Chapter 2s Focus on Mexico

1

• Chapter 2s Focus on Mexico
• Three Theoretical Perspectives
• Using the Perspectives to Analyze Maquiladoras

2

• Mexico and Maquiladoras
• What are maquiladoras?
• Do they constitute the main economic
  relationship between Mexico and the U.S.?
• Why are they controversial?

3
Thinking about Theory and Methods

• theories are part of a sociologists toolkit
• theories are things to be used at every stage of
  researchnot just an outcome at the end
• most sociologists draw on different theories for
  different purposes

4
Functionalist Perspectives in Sociology

• the organic analogy
• relationship of parts to the whole
• structures and functions
• focus on stability and survival

5

• manifest vs. latent functions
• function vs. dysfunction
• functional for whom?

Herbert Gans, The Functions of Poverty What
is he saying?
6

• Using Functionalist Ideas to Analyze Maquiladoras
• What kinds of questions?
• What kinds of answers?
• What strengths and limits to this approach?

7
Conflict Perspectives in Sociology

• A focus on inequality and group conflict
• conflict drives change
• debunking of ideologies that justify
  exploitation and the status quo
• who (really) benefits?
• society as a battleground

8

• Some key concepts
• social class
• means of production
• class structure
• class conflict
• ideology

9

• Using Conflict Theory Ideas to Analyze
  Maquiladoras
• What kinds of questions?
• What kinds of answers?
• What strengths and limits to this approach?

10
Symbolic Interactionist Perspectives in Sociology

• a focus on meaning, on how people make sense of
  the world
• an active process of creating meaning through
  interaction
• definition of the situation
• a close-to-the-ground perspective

George Herbert Mead
Herbert Blumer
11

• Using Symbolic Interactionist Ideas to Analyze
  Maquiladoras
• What kinds of questions?
• What kinds of answers?
• What strengths and limits to this approach?