Lesson 1: Sociological

Constructs and
Theories
Introduction to Womens Studies
Robert Wonser

Sociological Imagination

C Wright Mills term for the ability to shift your

perspective from one that emphasizes the
experiences of the individual to one that
understands the broader social context in which
that individual lives.
It is an awareness that we are a part of
something larger than ourselves and that our
position and personal problems are rooted in the
larger workings of society.
Personal troubles versus public issues
Lesson 1: Sociological Con

Using the Sociological Perspective

In small groups:
How would you explain the following social
problems using the sociological imagination?

Obesity
Homelessness/Poverty
Unemployment
Marriage
The metropolis
War
Lesson 1: Sociological Con

Structural Functionalism

Society is viewed as an ordered system of

interrelated parts, or structures, which are the
different large-scale social institutions that make
up society (family, education, politics, the
economy).
Each of these different parts of society meets
the needs of society by performing specific
functions for the whole system (society).
Lesson 1: Sociological Con

Functionalists on Gender

Believe that there are social roles better

suited to one gender than the other, and
that societies are more stable when
certain tasks are fulfilled by the
appropriate sex.

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

Conflict Theory

Conflict Theory sees social conflict as

the basis of society and social change,
and emphasizes a materialist view of
society, a critical view of the status quo,
and a dynamic model of historical change,
emerged from the writings of Marx.

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

Conflict Theorists

Power is a key variable for conflict

theorists.
Believe

men have historically had access to

most of societys material resources and
privileges.
Therefore, it is in their interest to try to
maintain their dominant position.

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic Interactionism sees interaction and

meaning as central to society and assumes that
meanings are not inherent but are created
through interaction.
Society

is symbolic interaction.

We create reality through our interactions with

one another and through shared meanings
made possible through language
Lesson 1: Sociological Con

Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic Interactionists
emphasize how the
concept of gender is
socially constructed,
maintained, and
reproduced in our
everyday lives.

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

Feminist Theory
Feminist Theory looks at gender
inequalities in society and the way that
gender structures the social world.
Standpoint the idea that a persons
location in the social world impacts how
they see, understand and interact in the
social world.

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Research Methods
Two types used:
Qualitative used for data that cannot be
easily converted into numbers, yields
greater validity but lower reliability,
exposes populations not easily discovered
Quantitative data that can easily be
converted into numbers, representative,
greater reliability but lower validity

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Quantitative Research Methods

Surveys are questionnaires that are

administered to a sample of respondents
selected from a target population.
Survey research tends to look at large-scale
social patterns and employs statistics and other
mathematical means of analysis.
Most commonly used research method in
sociology!
Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Quantitative Research Methods

Experiments are formal tests of specific
variables and effects that are performed in
a controlled setting where all aspects of
the situation can be controlled.
Used to demonstrate cause and effect
Least commonly used method in sociology

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Qualitative Research Methods

Ethnography a naturalistic method based
on studying people in their own
environment in order to understand the
meanings they attribute to their activities.
In participant observation the researcher
both observes and becomes a member in
a social setting.

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Qualitative Research Methods

Historical/Comparative
Comparing one society to another
Looking at historical trends over time

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Female Baby Names (1880 - 2010)

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Names that have gained

the most popularity,
2004 2010

...Or, the names Ill begin seeing all

the time in 2022-2028
Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Sociological Understandings

To understand something sociologically is not

easy.
It requires a conscious effort to see things
differently
It requires you to look beyond your immediate
self and your experiences.
It requires you to look at society and the big
picture instead of only your life experiences.
Why

is this necessary?
Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Its easy to pick out

individual experiences
that contradict the
majority of cases
This does not undermine
the larger point.
For example: as a group
males are taller than
females, even though
there are individual
females taller than
individual males.

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Matriarchy
Matriarchy when society (or any social
group or institution) is dominated by
women.
Is the U.S. a matriarchal society?

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Patriarchy
Patriarchy when society (or any social
group or institution) is dominated by men.
Is the U.S. a patriarchal society?

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Historical and Philosophical Roots

of Women's Studies
Like most social change, womens rights
were achieved (and continue to be)
through collective action (this includes
organized social movements as well).
These movements have been classified
into waves

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Feminism and the Womens

Movement

Who considers themselves to be a feminist?

Do you know what feminism is?
Feminism is the belief in the social, political,
and economic equality of the sexes and the
social movements organized around that belief.
In the United States, the history of the womens
movement can be divided into three historical
waves.
Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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The Womens Movement (contd)

The first wave was the earliest period of

feminist activism and included the period
from the mid-nineteenth century until
American women won the right to vote in
1920. The campaign organized around
gaining voting rights for women was
called the suffrage movement.
Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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The Womens Movement (contd)

The second wave was the period of

feminist activity during the 1960s and
1970s often associated with the issues of
womens equal access to employment
and education.

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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The Womens Movement (contd)

The third wave is the most recent period of

feminist activity and focuses on issues of
diversity and the variety of identities that
women can possess.
Looks at (or attempts to) all women accounting
for race/ethnicity, class, sexuality differences
noting that not all women benefit/are harmed in
the same manner.
Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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Cultural Backlash
Why did so few of you consider yourselves
feminist?
One area of backlash manifested in t he

mens movement, called male liberationism,

was a movement that originated in the 1970s
to discuss the challenges of masculinity.

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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The Mens Movement

Although originally broadly sympathetic with

feminism, the mens movement has now split into:
The mens rights movement, a group that feels
that feminism creates disadvantages for men
The pro-feminist mens movement, a group that
feels that sexism harms both men and women
and wants to fundamentally change societys
ideas about gender.

Lesson 1: Sociological Con

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