SOC 1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Social Inequality, Ethnocentrism, Microsociology

• School: Irvine Valley College
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 1
• Professor: brown

Document Summary

Conflict theory views society as based on tension and conflict over scarce resources. Conflict theorists assert that those who hold power define and perpetuate a culture"s ideology, and create a value system that defines social inequality as just and proper. Conflict theorists would certainly approach the slavery example we used above from a very different perspective: that slavery was allowed to exist because it benefited rich white people. Consider our own contemporary views of wealth and success. The culture and the values that support the belief that success requires money are a demonstration of the power of ideology. Conflict theorists view the link between money and success as an expression of the ruling elite"s power and influence. A clear canadian example of how the elite can use their power to dominate the less powerful is the canadian residential school system. Canadian government funded the residential school system for indigenous children.