Title: Sociological Perspectives on Gender Stratification | Boundless Sociology
Headings: Sociological Perspectives on Gender Stratification
Sociological Perspectives on Gender Stratification
The Functionalist Perspective
Learning Objectives
Key Takeaways
Key Points
Key Terms
The Conflict Perspective
Learning Objectives
Key Takeaways
Key Points
Key Terms
The Interactionist Perspective
Learning Objectives
Key Takeaways
Key Points
Key Terms
Interactionism
Goffman and Control
Symbolic Interactionism
Gender as Performance
The Feminist Perspective
Learning Objectives
Key Takeaways
Key Points
Key Terms

Content: This view has been criticized for reifying, rather than reflecting, gender roles. While gender roles, according to the functionalist perspective, are beneficial in that they contribute to stable social relations, many argue that gender roles are discriminatory and should not be upheld. The feminist movement, which was on the rise at the same time that functionalism began to decline, takes the position that functionalism neglects the suppression of women within the family structure. A Female Indian Construction: While the structural-functionalist perspective argues that gender inequalities exist as a form of the division of labor, the photograph above clearly illustrates that women need not be restricted to certain activities. The Conflict Perspective
Conflict theory suggests that men, as the dominant gender, subordinate women in order to maintain power and privilege in society. Learning Objectives
Describe gender from the view of the conflict perpective
Key Takeaways
Key Points
Conflict theory asserts that social problems occur when dominant groups mistreat subordinate ones, and thus advocates for a balance of power between genders. Frederich Engels compared the family structure to the relationship between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, suggesting that women had less power than men in the household because they were dependent on them for wages. Men, like any other group with a power or wealth advantage in Conflict Theory, fought to maintain their control over resources (in this case, political and economic power). Conflict between the two groups caused things like the Women’s Suffrage Movement and was responsible for social change.