Chapter 2Interpreting Social Problems: Aging

Conflict TheoryPages 34 - 39

Conflict Theory The parts of society do not work

together harmoniously

Society’s parts are competing with one another for limited resources

From the conflict perspective, social problems are the natural and inevitable outcome of social struggle

The basis of all social problems is the conflict over limited resources between the more and less powerful

The more powerful exploit society’s resources and oppress the less powerful

Those who are exploited react to their oppression and create more social problems

Development of Conflict Theory

Karl Marx – founder of conflict theory

Inspired by the time period of the Industrial Revolution and the struggle for power

Capitalism – when a small group of people gain control over the means of production and make profit their goal

“ This misery is going to lead to a bloody day of reckoning when the workers overthrow their oppressors. The workers will

establish a classless society in which the goal will not be profit for the few but, rather, the

good of the many”~Karl Marx

Georg Simmel compared the relationships of people who occupy higher positions (superordinates) with those who are in lower positions (subordinates)

argues that conflict also has benefits

Ex.: When the members of a group confront an external threat, they tend to pull together (war)

Lewis Coser analyzed why conflict is especially likely to develop among people who have close relationships with one another

relationships are part of a system in which the parties have worked out expectations about relative power, responsibilities, and rewards

failures to reach expectations can offend one party and lead to conflict

Development of Conflict Theory

Before machines, older workers were prized for their experience and skill.

Industrial Revolution – machinery – work takes less experience and skill

employers hired younger workers who were willing to work for less pay – fired the elderly who fell into poverty

During the Great Depression Frances Everett Townsend lead a social movement to rally the elderly into a political force

Townsend Clubs demanded old-age pensions

ultimate goal was for the federal government to levy a national sales tax of 2% to provide $200 a month for every person over 65

the elderly’s increased spending would lift the nation out of the Depression

Applying Conflict Theory to Social Problems: Social Security

President Franklin Roosevelt responded to the Townsend Plan with his Social Security plan

When conflict theorists analyze a social problem, they look for how interest groups compete for scarce resources.

Ex. political power of the elderly vs. the power of the government

Applying Conflict Theory to Social Problems: Social Security

In the 1970s, sociologists started to apply the conflict perspective to the relationships of women and men

feminist theory examines male-female relationships from the perspective of the powerful oppressing the powerless and the reactions to that oppression

the goal is to change the unequal relationships

Feminists argue that the first step is that women must become aware of how their oppression is rooted in their relationships with men.

The broad historical view focuses on patriarchy, the dominance of men-as-a-group over women-as-a-group

throughout history men have had greater power than women in both public and private spheres and that men have exercised this power to control women

Feminist Theory

In the 1980’s feminist theorists split into several branches:

Radical feminism – we must dismantle society in order to get rid of patriarchy

goal: to free both men and women of rigid gender roles by waging war against patriarchy

negative publicity and stereotype of feminism

Liberal feminism – all people are created equal and deserve access to equal rights

institutions socialize men and women into believing oppressive ideology

Socialist feminism - direct link between capitalism and the oppression of women

rewards go to those in the workplace, not the home – as a result women’s traditional work in the home is not respected

The Development of Feminist Theory

Cultural feminism – we need to appreciate the biological differences between men and women

women are inherently kinder and gentler so if women ruled the world, patriarchy, oppression, and capitalism would not exist

Ecofeminism – patriarchy is oppressive not only for women but also for the environment

men want to dominate both women and nature

The Development of Feminist Theory

Ultimate goal: fix the unequal power relations between men and women

Feminism Today

Emma Watson - UN Speech Launching HeforShe

Homework:Write a one page reaction to Emma Watson’s speech.