Joey Sprague proposed the idea that social theory is constructed as a canon. The cannon is an idea that says social theory is wrapped around the viewpoint of white male capitalist. The macro aspect of sociology which involves the economy was primary and the micro which focused on the individual as far as the nurturing and emotional aspects were overlooked and dismissed to the psychological field. Because of this viewpoint the canon does not consider all of the people in society and those whom are seen not to be producing capitol are unimportant. If we look at the time of the development of these ideas produced by these “dead White men”, women and children were not considered in the theory, as they were not warranted the means to produce in the economic social world and therefore did not matter and are not considered in theory during that time.
Sprague introduced the feminist approach to critiquing social theory on the treatment of women in the social world. Though women have tried to protest these ideas of being subordinate beings in comparison to men, it is very difficult as the ways that women ought to be have been imbedded over time. Women were excluded from the workforce and only held the role of a homemaker and caretaker of the household while men carried the dominant role as the breadwinner and financial provider of the household. Sprague conveys that the individualized perception of social theory does not account for the lived experience of all people. For example, Sprague discusses the differences in paid and domestic labor. Though in Modern day society women are able to work in the flourishing capitalist economy, women of color are still allocated into domestic life work and are unable to compete with women of non color for paid work that does not involve care taking (Sprague, 93).
Janet Chaftez analyzes classical sociological theory through gender and feminist theory. Chafetz says that the traditional view of social theory is constructed in a very masculine way and when feminist theory is discussed it often is revealed as limited knowledge and easily dismissed. To remedy this issue Chaftez introduces the standpoint theory. The standpoint theory is a theory that allows for different perspectives to exist about a discourse and therefore take off the blinders that exist in social theory so that multiple standpoints can provide a clearer perspective for the known the knower and the production of knowing.
Feminist standpoint theory to me seems to recognize some form of social phenomenon and power relations that seek to oppress femininity and challenge that viewpoint. Chaftez discusses the issue of essentialism which categorizes male and female sex roles in an unchanging matter. For example, often people say that women are born nurturers which mean that every person born as female is undoubtedly a nurturing person. Feminist standpoint theory would challenge this idea and retort by saying that society assigns gender roles to women that assist in the development of a nurturing behavior. Thus, insinuating that even if a person is born male, if he is also constructed in a way that nurturing and pleasing others is key to his development, then he too will have nurturing characteristics.
Though standpoint theory does exist, it is very unlikely that those dominant figures that reinforce the ideas of the canon of classical sociology that reproduce inequality toward different groups of individuals will consider shifting some power toward these disadvantaged populations. These dominant figures have structure the social world to their advantage and therefore have no desire to incorporate new ideas regarding what for so long has been unimportant to the sociological discourse.
Sprague introduced the feminist approach to critiquing social theory on the treatment of women in the social world. Though women have tried to protest these ideas of being subordinate beings in comparison to men, it is very difficult as the ways that women ought to be have been imbedded over time. Women were excluded from the workforce and only held the role of a homemaker and caretaker of the household while men carried the dominant role as the breadwinner and financial provider of the household. Sprague conveys that the individualized perception of social theory does not account for the lived experience of all people. For example, Sprague discusses the differences in paid and domestic labor. Though in Modern day society women are able to work in the flourishing capitalist economy, women of color are still allocated into domestic life work and are unable to compete with women of non color for paid work that does not involve care taking (Sprague, 93).
Janet Chaftez analyzes classical sociological theory through gender and feminist theory. Chafetz says that the traditional view of social theory is constructed in a very masculine way and when feminist theory is discussed it often is revealed as limited knowledge and easily dismissed. To remedy this issue Chaftez introduces the standpoint theory. The standpoint theory is a theory that allows for different perspectives to exist about a discourse and therefore take off the blinders that exist in social theory so that multiple standpoints can provide a clearer perspective for the known the knower and the production of knowing.
Feminist standpoint theory to me seems to recognize some form of social phenomenon and power relations that seek to oppress femininity and challenge that viewpoint. Chaftez discusses the issue of essentialism which categorizes male and female sex roles in an unchanging matter. For example, often people say that women are born nurturers which mean that every person born as female is undoubtedly a nurturing person. Feminist standpoint theory would challenge this idea and retort by saying that society assigns gender roles to women that assist in the development of a nurturing behavior. Thus, insinuating that even if a person is born male, if he is also constructed in a way that nurturing and pleasing others is key to his development, then he too will have nurturing characteristics.
Though standpoint theory does exist, it is very unlikely that those dominant figures that reinforce the ideas of the canon of classical sociology that reproduce inequality toward different groups of individuals will consider shifting some power toward these disadvantaged populations. These dominant figures have structure the social world to their advantage and therefore have no desire to incorporate new ideas regarding what for so long has been unimportant to the sociological discourse.