Before I describe this family activity, let me call your attention to the previous blog post in which I posted my remaining lecture notes on Weber. Make sure to check that out and incorporate those notes into your class notes.
FAMILY ACTIVITY: One of the chapters in the text that I had planned to skip over was Chapter 11, Society and Gender: Gilman and Webb, in part because of my very limited knowledge of their contributions to sociological theory. So, for this family exercise, I, first of all, want everyone to read Chapter 11 carefully. Then, I want each of the families to identify and describe any THREE contributions to sociological theory that are brought out in the authors' discussion of Gilman and Webb, and note how each of these contributions compare and/or contrast with any ONE of the other theorists we've covered in class. I will give you some class time next week to confer with your family members.
We'll take some time out in class on Thursday, April 22nd to hear a representative from each family present what you found. I would also like someone from each family to post a summary of your findings as a comment on this blog post. The deadline for posting these summaries will be Monday, April 26th. I may draw on this material to make up a couple final exam questions.
This activity is worth 7 points for each participating family member.
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3 comments:
Tomas, Emily, Kelsey, and Cam:
Reform Darwinism vs. Spencer and Sumner
Charlotte Perkins Gilman refuted the ideas of Spencer and Sumner that society operates by a form of social Darwinism. Spencer and Sumner endorsed the idea that society functioned by a survival of the fittest mechanism, in which weaker individuals would eventually die out and society would improve as a result. They used this perspective as an argument against government aid and intervention. Gilman did see society as undergoing a constant evolution, but agreed with the reform Darwinism of Lester Frank Ward. Reform Darwinism proposed that "cooperation, not competition, is the means for the survival of the higher species" (271). While social Darwinism promoted capitalism and a "dog eat dog" mentality, reform Darwinism believed that progress would emerge by addressing social problems. As a part of her argument, Gilman argued for gender cooperation through what is now feminism.
Socialism vs. Durkheim (pg 108)
Gilman saw work as central to human existence. She used “motherhood” as an example to say that women use this for both the denial of their independence as well as an unfulfilling life task. She continues to say motherhood is very inefficient because it is taught and practiced by young women or amateurs, which is unhealthy for the children. Gilman let her views on feminism relate to her views on socialism, but she states that the most important barrier we must break is the need of economic independence and the need for the care of children. These two correlate because the kids can only be helped if the elders/parents are helped initially.
Durkheim stressed the notion of connection because socialism involves many aspects of life; the government, human life, etc. He felt as if things should be resolved and approached in the open with multiple people/rules and laws involved. Solving problems alone and behind closed doors was something Durkheim didn’t agree with. Gilman and Durkheim had similar ideas about socialism, but they were on different sides of the line where Gilman thought the main focus was about women, Durkheim said it revolved around men. They both had strong opinions about their stance and weren’t shy to disagree with other peoples opinions.
Functionalism vs. Spencer and Sumner
Spencer’s functionalism is based around the idea of applying natural selection to society. In this manner, he argues that changes in structure cannot occur without changes in functions and that increases in size of social units necessarily bring in their wake progressive differentiations in social activities
In Gilman’s functionalism she states that “[s]ociety is the whole, and we are the parts. Human existence results only from complex interdependent activities.” In this sense, she relates very closely to Durkheim’s arguments that “society consists of numbers of interrelated and highly specialized functions, the functionaries are being human animals”.
Gilman’s functionalism also relates heavily to Marxist materialism by arguing that material goods are primary.
All in all, she is a functionalist in much of the way that other social Darwinists are.
Red Family:
1) Gilman’s cultural feminism argued that, historically, women were equal to and even in some ways superior to men. In fact, women suffered a period of subjugation in order to create a “civilized man” but now society and the greater good was no longer benefited by women’s oppression. Although Gilman talked about motherhood as women’s primary role, she did not endorse this as their only role in society. The primary difference between men and women was, in her view, cultural and social rather than biological in nature. In contrast, Pareto believed that patriarchy was a natural and universal social structure across civilized societies. Pareto viewed women’s essential nature as fickle and promiscuous (and inherently subordinate to men) and “had little time” for the feminist call for equality.
2) Consistent with Fabian socialism, Webb endorsed gradual social reform that resulted from the socialist’s involvement in government systems and political parties on the behalf of the underprivileged and marginalized members in society. Marx can be compared to Webb on this point, primarily as an advocate for radical social change rather than gradual. Webb and Gilman, while critiquing the capitalist system, were not in any way advocating a violent overthrow of capitalism. This is, however, evident in Marx’s (and Engels’) view to overthrow the capitalist society, not just tinker with it. Another aspect of Marx that makes him different to Webb is the stance of observing and interpreting rather than direct involvement in government as Webb seems to advocate.
3) Webb also, despite her support for improving conditions and benefits for working women, viewed motherhood as women’s inherent and primary role. Women’s functional role as effective mothers instead of as economic producers was the most useful and valued contribution to society. Spencer would have agreed with Webb regarding the status of women. He believed that women should accept their status as child bearers. He believed the physical and mental differences between men and women all happened naturally. (It was true that women biologically bear children.) Spencer even went as far to say that warfare was the reason women began to develop careers. Ultimately, Spencer would agree with Webb that motherhood was women’s inherent and primary role.
Gilman talks about reform Darwinism, Webb talks about Fabian socialism. Contrast with Spencer and Sumner.
Reform Darwinism is the care and cooperation, which make up the social characteristics that grow directly from social evolution. Gender cooperation is essential for societal progress. Fabian Socialism is the gradual control of society to government control. This is different than Spencer because he abdicated individuals. Spencer and Sumner also thought that society would develop itself on its own rather than with help.
Webb’s division of labor compared to Durkheim’s division of labor.
Webb had a three-part division of labor, which must be applied to the pursuit of social change. The scientist, the politician, and the idealist must work together to achieve social change. She is specific about what the divisions of labor must be for change, where as Durkheim just says there needs to be division of labor. Webb does not focus on autonomy as it relates to labor, where as Durkheim focuses a lot on this topic.
Gilman’s functionalism compared to Spencer and Sumner’s functionalism.
Society is a whole that is made of parts, and humans are parts. Our human existence is a result of inter-dependent activities. Spencer and Sumner focus more on individualism. Gilman saw society as more than just the people who make society up, where as Spencer and Sumner saw society that is created by individuals.
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