Download Understanding Social Science Theories: A Look at Family, Social Status, and Gender - Prof. and more Study notes Introduction to Sociology in PDF only on Docsity! FAD2230 January 11, 2012 o The Importance of Social Science Theory o Theories: Helping Us Make Sense of The World Theory: A general framework, explanation, or tool used to understand and describe the real-life world Either micro or macro Need to look at table 1.3 Summary of Family Theories Structural Functionalism: A theory that attempts to determine the structure, systems, functions, and equilibrium of social institutions How the family is organized and how it interacts with other social institutions Research focuses on division of labor in the house and how it is influenced by our society and how it influences our society Conflict Theory: A theory that emphasizes issues surrounding social inequality, power, conflict, and social change Looking at why the elderly receive government health care but children do not. How capitalism influences life Feminist Theory: A theory in which gender is seen as the central concept for explaining family structure and family dynamics Women labeled as better parent or usually win custody battles Three above were all macro theories Next three below are all micro Social Exchange Theory: A theory that draws upon a model of human behavior used by many economists We humans look at benefits versus costs. In relationships and daily decisions Principle of least interest: person with least care in relationship, holds more power Symbolic Interaction Theory: A theory that emphasizes the symbols we use in everyday interaction- words, gestures, appearances- and how these are interpreted Example is an engagement ring (culturally symbolic) Developmental Theory: A theory that suggests families, and individual family members, go through distinct stages over time, with each stage having its own set of tasks, roles, and responsibilities NewlywedsParents Systems Theory: A theory that proposes that a family system- the family members and the roles that they play- is larger than the sum of its individual members. Teacher’s favorite! Everything around you affects you, work, education, etc. Studies subsystems: sibling subsystem, parent-child subsystem, etc. Really looks at communication within families She would strategically place chairs in room and watch if they move the chairs closer or farther. The married couples usually sit in love seats. The troubled ones sit far apart o Are We Rejecting Marriage and Family Relationships Research shows that is not the case Not much change in attitude or children since 70s Numbered of married people are declining which is contributed to people just waiting longer due to other priorities such as school or job High school seniors are usually surveyed. Girls and boy both found it important but it was more important to girls! Many of them said they would like to get married and believe in staying married She made emphasis on reading charts carefully Chapter 2 o Social Status: Sex, Gender, Race, Ethnicity and Social Class o The Link Between Private Experiences and Social Structure Social Stratification: The hierarchical ranking of categories of people within society Poor vs Middle class making decisions on buying a house or purchasing cable o Different experiences based on social class Knowing differences is a good thing Sociological Imagination: The recognition that our personal experiences are, in large part, shaped by forces within the larger society Certain categories are more likely to experience things more than others Black family, two teenage sons, and both doctors: They won’t allow sons to drive the car at night because he was already pulled over twice because he was a black teenager driving a Mercedes. The sons were also told to never run down the street. o Family life influenced by a larger force o Sex, Gender, and Patriarchy Sex: Biological differences between men and women, and their role in reproduction
