5.3.2

Sociological Perspectives

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Marxism and Feminism on Power

In society, different groups exercise power and authority. Power may come from government in the form of laws, customs and traditions. Different sociological perspectives view power and authority in varying ways.

Marxist perspectives on power

Marxist perspectives on power

Marxists see power as closely linked to social class; the bourgeoisie’s power is based on their ownership of the means of production and they use this power to exploit the proletariat.
Political power arises from economic power, so the wealthy (the bourgeoisie) also hold political power.

Feminist perspectives on power

Feminist perspectives on power

Feminists see gender inequality as the most important source of division in society.
Some feminists argue that society is patriarchal, that is, controlled by men who had considerable power within politics and the workplace.
Women are underrepresented among holders of political power, decision makers and the top levels of the judiciary in Britain.

1

The Sociological Approach

1.1

Introduction to Sociology

1.1.1What is Sociology?1.1.2Culture & Socialisation

1.2

Sociological Approaches

1.2.1Marxism 1.2.2Marxism 2 1.2.3Functionalism 1.2.4Feminism

1.3

The Consensus vs. Conflict Debate

1.3.1The Consensus vs. Conflict Debate 1.3.2End of Topic Test - The Sociological Approach

2

Families

2.1

Functions of Families

2.1.1Functionalist Views on Family 2.1.2Marxist Views on Family 2.1.3Feminist Views on Family

2.2

Family Forms

2.2.1What is a Family?2.2.2Nuclear Family 2.2.3Families in a Global Context 2.2.4The Rapoports & Family Diversity 2.2.5Causes of Family Diversity 2.2.6End of Topic Test - Family Forms

2.3

Conjugal Role Relationships

2.3.1Conjugal Roles

2.4

Changing Relationships Within Families

2.4.1Timeline 2.4.2Domestic Abuse 2.4.3Symmetrical Family

2.5

Criticisms of Families

2.5.1Functionalist Views of Families 2.5.2Marxist Views of Families 2.5.3Feminist Views of Families 2.5.4Declining Marriage Rate 2.5.5End of Topic Test - Criticisms of Families

2.6

Divorce

2.6.1Reasons For Rise in Divorce Rate 2.6.2Consequences of Divorce 2.6.3Functionalist Views 2.6.4Marxist Views 2.6.5Feminist Views 2.6.6End of Topic Test - Divorce

3

Education

3.1

Roles & Functions of Education

3.1.1The Functionalist Approach 3.1.2Evaluating Different Perspectives 3.1.3Types of School 3.1.4Alternative Education 3.1.5State & Private Schools

3.2

Processes Within Schools

3.2.1Internal Processes 3.2.2External Processes

3.3

Educational Achievement

3.3.1Measuring Educational Success 3.3.2Social Class & Education 3.3.3Social Class & External Factors 3.3.4Gender & Education 3.3.5Ethnicity & Education 3.3.6Parental Choice 3.3.7History of UK Education Policy 3.3.8Recent UK Education Policy 3.3.9End of Topic Test - Education

4

Crime & Deviance

4.1

The Social Construction of Crime

4.1.1Defining Crime & Deviance 4.1.2Sociological Explanations of Crime 4.1.3Interactionist Explanations of Crime 4.1.4Alternative Explanations of Crime

4.2

Social Control

4.2.1Informal Social Control 4.2.2Formal Social Control 4.2.3End of Topic Test - Social Construction of Crime

4.3

Criminal & Deviant Behaviour

4.3.1Explanations of Crime 4.3.2Social Class & Crime 4.3.3Gender & Crime 4.3.4Ethnicity & Crime 4.3.5Age & Crime 4.3.6Criminal Responsibility 4.3.7The Prison System 4.3.8Media Reporting of Crime 4.3.9Functionalist Explanations of Crime

4.4

Data on Crime

4.4.1Measuring Crime 4.4.2End of Topic Test - Criminal & Deviant Behaviour

5

Social Stratification

5.1

Social Stratification

5.1.1What is Social Stratification?5.1.2Functionalism 5.1.3Socio-Economic Class 5.1.4Socio-Economic Class 2 5.1.5Life Chances 5.1.6The Affluent Worker 5.1.7End of Topic Test - Social Stratifictaion

5.2

Poverty as a Social Issue

5.2.1Defining Poverty 5.2.2Factors Affecting Poverty 5.2.3Explanations of Poverty 5.2.4Impact of Globalisation 5.2.5End of Topic Test - Poverty as a Social Issue

5.3

Power & Authority

5.3.1Weber 5.3.2Sociological Perspectives 5.3.3Power Relationships 5.3.4End of Topic Test - Power & Authority

