SOAN 2120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Standardized Test, Bourgeoisie, Abstract Theory

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology and Anthropology
• Course: SOAN 2120
• Professor: D Walters

Document Summary

Studying the environment and how it influences people. Trading places- movie clip, demonstrates how much environment affects people and who they become. Karl marx- conflict theory (both approaches of research) Within society there is conflict between competing groups (the haves and have nots) Ideally conflict theorists want to see equality at the end of the day. Everything exists in society to serve a purpose/ serve a function. If something is no longer functional within society people will form a consensus and get rid of it. They think everybody has equality of opportunity (some will excel and some will not) Conflict theorists argue 90% of professors in the natural sciences are male, 50% of the population is female, in the end-gender distribution should be equal. Functionalists argue but 90% of prison population is male, there opportunities should be the same. At the extreme conflict theorists are conspiracy theorists, and functionalists are na ve.