Classical Social Theory, Feminism and Modernity
Chapter 17  Key Themes

• Structural is used when referring to the organisation and form of society or its institutions. For a critique of structural perspectives, see Chapter 18 'Making Social Life; Theories of Action and Meaning'. To look at the way that structures are claimed to be important in influencing people's lives, go to Chapter 4 'Social Divisions' and Chapter 5 'Social Class'.
  
• Ideology refers to a set of ideas which constitute a perception of reality or a way of thinking that justifies or legitimates particular social arrangements as 'inevitable', 'natural', or 'right'. To see how ideologies can operate to disadvantage individuals or groups, see Chapter 6 'Gender Relations' and 7 'Race and ethnicity'.
  
• Functionalism is a theoretical perspective associated with Durkheim and Parsons and based on an analogy between social systems and organic systems. It claims that the character of a society's various institutions must be understood in terms of the function each performs in enabling the smooth running of society as a whole. To see an example of the functionalist perspective in a substantive area, go to Chapter 10 'Education'.