Power Relationships
Sociology: AQA GCSE, topic 5.3.3
Power Relationships
The relationship between those with and without power can be different depending on the group involved. The state may exert power different in relation to particular groups, such as woman, the working class or the young.
Power and age
- People under the age of 18 are expected to attend full-time education/training, or be suitably educated at home, or in alternative provision; this is a legal requirement.
- Young people also have restrictions placed on them, for example they aren’t permitted to buy alcohol or cigarettes.
Marxist views of power relationships
- Marxism argues that power is unequally distributed and that the working classes are treated more harshly than the middle-classes.
- They point to instances where so-called working-class crimes, such as theft and benefit fraud, are treated more severely by the courts than ‘white-collar’ crime such as corporate fraud and tax evasion.
Everyday power relationships
- Power can be exercised in relationships between people in everyday settings such as the home, workplaces and classrooms.
- People enter into power relationships when they try to control or influence other people’s behaviour, or when others try to control them.
Inequalities
- Power relationships operate when there are inequalities in power between individuals and groups.
- For example, between children and parents, students and teachers, and the public and the police.
Walby on Patriarchy
Sylvia Walby (1990) defined patriarchy as a system of social structures and practices in which men dominate and exploit women, and highlighted six patriarchal structures.
Paid employment
- Paid employment:
- Women typically earn less than men and are excluded from better types of paid work.
The household
- The household:
- Husbands and partners exploit women by benefiting from their unpaid labour at home.
Culture
- Culture:
- Culture differentiates between masculinity and femininity, which is defined as being sexually attractive to men.
Sexuality
- Sexuality:
- The double standard is an aspect of male dominance; sexually active women may be viewed negatively while sexually active men are admired.
Violence
- Male violence against women:
- Male violence affects women’s actions in the form of power over them.
The state
- The state:
- State policies are biased towards patriarchal interests.
- There has been little effort to improve women’s position in the public sphere, including the workplace.
Test yourself on Power Relationships
How many patriarchal structures did Sylvia Walby (1990) identify?