Social Theory

Paper Summary:

The paper examines views of D. Smith, P. Collins and V. Woolf on the subjective experience of women in society and the perception of social realities. The paper then reviews Nancy Fraser's article entitled, "From Redistribution to Recognition? Dilemmas of Justice in a "Pos -Socialist' Age" where she addresses the logic of redistribution and equality in politics and social theory. Next, the paper explains the critique of eurocentrism on cultural identity and refers to the ideas of W.E.B. DuBois and Stuart Hall. Finally, the paper explores how the phenomenon of globalization challenges classical social theory.

Outline:
Women in Society
Frazer and the Logic of Redistribution and Equality
The Politics of Difference and Multiculturalism and the Eurocentrism of Social Theory
Globalization

From the Paper:

"As Smith asserts in Knowing Society form within: a Women's Standpoint (1994), many sociological analyses of society have an innate bias in that they view society from a certain determinate position. (Smith 389) In other words, what Smith and others are suggesting is that the purely objective stance of sociological theory is a myth and there are in fact endemic and intrinsic biases within sociological theory that requires analysis and deconstruction. Smith refers particularly to the hegemony of the male viewpoint in sociological theory. She therefore suggests an "... alternative way of thinking Sociology" ( Smith 389). However, Smith also make it clear that she is not interested in "junking" or dismissing the various theoretical stances but in suggesting a more realistic and inclusive way of interpreting the objective data that presents itself for sociological study. This refers in particular to the issue of the marginalization of women."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Crowley H. Women and the Domestic Sphere.
• Du Bois, W.E. B. The Souls of Black Folk. 1903
• Fraser N. From Redistribution to Recognition? Dilemmas of Justice in a "Post -Socialist' Age. New Left review 1/212. 1995
• Hall S. The Question of Cultural Identity.
• Rosenberg J. The Follies of Globalisation Theory: Polemical Essays.Verso: 2002.

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