Harriet Martineau and the Conflict Theory Essay

When I look over the theories we confuse discussed in our text functionalism,symbolic interaction and troth, I cultivate forward the one I relate to silk hat is the impinge theorist. The combat theorist that I bind with the most is Harriet Martineau. She was a conflict theorist that the book describes as, Scholar Harriet Martineau (18031876), an side opponent of slavery and capitalism who mat up they oppressed women, children, and nonwhites, translated the thrash of Comte so community could understand the importance of his perspective (Adams & Sydie, 2001). Regarded as a radical in her day, her work was largely dismissed by peck in authority. ( Vissing, 2011, chapter2 sect 3 check bit 13) in that location were many female activists who were busy early on in the field besides they were ignored until feminine activists brought it to the solicitude of the Ameri mickle public arena ( Vissing, 2011). She would best(p) referred to as a conflict theorist.The conflict s urmise is defined as, a theory that assumes that the institutions and interactions within society foster inconsistency and competition, and when they are ch anyenged, then beneficial mixer change can result. ( Vissing, 2011) Our text states that Harriett Martineau was a feminine activist and also was an activist for children and non-whites. Our society has changed greatly since the 1800s and without race interchangeable Mrs. Martineu , I ,as a female, would non keep up the advant boards I do today.Things analogous voting, and pairity in the work authority have helped women and minorities project their viewpoint into the schema we have today. These activists stroved for fair working laws which would hold off women in the 1800s and early 1900s from being mis hardened and used. Also close to other importantthing the feminine activists fought for was ancestry control and abortion as an woof to females, so that they may work or pursue personal goals and interests. The bel ief in conflict theory is that on that point must(prenominal) be a ch in allenge to the organizationand the dash things are in post to activate change, and from what we can tell in the past this has been an effective tool in the slow processes of equality. some other thing that Harriet Martineau did was consequence the works of Auguste Comte and put them into laymans terms for the average person of the time could understand. Auguste Comtes beliefs were that we should look at plain facts in order to study society, non just the cultural beliefs.His c at oncept of favorableness holds that there is nothing that cant be accurately studied if the right methodology is employed. If we try conscientiously sufficiency by employing the scientific method, most things can be studied and understood. ( Vissing, 2011, chapter 1 segmentation 3 para 3) Harriet Martineau used this belief and applied it to the progression of equality for women children and non-whites.In Harriet Martineaus l ife she was brought up in a comfortable middle clear family, and was denied some facts of life because of her sex. When her father died she was face with sever economic loss and for once felt what it was like to not have the conveniences of a middle pattern family to hide in. She was engaged to be get married but her fiance fell gouty and she was saved from a married life. She was unmarried for the rest of her life and face funding and bringing a living in a patriarchal society. She soon was face with some uncomfortable things and rather than accept them and accommodate she invoked change within our society by making the plight of women, children and non-whites a mainstream task that needed to be corrected. Martineau was a Unitarian in religion and at counterbalance had a very strong spectral viewpoint on the world and society.(Hill, 1991).There are many things that I agree with Martineau on such as that all people should be hardened equal and fairly. Another of her ma in ideas was that non-whites should be treated fairly and with the same respect and arrogance that whites were given. She also believed that women children and nonwhites should be able to suffrage to give their voices some power and that they be offered a chance at education and opportunities for work as well and earn an in deign whichprovided them with sense of freedom and self sufficiency.In America we would not be the finis we are today without activists such as Harriet Martineau. There would be no women CEOs, we would have no choice other than fasting when it comes to birth control. Many women died because abortion was iniquitous and they sought backdoor clinics and at home methods of there own to rid themselves of an unwanted pregnancy. Another important issue that was resolved collectible to activists initiating equality into our culture not just now for every white man but for every person regardless of race, gender, age or religoud preferences. Today we are treated equ al in most instances and when not the issue is usally irradicated quickly.In my opinion the conflict theorist had the right idea, without conflict or differences in the way society is arc there will be no need for change. If there is somebody who feels like things need to be changed we must bring that issue to the people and make it pick out because not all inequalities are suffered by the same people and unless you have been never been treatedunfairly then you know how it feels to not be able to do something or say something justbecause of who you are not what you have done. Our merits should be what we are judged on and not by what someone stereotypes us as being. We have come a long way as a culture but as long as there is a society we will always have some form of fight on our hands to ensure equality for allpeople, and it seems to me that the conflict theory is the best way to do this.ReferenceBelasco, S. (2000). Harriet martineaus smutty hero and the american antislavery mo vement. Nineteenth coke Literature, 55(2), 157-194. Retrieved from http//search.proquest.com/docview/211910586?accountid=32521Michael, R. H., & Deborah, A. L. (2010). The harriet martineau sociological societys 5th working seminar A report from capital of Massachusetts college 1. Sociological Origins, 6(1), 5-7. Retrieved from http//search.proquest.com/docview/204784236?accountid=32521Vissing, Y. (2011) An Introduction to Sociology. (Ashford University ed). San Diego Bridgepoint Education, Inc. retrieved from https//content.ashford.edu/books/AUSOC101.11.1/sections/sec1.3?search=harriet%20Martineauw4370