SOCI 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Feminist Sociology, Symbolic Interactionism, Structural Inequality
Document Summary
Assumes each element contributes to the functioning of society and has a role in sustaining equilibrium: function for everything, society is a structure. Durkheim is often associated with this theoretical perspective. Issues of power to explain society: instead of focusing on the function. Sees society as a set of competing social groups: not a system. Confrontation are understood to happen because of differences in power. Even if there is not overt conflict: can analyze issues/topics by examining who has power over whom, implications involved. Society not about equilibrium: about struggle and social change. Marx and weber is often associated with this theoretical perspective. Constantly built and rebuilt through individual actions. People behave according to the meanings things and situations have for them: meaning comes from social interactions with others. Born into ongoing interactions and existing meanings: we learn them, we alter them in our performance and through interpretation. Act how we do depending on how we define the situation.