How does society control us? » Debate between consensus and conflict views - feminism

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The difference between consensus and conflict perspectives in sociology
Key features of feminist approaches to social control
How liberal, radical and Marxist feminism explain social control
Real-world examples of gendered social control
How to evaluate feminist perspectives against consensus theories

How Does Society Control Us? Consensus vs Conflict Views

Have you ever wondered why you follow certain rules without even thinking about it? Or why girls and boys are often expected to behave differently? Sociologists are fascinated by how society shapes our behaviour - what they call social control.

Key Definitions:

Social control: The ways society regulates and ensures people follow expected norms and values.
Formal social control: Official rules enforced by authorities (laws, school rules).
Informal social control: Unofficial pressure to conform (disapproval, gossip).

💡 Consensus View

According to functionalists like Durkheim, social control is positive and necessary. It creates harmony by:

Ensuring shared values are followed
Creating social order and stability
Preventing chaos and conflict
Helping society function smoothly

They see control as beneficial for everyone in society.

⚠ Conflict View

Marxists and feminists see social control as a tool of power and oppression that:

Benefits powerful groups at the expense of others
Maintains inequality and exploitation
Uses institutions to keep certain groups 'in their place'
Often works through ideology (making unfair arrangements seem natural)

They see control as serving the interests of dominant groups.

Feminist Perspectives on Social Control

Feminists focus specifically on how social control affects women and maintains gender inequality. They argue that patriarchy (male dominance) is enforced through various forms of social control.

Types of Feminist Approaches

👪 Liberal Feminism

Focus: Equal rights and opportunities

View on control: Society controls women through discrimination in education, work and politics.

Solution: Reform existing systems through legislation and changing attitudes.

Example: Challenging gender stereotypes in school subjects.

👊 Radical Feminism

Focus: Patriarchy as the root problem

View on control: Men control women's bodies, sexuality and roles through violence and threat.

Solution: Revolutionary change to overthrow patriarchy.

Example: Fighting against sexual harassment and domestic violence.

💼 Marxist Feminism

Focus: Capitalism and patriarchy together

View on control: Women are controlled to benefit capitalism through unpaid domestic work.

Solution: End both class and gender oppression.

Example: Challenging the devaluation of care work.

How Society Controls Women: Feminist Analysis

Feminists identify several key mechanisms through which women are controlled in society:

📖 Socialisation and Gender Roles

From birth, children are taught 'appropriate' gender behaviour:

Girls given dolls and praised for being caring
Boys encouraged to be tough and competitive
Media reinforcing stereotypes of how women should look and behave
Family expectations about future roles (e.g., motherhood)

This creates 'invisible chains' that limit women's choices without seeming like control.

👑 Male-Dominated Institutions

Power structures are designed by and for men:

Politics: Women underrepresented in Parliament
Law: Historical laws treated women as property
Religion: Many faiths restrict women's roles
Business: Glass ceiling limiting promotion

These institutions create rules that maintain male advantage.

Case Study Focus: The Beauty Myth

Naomi Wolf argues that beauty standards are a form of social control. As women gained more rights and opportunities, beauty ideals became more extreme and unattainable:

Women spend vast amounts of time and money trying to meet impossible standards
Creates insecurity and self-doubt that limits confidence
Focuses women's attention on appearance rather than power
Creates competition between women rather than solidarity

Wolf calls this "a violent backlash against feminism" - as women gained formal freedom, new forms of control emerged.

Control Through Violence and Fear

Radical feminists highlight how violence and the threat of violence act as powerful forms of social control:

Domestic violence: Keeps women in subordinate positions in relationships
Sexual harassment: Makes public and work spaces uncomfortable or threatening
Rape culture: Creates fear that restricts women's freedom of movement
Victim-blaming: Makes women responsible for preventing male violence

These create what feminist Susan Brownmiller called "a climate of fear" that controls women's behaviour without needing direct rules.

Evaluating Feminist Perspectives

✔ Strengths

Reveals hidden forms of control that consensus theories ignore
Explains persistent gender inequalities despite legal equality
Connects personal experiences to wider social structures
Has led to real social changes and awareness

❌ Limitations

Different feminist approaches can contradict each other
May overlook women's agency and resistance
Doesn't always account for differences between women (class, ethnicity)
Some argue it ignores biological differences

Comparing Consensus and Conflict Views

When studying social control, it's important to understand both perspectives:

⚖ Consensus View (Functionalism)

Social control is:

Necessary for social order
Based on shared values
Beneficial for society as a whole
Mainly about integration and harmony

⚔ Conflict View (Feminism)

Social control is:

A tool of power and domination
Based on interests of dominant groups
Maintaining inequality and exploitation
Often disguised as 'natural' or 'traditional'

Exam Tip: Applying Feminist Perspectives

In your exam, you might need to apply feminist ideas to specific examples. Remember to:

Identify which type of feminism you're using (liberal, radical, Marxist)
Explain how the example shows social control of women
Consider both formal and informal methods of control
Compare with consensus views for evaluation
Use specific sociological concepts and theorists where possible

Conclusion: Why This Debate Matters

The debate between consensus and conflict views isn't just academic - it shapes how we understand and respond to social issues:

If social control is mainly positive (consensus view), we should strengthen existing institutions
If social control often oppresses women (feminist view), we need to challenge and transform these institutions

By understanding both perspectives, you can develop a more complete understanding of how society works and how change happens. Feminist perspectives have been crucial in identifying hidden forms of control that maintain gender inequality, even as formal barriers have been removed.

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!