations

Four Main Theoretical Traditions in Sociology
1. FUNCTIONALISM
2. CONFLICT THEORY
3. FEMINISM
4. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
- Focus on micro-level interactions between individuals
- Everyone sees the world differently

Human agency: people do not just react to social circumstances, they actively create subjective meanings

ERVING GOFFMAN (1922-1982)
Approach: people are social actors who manage their identities to create desired impressions from their audience

- Social interactions are like being in a play

FEMINISM
Patriarchy: social structure that subordinates females to male domination

- Examined in micro, macro, and global structures
- Distinguish between biological sex and gender
- Eliminating gender inequality is beneficial for everyone in society

ARLIE HOCHSCHILD
Sociology of emotions (symbolic interactionism, feminism and conflict theory)