Theoretical Perspectives on Gender
Sociological theories help sociologists to develop questions and interpret data. For example, a sociologist studying why middle-school girls are more likely than their male counterparts to fall behind grade-level expectations in math and science might use a feminist perspective to frame her research. Another scholar might proceed from the conflict perspective to investigate why women are underrepresented in political office, and an interactionist might examine how the symbols of femininity interact with symbols of political authority to affect how women in Congress are treated by their male counterparts in meetings.
Structural Functionalism
Structural functionalism has provided one of the most important perspectives of sociological research in the twentieth century and has been a major influence on research in the social sciences, including gender studies. Viewing the family as the most integral component of society, assumptions about gender roles within marriage assume a prominent place in this perspective.
Functionalists argue that gender roles were established well before the pre-industrial era when men typically took care of responsibilities outside of the home, such as hunting, and women typically took care of the domestic responsibilities in or around the home. These roles were considered functional because women were often limited by the physical restraints of pregnancy and nursing and unable to leave the home for long periods of time. Once established, these roles were passed on to subsequent generations since they served as an effective means of keeping the family system functioning properly.
When changes occurred in the social and economic climate of the United States during World War II, changes in the family structure also occurred. Many women had to assume the role of breadwinner (or modern hunter-gatherer) alongside their domestic role in order to stabilize a rapidly changing society. When the men returned from war and wanted to reclaim their jobs, society fell back into a state of imbalance, as many women did not want to forfeit their wage-earning positions
Conflict Theory
According to conflict theory, society is a struggle for dominance among social groups (like women versus men) that compete for scarce resources. When sociologists examine gender from this perspective, we can view men as the dominant group and women as the subordinate group. According to conflict theory, social problems are created when dominant groups exploit or oppress subordinate groups. Consider the Women’s Suffrage Movement or the debate over women’s “right to choose” their reproductive futures. It is difficult for women to rise above men, as dominant group members create the rules for success and opportunity in society (Farrington and Chertok 1993).
Friedrich Engels, a German sociologist, studied family structure and gender roles. Engels suggested that the same owner-worker relationship seen in the labor force is also seen in the household, with women assuming the role of the proletariat. This is due to women’s dependence on men for the attainment of wages, which is even worse for women who are entirely dependent upon their spouses for economic support. Contemporary conflict theorists suggest that when women become wage earners, they can gain power in the family structure and create more democratic arrangements in the home, although they may still carry the majority of the domestic burden, as noted earlier.
Symbolic Interactionism
Symbolic interactionism aims to understand human behavior by analyzing the critical role of symbols in human interaction. This is certainly relevant to the discussion of masculinity and femininity. Imagine that you walk into a bank hoping to get a small loan for school, a home, or a small business venture. If you meet with a male loan officer, you may state your case logically by listing all the hard numbers that make you a qualified applicant as a means of appealing to the analytical characteristics associated with masculinity. If you meet with a female loan officer, you may make an emotional appeal by stating your good intentions as a means of appealing to the caring characteristics associated with femininity.
Because the meanings attached to symbols are socially created and not natural, and fluid, not static, we act and react to symbols based on the current assigned meaning. The word gay, for example, once meant “cheerful,” but by the 1960s it carried the primary meaning of “homosexual.” In transition, it was even known to mean “careless” or “bright and showing” (Oxford American Dictionary 2010). Furthermore, the word homosexual carried a somewhat negative and unfavorable meaning fifty years ago, but it has since gained more neutral and even positive connotations. When people perform tasks or possess characteristics based on the gender role assigned to them, they are said to be doing gender. This notion is based on the work of West and Zimmerman (1987). Whether we are expressing our masculinity or femininity, West and Zimmerman argue, we are always “doing gender.” Thus, gender is something we do or perform, not something we are.
In other words, both gender and sexuality are socially constructed. The social construction of sexuality refers to the way in which socially created definitions about the cultural appropriateness of sex-linked behavior shape the way people see and experience sexuality. This is in marked contrast to theories of sex, gender, and sexuality that link male and female behavior to biological determinism, or the belief that men and women behave differently due to differences in their biology.
Utilize one of the three theoretical perspectives, functionalism, conflict, and symbolic interactionism to discuss the social...
Discuss the social institution of marriage and family using any two of the three theoretical perspectives – functionalism, conflict, and symbolic interactionism. Which perspective fits your idea of what marriage and family are, and their place in our society? Include textual evidence to support your view.
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From the perspective of a sociologist, choose one of the theoretical perspectives (interactionism, functionalism, or conflict theory) to examine the film, "What the Health". Provide examples of how the film presented health and medical care from your chosen theoretical perspective.
Sociological Perspectives (Functionalism, Conflict Theory, Symbolic Interactionism) on gender inequality? Focus on Canada Give a detailed account for each theory
four contemporary perspectives in sociology (functionalism, conflict theory, feminist theories, and symbolic interactionism). Which do you believe has the most merit in explaining the current economic situation in the United States and why? Please explain in detail.
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With the three theoretical perspectives, Structural Functionalism Conflict and Symbolic, and highlight, What are the views on "Illnesses" in society.
This activity assesses your understanding of the chapter concepts. This is an objective activity, meaning that there is one correct answer for each question. After you have made your selection, use the “Check My Work” feature to receive feedback. Emile Durkheim's work is the foundation for which major theoretical perspective? a. symbolic interactionism b. conflict theory c. functionalism d. feminism This activity assesses your understanding of the chapter concepts. This is an objective activity, meaning that there is one correct...
what discuss can you make about medicalization and chronic disease and illness? Adult Lealth Nursing Ethics mie B. Butts OBJECTIVES After reading this chapter, the reader should be able to do the following: 1. Explore the concept of medicalization as it relates to the societal shift away from physician predominance of the 1970s. 2. Differentiate among the following terms: compliance, noncompliance, adherence, nonadherence, and concordance. 3. Examine cultural views with regard to self-determination, decision making, and American healthcare professionals' values...
In not more than twenty (20) words, state the theses of the following passages. Each thesis should be strong, precise and researchable. Question 3 (a) We wish to interrogate the effects of societal polarization – albeit negatively – the unending demand of citizens for probity and accountability from political leadership in Ghana. Encapsulating the political culture or attitude of the Ghanaian since the introduction of multi-party democracy in the 1950s are the elements of societal polarization, contestations and overtly partisan...