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The conflict paradigm’s explanation of socialization

The socialization process is coercive, forcing us to accept the values and norms of society.

The values and norms of society are dictated and enforced by the Bourgeoisie.

The Proletariat follow and accept the values and norms of the Bourgeoisie because all of the institutions of society, particularly education, religion, and the economy are shaped to serve the exploitative purposes of the Bourgeoisie.

The conflict paradigm’s explanation of the social structure

The social structure exists in time and space, is objective/external, concrete, coercive, and relatively static.

The group is the basic unit of society and of analysis

Roles, statuses, groups, and institutions exist for the protection and maintenance of the elite; the social structure is based on relations of exploitation often based on master status.

There is no consensus among groups or individual members of society, there is only conflict over wealth, power, and status.

The social structure is exploitative.

The conflict paradigm’s explanation of bureaucracies

The bureaucracy exists to serve the needs of the Bourgeoisie

The bureaucracy is exploitive, and creates an “iron cage” which traps the average worker.

The bureaucracy is the primary characteristic of large-scale industrial societies.

The bureaucracy is the rationalized, and exploitive form of human interaction in large-scale formal organization.

The conflict paradigm’s explanation of deviance

Deviance is defined by those in power; therefore, what is deviant, is whatever offends the powerful, or whatever causes them to believe that they are losing power and control over the masses.

Deviance is conditional, situational, and relative to time, place, situation, and culture.

By declaring that certain groups are deviant, or treating certain groups as if they are, in some way, outside the boundaries of mainstream society, the ultimate in-group is able to maintain its power.

Deviance exists in all societies, and all societies create institutionalized methods of preventing and punishing deviance.

The conflict paradigm’s explanation of inequality

Inequality is generated and maintained by those in power in order to maintain their power.

Various groups in society are delineated by those in power and then are pitted against each other in a struggle for wealth, power, and status.

The powerful exploit everyone in order to engender false consciousness—the belief that the non-elites have the potential to become rich and powerful.

The elites will do anything in order to maintain their power.

The conflict paradigm’s explanation of the family

The family works toward the continuance of social inequality within a society by maintaining and reinforcing the status quo.

Through inheritance, the wealthy families are able to keep their privileged social position for their members.

The traditional family form which is Patriarchal, also contributes to the inequality of the sexes. Males have a lot of power and females tend to have less. Traditional roles of husbands and wives are differential valued in favor of husbands. The roles they do are more valued than the traditional housekeeping/child raising roles done by their wives. The traditional family is also a structure of inequality for both women and children.

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Source:  OpenStax, Minority studies: a brief sociological text. OpenStax CNX. Mar 31, 2010 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11183/1.13
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