Structuralism

Emile Durkheim Emile Durkheim ( ). Considered one of the founding sociologists and the founder of structuralism and functionalism. That suggests two important assumptions by Durkheim: first, that various social institutions have functions that they fulfill in society, and second that society has a structure. When one part of society is shifted, the whole structure shifts. Durkheim’s parents were French Jews; his father was a rabbi. Studied philosophy and taught philosophy for 5 years before moving into a social science position. Died of a stroke at 59. Durkheim was disliked by many of his colleagues, and it took him many years to advance in his career. This is due in part to anti-semitism, and in part to his zealous insistence that sociology was the most important of the sciences. His defense of the importance of sociology made him many enemies.

Durkheim His books include: The Division of Labor in Society, which examines how work is organized (1893) The Rules of Sociological Method, which makes suggestions about social science research methods (1895) Suicide, which looks at the social sources of suicide (1897) The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, which examines the social purposes of religion, looking mostly at aboriginal religions in Australia (1912)

Durkheim’s Study of Suicide Near the end of the 19 th century, French sociologist Emile Durkheim undertook an experiment to demonstrate the value of sociology His goal was to explain suicide in terms of social facts—using the sociological imagination

Durkheim’s Suicide We usually explain suicide in terms of individual factors such as depression or turmoil There’s no question that every suicide has an individual level explanation in terms of the biography of the person attempting suicide and his/her unique circumstances

Durkheim’s Suicide But, suicide rates are social factors They are more than the accumulation of stories of all those who have committed suicide They also tell a story about the society and time period they represent

Durkheim’s Suicide Durkheim compared suicide rates for a number of European countries, as well as the change in these rates over time He made a number of important findings

Durkheim’s Suicide Suicide rates were higher in Protestant countries than in Catholic countries Suicide rates increased during periods of social turmoil, particularly as these countries transitioned into an industrial economy

Durkheim’s Suicide From these findings, Durkheim developed a typology of suicide, focusing on 3 main types: 1.Egoistic Suicide: Persons who are not sufficiently socially integrated (Protestants) 2.Altruistic Suicide: Persons who are too socially integrated (Widows) 3.Anomic Suicide: Persons whose goals do not align with the norms of the society (particularly because those norms are in flux) (Farmers in an industrializing society)

Structuralism The view that our social actions are founded upon basic observable patterns (or structures). These structure effectively produce basic laws of the human social world, as biological structures produce basic laws of physiology Although all of the early sociologists qualify as structuralists to some degree, this school of thought is largely traced to Emile Durkheim

A Framework for Comparing Theoretical Approaches Structur- alism Function- alism Class Conflict Inter- pretive Racial Conflict Feminist Theory QueerInter- sectional Social Self Focus of Explan- ation How society is organized; resources and schema Purpose of every social institution EconomicsSystems of Meaning Racial hierarchy GenderSexuality; social boundaries; mainstream Comb- ination of race, class, gender, sexuality, etc. Social Psychology Implication for Power NeutralPower important for social cohesion Ruling class, bourgeoisie and capitalists HegemonyWhite supremacy; racial dictatorship PatriarchyDispersedMatrix of Domination Agency Key Questions What are the norms, goals, and means? What need is served by institutions Who rules? How is strat- ification reproduced What are the beliefs and values of a society What does race mean? How is it organized Relative positions of men and women, meanings of gender Who is treated as ‘other’? How do the marginalize d find power How do different hierarchies work hand in hand to oppress some and privilege others Relation- ship between the individual and society; how do social exp. Create identity

Structuralism Focus of Explanation How society is organized; resources and schema Implication for Power Neutral Key QuestionsWhat are the norms, goals, and means?