Sociology - Theory and Methods

• What is ideological state apparatus

  Apparatuses are major social institutions which legitimise inequalities by subconsciously introducing a particular set of ieas to preserve the status quo
• What did the frankfurt school state about critical theory

  Attempts to explain the perpetual power of the ruling class as stemming from subtle ideologies of consumerism and individualism to promote false consciousness
• What are Walby's six structures of patriarchy 


  Household

  Paid work

  The state

  Sexuality

  Male violence

  Cultural institutions
• What is the first stage of feminism

  WW1 - Campaign for voting rights
• What is the second stage of feminism

  Liberation thesis during the 60's
• What is the third wave of feminism

  Postmodernism
• What is the fourth wave of feminism

  Embracing online tech (#metoo)
• What does social action theories focus on

  Small groups and individuals as social actors who have agency to make their own decisions and are not pushed along by forces beyond their control
• Weber


  Led to origins of action theories, examining the meanings that lie behind actions and recognition of importance and influences of other people
• Social order according social action theories

  Society is the result of interactions carried out by actors interpreting an giving meaning to social settings they find themselves in
• Who created the symbolic interactionism approach

  Mead and Weber
• What is the symbolic interactionism approach

  Micro action theory which sees society as a product of human interactions and the meanings place on this. There is no objective reality
• Blumer - 3 basic features 


  People act in terms of symbols which stand for individual meaning

  Meanings develop through interactions and can change

  Meanings arise from an interpretive process
• What is an affective action

  Actions based on emotion - state of mind
• What is a traditional action

  Based on customs an habit of an individual
• What is rational actions

  Ability to assess costs and benefits of an action
• What is phenomenology

  The study of objects activities an ideas. We come to understanding what objects and activities are because they exist in our lifeworld. We develop common sense knowledge to communicate
• What is indexicality

  Garfinkel - The ability of individuals to draw meanings from social situations and store those for future reference. Important as it allows them to make sense of society
• What is the looking glass self


  Created by Cooley which suggests that individuals own identity is create by their interactions with other people. Reactions of others provides us with feedback
• What is modernity


  An era in human history which is characterised by scientific thought, individualism and technical development.
• What is postmodernism 


  Broad movement characterised by rapid changes.
• Lyotard


  People no longer believe in myth of truth, societies cannot be understood through metanarratives as there is a loss of faith in rational thoughts