This document provides an overview of sociology and its perspectives. It discusses how the sociological perspective helps assess common sense, see opportunities and constraints, empower participation in society, and live in a diverse world. It also explains that sociology provides an advantage in the working world. The document then summarizes sociological theories, including the structural-functional approach which sees society working together for stability, the social-conflict approach which sees inequality generating change, and feminism which focuses on gender inequality and conflict.

1. Applying the Sociological
Perspective
 Is the systematic study of human society.
 We apply the sociological perspective
at work, on an individual level, and for
anyone.

2. 1. The sociological perspective helps us assess the truth of
“common sense .“
2. The sociological perspective helps us see the opportunities and
constraints in our lives.
Sociology and Personal
Growth

3. 3. The sociological perspective empowers us to
be active participants in our society.
4. The sociological perspective helps us live in a
diverse world.

4. Careers: The “Sociology
Advantage "
 A background in sociology is excellent preparation
for the working world.
 Sociology is not just for people who want to be
sociologists.

5. Sociological Theory
The job of sociological theory is to explain social
behavior in the real world. In building
theory, sociologists face two fundamental
questions: What issues should we study? How
should we connect the facts?

6. The Structural-Functional Approach
 Is a framework for building theory that sees society
as a complex system whose parts work together to
promote solidarity and stability.
 The structural-functional approach owes much to
August Comte, who pointed out the need to keep
society unified when many traditions were breaking
down.

7. The Social-Conflict
Approach
 Is a framework for building theory that sees
society as an arena of inequality that
generates conflict and change. Sociologists
using the social-conflict approach look at on
going conflict between dominant and
disadvantages categories of people.

8. Feminism and the
Gender-Conflict
 Is a point of view that focuses on inequality and
conflict between women and men. A
contribution of the gender-conflict approach is
making us aware of the importance of women.