GRQ #2

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Devon Klaus 9/26/22 GRQ #2 1. After reading Chapter 1 of the Macionis textbook, in your own words, discuss the differences between the three major sociological theoretical approaches: structural functional, social-conflict and symbolic interaction theories. How might you apply these three approaches to examining the tradition of a wedding ceremony? A structural functional approach is "a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. As its name suggests, this approach points to social structure, any relatively stable pattern of social behavior". Structure function looks for social patterns like handshakes to religious rituals that keeps people together and the society moving forward. The social-conflict approach is "a framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change." This approach focuses on how class, race, ethnicity, gender, and age are linked to inequality because of money or power. Sociologists look at different categories like the rich in relation to the poor, white people in relation to people of color, and men in relation to women. These are all ongoing conflicts between dominate people in relation to disadvantaged people. The symbolic-interaction approach "is a framework for building theory that sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals." Society is the reality that people make for themselves by the interactions they have with one another. We attach meaning to everything on life, so we live in a world of symbols. In macro-level, structural functional approach explores how social structures work together to help society operate. As well as the social-conflict approach shows how inequality creates conflict and causes change. The 2 types of conflict analysis are feminist theory and race-conflict theory. But at a micro-level the symbolic-interaction approach studies how people, in everyday interaction, view reality. I would apply the structural functional approach in marriage to something that needs to happen, it's essential for the next generation of society. Marriage servers the purpose of intercourse and childbirth which helps the society operate. I would apply the social-conflict approach in marriage as in a way for men to dominate its wife. How the man will have all the power physically but also emotionally and is always in control. I would apply the symbolic interaction approach in marriage is that it is desired and wanted. 2. Both C. W. Mills, author of The Promise, and W.E.B. Du Bois (Macionis, pg. 18) promoted a more public sociology and rejected the detached scientific observation of their contemporaries. On the other hand, Max Weber (Macionis, pg. 22) asserted that scholars should remain value-free in order to minimize personal bias in their work. Think about these two perspectives on research and defend your stance in this debate. Du Bois wanted a social change and devoted his whole life to overturn laws and change the social norm on African Americans. Early in his career, he was hopeful about overcoming racial divisions. By the end of his life, he had grown bitter, claiming that little had changed. Max Weber claimed that the key to interpretive sociology lies is understanding. He states, "it's the interpretive sociologist's job not just to observe what people do but also to share in their world of meaning, coming to appreciate why they act as they do". Weber was fact-based rather than opinion based and wanted to seek out the facts instead of personal beliefs. In this debate I think yes, Du Bois was passionate about the change that he wanted to make but was unhappy when by the end of his life, little had changed. But Weber has concrete evidence, proof, and facts which allows people to be objective when researching. I think Weber's research is more accurate because it's not biased or effected by social believes.
3. What was the purpose of the Giordano, Longmore, and Manning (2006) article? In other words, why did the authors do the research? What were their research questions? Giordano, Longmore, and Manning's purpose for the research was for gender and the meanings of adolescent romantic relationships. They wanted to know more about how adolescents experience the transition from same-gender friendships to one that includes romantic involvement. Some of their research questions "prior research on adolescent girls, studies of boys' romantic and sexual lives, relationship qualities/dynamics, attempted and actual influence, and perceived power balance". 4. Why did Giordano, Longmore, and Manning (2006) use choose symbolic interaction as their theoretical framework? Giordano, Longmore, and Manning choose symbolic interaction as their theoretical framework to study the correlation between gender and the meaning of an adolescent romantic relationship. I think they chose this interaction to use symbols and connecting things with meaning.
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