6

Sociological Research Methods

6.1

Research Methods

6.1.1Research Design 6.1.2The Scientific Method 6.1.3Other Considerations 6.1.4Primary Sources 6.1.5Secondary Sources 6.1.6Surveys 6.1.7Sampling 6.1.8Questionnaires 6.1.9Interviews 6.1.10Observation 6.1.11Statistics 6.1.12Case Studies 6.1.13Longitudinal Studies 6.1.14Ethnography 6.1.15Experiments 6.1.16Small Scale Research 6.1.17End of Topic Test - Research Methods

Jump to other topics

1

The Sociological Approach

1.1

Introduction to Sociology

1.1.1What is Sociology?1.1.2Culture & Socialisation

1.2

Sociological Approaches

1.2.1Marxism 1.2.2Marxism 2 1.2.3Functionalism 1.2.4Feminism

1.3

The Consensus vs. Conflict Debate

1.3.1The Consensus vs. Conflict Debate 1.3.2End of Topic Test - The Sociological Approach

2

Families

2.1

Functions of Families

2.1.1Functionalist Views on Family 2.1.2Marxist Views on Family 2.1.3Feminist Views on Family

2.2

Family Forms

2.2.1What is a Family?2.2.2Nuclear Family 2.2.3Families in a Global Context 2.2.4The Rapoports & Family Diversity 2.2.5Causes of Family Diversity 2.2.6End of Topic Test - Family Forms

2.3

Conjugal Role Relationships

2.3.1Conjugal Roles

2.4

Changing Relationships Within Families

2.4.1Timeline 2.4.2Domestic Abuse 2.4.3Symmetrical Family

2.5

Criticisms of Families

2.5.1Functionalist Views of Families 2.5.2Marxist Views of Families 2.5.3Feminist Views of Families 2.5.4Declining Marriage Rate 2.5.5End of Topic Test - Criticisms of Families

2.6

Divorce

2.6.1Reasons For Rise in Divorce Rate 2.6.2Consequences of Divorce 2.6.3Functionalist Views 2.6.4Marxist Views 2.6.5Feminist Views 2.6.6End of Topic Test - Divorce

3

Education

3.1

Roles & Functions of Education

3.1.1The Functionalist Approach 3.1.2Evaluating Different Perspectives 3.1.3Types of School 3.1.4Alternative Education 3.1.5State & Private Schools

3.2

Processes Within Schools

3.2.1Internal Processes 3.2.2External Processes

3.3

Educational Achievement

3.3.1Measuring Educational Success 3.3.2Social Class & Education 3.3.3Social Class & External Factors 3.3.4Gender & Education 3.3.5Ethnicity & Education 3.3.6Parental Choice 3.3.7History of UK Education Policy 3.3.8Recent UK Education Policy 3.3.9End of Topic Test - Education

4

Crime & Deviance

4.1

The Social Construction of Crime

4.1.1Defining Crime & Deviance 4.1.2Sociological Explanations of Crime 4.1.3Interactionist Explanations of Crime 4.1.4Alternative Explanations of Crime

4.2

Social Control

4.2.1Informal Social Control 4.2.2Formal Social Control 4.2.3End of Topic Test - Social Construction of Crime

4.3

Criminal & Deviant Behaviour

4.3.1Explanations of Crime 4.3.2Social Class & Crime 4.3.3Gender & Crime 4.3.4Ethnicity & Crime 4.3.5Age & Crime 4.3.6Criminal Responsibility 4.3.7The Prison System 4.3.8Media Reporting of Crime 4.3.9Functionalist Explanations of Crime

4.4

Data on Crime

4.4.1Measuring Crime 4.4.2End of Topic Test - Criminal & Deviant Behaviour

5

Social Stratification

5.1

Social Stratification

5.1.1What is Social Stratification?5.1.2Functionalism 5.1.3Socio-Economic Class 5.1.4Socio-Economic Class 2 5.1.5Life Chances 5.1.6The Affluent Worker 5.1.7End of Topic Test - Social Stratifictaion

5.2

Poverty as a Social Issue

5.2.1Defining Poverty 5.2.2Factors Affecting Poverty 5.2.3Explanations of Poverty 5.2.4Impact of Globalisation 5.2.5End of Topic Test - Poverty as a Social Issue

5.3

Power & Authority

5.3.1Weber 5.3.2Sociological Perspectives 5.3.3Power Relationships 5.3.4End of Topic Test - Power & Authority

6

Sociological Research Methods

6.1

Research Methods

6.1.1Research Design 6.1.2The Scientific Method 6.1.3Other Considerations 6.1.4Primary Sources 6.1.5Secondary Sources 6.1.6Surveys 6.1.7Sampling 6.1.8Questionnaires 6.1.9Interviews 6.1.10Observation 6.1.11Statistics 6.1.12Case Studies 6.1.13Longitudinal Studies 6.1.14Ethnography 6.1.15Experiments 6.1.16Small Scale Research 6.1.17End of Topic Test - Research Methods

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Weber

Power Relationships