Social theory includes all these sociological theories that try to explain how and why society works how it does. These theories have been getting put out by great thinkers throughout the years and have been built upon by others. There are the cannon of sociology that built the basic understanding of social theory and what others can base their work on. The three main sociologist that people look up to in the world of sociology are Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber. These three men have set up the foundation to what we know as sociology today. Even though there are different theories out since their initial ideas, these men are what sociology classes begin teaching and what is essential to know as a student of sociology. These were white men in a society that at the time of them being alive, white men were the ones that had the power in society. Not only were they white, but they were also not part of the lower class or the middle class. These men were part of the upper level social class. Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber only had the perspective of an upper class white male in a society that was white male dominated.
This is where the issue arises in society now and days. These ideas are all based from ideas of the past. These theories were all set when females had less rights in society and minorities did not have the power that they have now. The cannon of sociology were trying to explain the life of these less privileged people in society through the eyes of an upper class white male perspective. How could someone that has never been in the shoes of another race, class, or gender know what exactly is going in in their life or why they are being oppressed by the workings of society? That is what causes the rift in the famous sociological theories of the past and the theories that have arisen relatively recent. The articles read argue that there have to be more perspective involved in sociology, like the feminist theory. The articles state that the subject that they theories write about are too narrow, they are more focused on macro level issues that include family, religion, and the economy. They do not pay enough attention to the micro level of society, variables that impact a person’s daily life.
The main theory that the articles point out to help sociology broaden its perspective is the feminist theory. The feminist theory has a lot of view-points and different number of theories that arise from it. That is what the articles want when talking about broadening the perspective of what the cannon has set up. The idea of the feminist theory is that no one has made an actual definition for it, so it opens up the possibility for researchers to ask different questions about society that can lead to different findings in the end.
There are 4 main criteria to be part of the feminist theory. The first one is that gender has to be a center focus for the matter at hand. The second one is that gender relations are viewed as a problem. The third one is that gender relations are not viewed as something that is unable to change and something that does not change. The 4th criteria is that it can be used to change. To help the view change from what has already set up by the cannon, there are some things that sociologist can do. Set up theories based on the experiences of the people being explained. Gathering different points of view can help explain better.
The feminist standpoint theory can be applied in the subject of stay at home dads. Recently fathers have been the ones that have started quitting their jobs to stay at home and take care of their children, while the wife is the main breadwinner in the family. This has been a drastic change to what society is used to, the wife stays at home while the father is the one that goes to work to be able to provide money to feed his family. The issue here is that there is a gender role difference here that did not exist in the past. The perspective of the father that has taken an untraditional role in society is what the standpoint theory would take a look at and also take the mother’s view point of all this as well to be able to get more information on it.
This is where the issue arises in society now and days. These ideas are all based from ideas of the past. These theories were all set when females had less rights in society and minorities did not have the power that they have now. The cannon of sociology were trying to explain the life of these less privileged people in society through the eyes of an upper class white male perspective. How could someone that has never been in the shoes of another race, class, or gender know what exactly is going in in their life or why they are being oppressed by the workings of society? That is what causes the rift in the famous sociological theories of the past and the theories that have arisen relatively recent. The articles read argue that there have to be more perspective involved in sociology, like the feminist theory. The articles state that the subject that they theories write about are too narrow, they are more focused on macro level issues that include family, religion, and the economy. They do not pay enough attention to the micro level of society, variables that impact a person’s daily life.
The main theory that the articles point out to help sociology broaden its perspective is the feminist theory. The feminist theory has a lot of view-points and different number of theories that arise from it. That is what the articles want when talking about broadening the perspective of what the cannon has set up. The idea of the feminist theory is that no one has made an actual definition for it, so it opens up the possibility for researchers to ask different questions about society that can lead to different findings in the end.
There are 4 main criteria to be part of the feminist theory. The first one is that gender has to be a center focus for the matter at hand. The second one is that gender relations are viewed as a problem. The third one is that gender relations are not viewed as something that is unable to change and something that does not change. The 4th criteria is that it can be used to change. To help the view change from what has already set up by the cannon, there are some things that sociologist can do. Set up theories based on the experiences of the people being explained. Gathering different points of view can help explain better.
The feminist standpoint theory can be applied in the subject of stay at home dads. Recently fathers have been the ones that have started quitting their jobs to stay at home and take care of their children, while the wife is the main breadwinner in the family. This has been a drastic change to what society is used to, the wife stays at home while the father is the one that goes to work to be able to provide money to feed his family. The issue here is that there is a gender role difference here that did not exist in the past. The perspective of the father that has taken an untraditional role in society is what the standpoint theory would take a look at and also take the mother’s view point of all this as well to be able to get more information on it.