1. Sociology: a social science Contemporary Theoretical Perspectives

2. Functionalist Perspective (macrolevel) Based on the assumption that society is a stable, orderly system Society is composed of interrelated parts, each of which serves a function and ideally contributes to the overall stability of the society Social institutions- help society survive All parts affected when one doesn’t function properly

3. Key Proponents Talcott Parsons (1902-1979): Stressed that all societies must make provisions for meeting social needs in order to survive Robert Merton (1910-2003): Distinguished between manifest and latent functions in society

4. Conflict Perspective (macrolevel) Groups in society are in a continuous power struggle for control of scarce resources Today, social life is viewed as a continuous power struggle between competing social groups

5. Key Proponents Max Weber(1864-1920): Focused on the exploitation and oppression of workers by the capitalist class – role of economic conditions, power and prestige C. Wright Mills(1916-1962): Need to look beneath everyday events to observe inequalities in society The ‘power elite’ making most decisions

6. Feminist Perspective (macrolevel/microlevel) Evolved out of a criticism that sociology wasn’t acknowledging the experiences of women Focus on the significance of gender in understanding and explaining inequalities that exist between men and women in the household, in the paid labour force, and in the realms of politics, law, and culture Patriarchy- a hierarchical system of power in which males possess greater economic and social privilege than females

7. Key Proponents Dorothy Smith: Argued that sociological methods, concepts, and analyses were products of the ‘male social universe’ Margrit Eichler: Uses a structural approach to explain how gender inequality is created and maintained in a society dominate by men

8. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective (microlevel) Examines people’s day-to-day interactions and their behaviour in groups Sees society as a sum of the interactions of individuals and groups Focuses on interaction and the role symbols play in giving meaning to human communication Symbol- anything that meaningfully represents something else Ex. Signs, gestures, written language and shared values

9. Symbols are instrumental in helping people derive meanings from social situations Our thoughts and behaviour are shaped by social interactions with others

10. Key Proponents Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead: Explored how individual personalities are developed from social experience No identity or ‘self’ without communication from other people

11. Post Modern Perspective (macrolevel/microlevel) Believe existing theoretical perspectives have been unsuccessful in explaining social life in contemporary societies that are characterized by postindustrialization, consumerism and global communications Information explosion Rise of consumer society Global village (electronic communication)

12. Macrolevel analysis: Examines societies, large-scale social structures, and social systems Microlevel analysis: Focuses on small groups rather than large-scale social structures (people’s day-to-day interactions and their behaviour in groups)