Social Theories & Feminism.

Q1. Solomon Asch’s Majority Influence Experiment:

Steps of the Experiment: Solomon Asch conducted a classic experiment in the 1950s to investigate the concept of majority influence on individual perception. Here are the steps of the experiment:

1. Participants: Asch gathered a group of college students as participants, but only one of them was a true subject. The rest were confederates of the experimenter.
2. Visual Task: Participants were shown a series of cards, each containing a line of a standard length and another line of varying lengths. They had to judge and verbally announce which of the lines of varying length matched the standard line in length.
3. Control Group: In the control group, participants answered the questions individually, without any pressure or influence from others.
4. Experimental Group: In the experimental condition, the confederates (fake participants) purposely gave incorrect answers to see if the real participant would conform to the majority’s incorrect judgment.

Conclusions Regarding Majority Influence: Asch’s general conclusions were as follows:

• In the control group (when individuals answered independently), participants made very few errors, indicating they could accurately judge the line lengths.
• In the experimental group (when participants were influenced by the incorrect majority), a significant number of subjects conformed to the majority’s incorrect judgments, even when the correct answer was obvious.
• This demonstrated the power of social conformity and the tendency of individuals to go along with the group, even when they knew the group was wrong.

Effect of Having a “Partner”: Asch also conducted variations of his experiment where he introduced a “partner” who gave correct answers. When participants had a partner who agreed with them, conformity decreased significantly. Having even one ally reduced the pressure to conform to the incorrect majority.

Q2. Theory of Honorary “Whiteness”:

Honorary “whiteness” is a sociological concept that refers to the perceived social privileges and benefits extended to individuals from racial or ethnic minority backgrounds when they adopt or conform to the cultural norms and behaviors associated with the white majority in a society. In essence, it means that some non-white individuals are treated as if they were white due to their alignment with the dominant cultural norms and values.

Related to “In Groups”: This concept is related to the idea of “in groups” because it highlights how individuals may gain acceptance and privileges by aligning themselves with the dominant or majority group (in this case, white culture). In-groups are social groups to which people feel they belong and identify with, and honorary “whiteness” can be seen as an attempt to become part of the majority in-group for the sake of social advantages.

Real-World Example: One example of honorary “whiteness” is the way some Asian Americans are treated in Western societies when they adopt Western customs, accents, and lifestyles. They may be perceived as “more American” or “assimilated” and enjoy certain privileges that come with that perception, such as better job opportunities or reduced racial profiling.

Q3. 5 Basic Principles of Feminism:

The five basic principles of feminism can vary depending on the specific feminist perspective, but generally, they include:

1. Gender Equality: Feminism advocates for equal rights, opportunities, and treatment for all genders, with a focus on achieving gender equality.
2. Ending Patriarchy: Feminism seeks to challenge and dismantle patriarchal systems and norms that perpetuate gender-based discrimination and oppression.
3. Intersectionality: Feminism recognizes the intersecting aspects of identity and oppression, addressing not only gender but also race, class, sexual orientation, disability, etc.
4. Body Autonomy: Feminism supports bodily autonomy, advocating for individuals’ rights to make decisions about their own bodies, including reproductive rights.
5. Social and Political Change: Feminism encourages activism and advocacy to bring about societal and political change to advance gender equality.

Example – Second-Wave Feminism: Second-wave feminism, which emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, can be used to explain these principles:

1. Gender Equality: Second-wave feminists fought for equal pay, reproductive rights, and an end to gender-based discrimination.
2. Ending Patriarchy: They challenged traditional gender roles and norms, advocating for women’s liberation from male-dominated structures.
3. Intersectionality: Second-wave feminists recognized that women’s experiences of oppression differed based on race, class, and sexuality. Leaders like Audre Lorde and bell hooks emphasized intersectionality in their work.
4. Body Autonomy: Advocating for reproductive rights, second-wave feminists supported access to contraception and safe abortion, asserting women’s control over their bodies.
5. Social and Political Change: Second-wave feminists engaged in protests, lobbied for policy changes, and raised awareness about issues like sexual harassment and domestic violence, driving important legal and social changes.

Q4. World Systems Theory and Intersectionality:

World Systems Theory: World Systems Theory, developed by Immanuel Wallerstein, is a sociological framework that analyzes global societies as interconnected and hierarchically structured systems, with core, semi-peripheral, and peripheral nations. It focuses on economic and political power disparities between these regions and their impact on global dynamics.

Intersectionality: Intersectionality is a concept that acknowledges the overlapping and intersecting aspects of identity (e.g., race, gender, class) and how they contribute to unique experiences of privilege and oppression. It recognizes that individuals can be simultaneously affected by multiple systems of power and inequality.

How a Conflict Theorist Might Use Intersectionality: A conflict theorist using intersectionality within the context of World Systems Theory would analyze how power and inequality are perpetuated on a global scale by considering the intersections of various forms of oppression. Here’s an example:

Real-World Example: Let’s consider the exploitation of female migrant workers in the global garment industry. A conflict theorist using intersectionality within World Systems Theory might analyze this situation as follows:

1. Core Nations vs. Peripheral Nations: Core nations in the global system (e.g., Western countries) often dominate the garment industry, while peripheral nations (e.g., Bangladesh, Cambodia) serve as production centers.
2. Intersectional Analysis: The conflict theorist would recognize that female migrant workers in peripheral nations face multiple layers of oppression – gender discrimination, economic exploitation, and often racial or ethnic discrimination if they belong to marginalized communities within their countries.
3. Power Dynamics: The theorist would examine how the economic power of core nations and multinational corporations enables the exploitation of these vulnerable workers. Intersectionality highlights that these workers are at the intersection of gender, class, and ethnicity, making them particularly susceptible to exploitation.
4. Activism and Change: Understanding these intersecting forms of oppression helps inform strategies for activism and change. It emphasizes the need for both gender equity and workers’ rights in global supply chains and calls for solidarity among marginalized groups.

In summary, a conflict theorist employing intersectionality within World Systems Theory would analyze global power dynamics by considering how multiple forms of oppression intersect and contribute to global inequalities, thus informing efforts to address these disparities.