Optionals IAS Mains Sociology: Questions 372 - 378 of 503

Pluralistic Conception of Power

• Pluralist theorist traces its origin in Rousseau philosophy of ‘General Will’ . He was the prominent social philosopher who said ‘it is the people with whom lies the power to rule’ . Modern American theorist like Talcott Parsons, Robert Dahl in ‘Who Governs?’ Mosca, Christopher J. Hewitt, C. Wright Mills popularized p…

Louis Dumont՚S Perspective on Indian Caste System

• In 1970s, French sociologist Louis Dumont in his seminal work ‘Homo Hierarchicus: Caste System and Its Implication, 1966’ synthesized macro perspective of Ghurye with micro perspective of empirical studies, thus, combining ‘text’ with ‘context’ . His theory of caste hierarchy locates its basis in ‘po…

M. N. Srinivas՚S Concept of Westernization

• It is a term, coined by M. N. Srinivas. It refers to all ‘cultural changes and institutional innovations’ , in India, as we came into political and cultural contact with the ‘western nations’ , especially Britain. It refers to the changes brought about in ‘Indian society and culture’ , as a result of over 1…

Social and Cultural Determinants of Sexual Division of Labour

• When occupational roles are assigned on the basis of sexual difference, it leads to the development of sexual division of labor.
• In Indian context, mainly the women are forced to compulsory domesticity which creates a sense of dependency of the women on men which further perpetuates the se…

Causes of Female Mortality in India

• There has been rapid Increase in female mortality, which has emerged as a serious problem for India, and it has severe socio-economic, demographic and cultural implications.
• India is a country of striking socio-demographic diversity. It exhibits a relatively high but declining fertility and uneven economic developm…

Patriarchy and Entitlement of Girl Child in India

• The word patriarchy refers to any form of social power given disproportionately to men.
• The structure of the patriarchy is always considered the power status of male, authority, control of the male and oppression, domination of the man, suppression, humiliation, sub-ordination and subjugation of the w…

Positivism as a Philosophy and Research Methodology

Positivism, is a method of enquiry, in Sociology, which wanted to convince its adherents that sociology too could be a ‘science.’

The Salient Features of Positivism

• The ‘scientific knowledge of society’ can be used for ‘social engineering.’
• Sociology is not common-sense. It rests on ‘explanatory princ…