Tag: Power
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The Elite: Definition and Identification
Sociology has long examined the concept of “elite” as a group with disproportionate power in society. In this post, we examine classic and contemporary definitions of the elite and methods for identifying them. The literature on the elite is vast. We will only scratch the surface to get at key points of definition and methods…
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Quantitative Approaches to Intersectionality: The Small n Problem
A challenge for intersectional survey research is the “Small n Problem”: when there are too few observations in the sample to permit the desired analysis. To perform the multivariate quantitative techniques popular in analyses of survey data, we need an adequate number of cases in each category. For instance, if gender and class are necessary…
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Max Weber’s Theory of Class, Status, and Power
Sociologists love to cite and discuss Max Weber. Weber wrote a famous essay called, “Class, Status, and Party.” Weber designed the essay to set him apart from Karl Marx, who had a unidimensional view of classes, inequality, and society. Max Weber had a multidimensional view of classes, inequality, and society. Two main differences between Weber…
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Classic Theories of Social Stratification
Why is there inequality in society? Social stratification, and inequality, are fundamental concepts in sociology. We defined stratification as the existence of structured inequalities between social groups on the basis of power and resources. But this just defines the term. A crucial question is: Why does inequality exist in society? To answer this question, let’s…
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Intersectionality is Everywhere
Three decades after Kimberle Crenshaw popularized the term “intersectionality,” it has become mainstream. The term is mainstream because it is the truth and because elements of society who are against the idea that we should recognize the deep-seated issues of historically marginalized groups have seized on it as a rallying cry. For these reasons, intersectionality…
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The Concept and Measurement of Power in Intersectionality
The idea of power is inherent to intersectionality. In this post, we discuss how the concept of power is integral to the concept and framework of intersectionality, and how to measure power structures. Intersectionality is about politics and the use of power. Noted intersectionality scholar Patricia Hill Collins (2015: 3) argued that, “Drawing upon racial…
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What is Power? What is a Power Structure?
To define a power structure, we must first define power. Power has many definitions: Power is a relationship We must understand that power is a relationship. Power as a social relationship has two main “agents:” the principal and the subaltern. In this relationship the principal wields power that affects the subaltern. Akin to the power…
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The Rise of Big Data and Computational Social Science in Sociology
In this post, we examine the rise of big data and computational social science in sociology. Many sociologists complain about quantification Academics (on Twitter and elsewhere) often loudly complain about metrics — the quantification of their production, including impact factor, citations, and “points” that universities and other academic institutions, as well as government institutions, devise…
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The Interactionist View of Power and Inequality
What is Power? Sociologists typically cite Weber in defining power as the capacity a person or a group has to realize their will despite the resistance of others (Weber 1946). Whether power is a capacity of one actor to change the behavior of another (Dahl 1961) or is a relationship in which one actor is…