Chapter 2 Interpreting Social Problems: Aging Conflict Theory Pages 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

Development of Conflict Theory 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

Applying Conflict Theory to Social Problems: Social Security 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

Feminist Theory 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

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

Homework: Write a one page reaction to Emma Watson’s speech. Feminism Today Emma Watson - UN Speech Launching HeforShe Homework: Write a one page reaction to Emma Watson’s speech.