9/5/2018

How is getting dressed in the morning a social activity?

Social Interaction Three Theoretical Paradigms --David Francis and Stephen Hester • • Summary? Structural Functionalism – Society is viewed as composed of various parts, each • Is there anything you can do that isn’t social? with a function that, when fulfilled, contributes to society’s equilibrium • Conflict Theory – Society is viewed as composed of groups that are competing for resources • Symbolic Interactionism – Society is viewed as composed of symbols that people use to establish meaning, develop their views of the world, and communicate with one another

Harold Garfinkel Talcott Parsons

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“Parsonian Functionalism” “Top-Down”

• Major theoretical perspective in mid-20th century – Attempts to explain how societies maintain stability and order • Focuses on roles of social institutions, and how they maintain social stability • People have internalized rules and norms, that’s why we see orderly behavior • If behaviors exist, they are there because they serve a function maintaining order

When a sociologist looks through a “top-down” lens, she sees: Any sociological theory used Objective, pre-existing social forces to explain social phenomena (such as norms) is a top-down approach to Cause/produce sociology.

An orderly society

Garfinkel Said:

Harold Garfinkel • Functionalism assumes that only people with the correct theoretical lenses can make sense had some problems of society • Ordinary people do see the world as orderly; with top-down as a sensical place • Functionalists like Parsons were ignoring all approaches. the work that ordinary people do every day to make sense of the world

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Garfinkel Said:

• Everyone has procedures they use to make sense of the world, and This is a • PEOPLE ACHIEVE THE ORDER OF THE “bottom-up” approach SOCIAL WORLD! to sociology.

When a sociologist looks through a The appearance of an orderly society “top-down” lens, she sees: (and the very reality/objectivity of the social world)

Objective, pre-existing social forces Produce/achieve (such as norms) People’s sense-making activities and Cause/produce procedures

An orderly society When a sociologist looks through a “bottom-up” lens, she sees:

So while top-down THE WORK sociological approaches ask: Why is the social world the way it is? IS THE ORDER! What are the social forces at work?

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The bottom-up These are fundamentally sociological approach asks: different questions, seeking different answers. How do we achieve a social world that seems objective Both, top-down and bottom-up, and pre-existing? are valid and useful approaches to sociology.

WE DO

Ethnomethodology

• Ethno = members • Methodology = methods • Members’ methods for achieving social order

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Story Time!

Here’s another example:

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Gender Gender

• In a top-down approach, a sociologist might • In a bottom-up approach, an ask: “Why don’t males cry as often as ethnomethodologist might ask: How is the females?” reality of gendered behavior produced?

Gender roles (males are taught not to show emotions) The reality of “gendered behavior”

Affect Produce/achieve

Behavior (males don’t cry as often as females) People’s sense-making activities/procedures (what we do)

¿Preguntas?

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