Social Structures, Institutions & Inequality

Sociology systematically examines how human societies organize, stratify, and reproduce themselves. This pack covers foundational theoretical frameworks, social stratification, institutions, culture, deviance, and research methodology — the core toolkit for understanding social life.

## Theoretical Perspectives

Three macro frameworks anchor sociological analysis:

SFN (structural functionalism, Durkheim, Parsons): society is an integrated system of interdependent parts, each serving a function for the whole. Social institutions (family, education, religion, economy, government) persist because they fulfill essential needs. Dysfunction is deviation from equilibrium. Criticism: inherently conservative — treats inequality as functional and minimizes conflict and power.

CFT (conflict theory, Marx, Weber, Collins): society is an arena of competing groups struggling over scarce resources — wealth, power, prestige. Social structures reflect and perpetuate the interests of dominant groups. Inequality is not functional but exploitative. Marx focused on class (bourgeoisie vs. proletariat, control of MOP — means of production). Weber expanded to include status (prestige) and party (political power) as independent dimensions of STR (stratification).

SIT (symbolic interactionism, Mead, Blumer, Goffman): social reality is constructed through everyday micro-level interactions. Meaning is not inherent in objects but created through social process. Goffman's DRM (dramaturgical) approach: social life as performance — front stage (public presentation), back stage (private self), impression management. Labeling theory (Becker): deviance is not an inherent quality of an act but a consequence of social definition — being labeled deviant transforms identity and future interaction.

## Social Stratification