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)
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)
