1. Who are they and why are they important?
Pioneers of Sociology
Who are they and why are they important?

2. The Origins of Sociology
The Industrial Revolution
People were forced to leave their farms and small businesses to obtain factory jobs in large cities
Brought many social problems (disease, unemployment, crime)
Sociology developed as a way to deal with these new problems and make society ‘work’
Political Revolutions
Extreme violence and social change
Governments and societies turned upside down
First sociologists used the tools of the Enlightenment (reason and science) to offer ideas and solutions to a rapidly changing society

3. Auguste Comte France,
Positivism (positive and orderly solutions can solve social problems)
Coined the term ‘sociology’
Sociologists should use scientific tools of observation, experimentation, and comparison to study human societies

4. Harriet Martineau England, 1802-1876
Raised awareness of social inequality
Especially inequality toward women
Wrote editorials in the London Daily News

5. Emile Durkheim France, 1917-1958
Brought sociology to forefront (first journal of sociology)
Theory of social facts: things such as customs, institutions, and organizations exert control over people

6. Karl Marx Germany,
Believed capitalism (class differences) would be replaced with communism (everyone would have equal access to products and benefits)
Wrote The Communist Manifesto

7. Max Weber Germany, 1864-1920 Disagreed with Marx (class structure)
Believed human values and beliefs affected how people acted throughout history

8. Herbert Spencer England, 1820-1903
Theory of Social Darwinism: The most fit people (aka wealthy) would be the most successful in society

9. George Herbert Mead United States, 1863-1931
Social interactivism: How people ‘define the situation’ in different roles and settings in society

10. Talcott Parsons United States, 1902-1979
Theory of Structural Functionalism: Social Structures performed positive functions in society
Functions ensured the social system would remain stable and orderly and able to absorb change

11. C. Wright Mills United States, 1916-1962
Interested in positive functions of American life
Criticized white-collar middle class and society being governed by elite leaders

12. Dorothy E. Smith Canada, 1926-
Women and powerless have been excluded from sociological research
Society must include women and the powerless in how we think, speak, write, and act on a daily basis