Which perspective suggests that men may originally have become powerful in preindustrial times because their size, physical strength, and freedom from childbearing duties allowed them to dominate women physically, but in contemporary societies, these considerations are not so important?

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The question asks which theoretical perspective holds that men may have gained power in preindustrial times due to physical advantages and freedom from childbearing, but that these factors are less central in modern societies.
Option 1: functionalist perspective. This view emphasizes social stability and the roles that contribute to a functioning society. It would not typically frame male dominance as arising from power struggles or structural inequalities, and it tends to justify traditional gender roles as facilitating social order rather than foregrounding historical power dynamics. Therefore, this option is incorrect for the described claim.
Option 2: conflict perspective. This perspective centers on power, coercion, and inequality, arguing that social arrangements favor the powerful at the expense of others. It explicitly explains how physical strength and reproductive duties could have given men leverage in preindustrial times, while noting that modern changes (e.g., technology, institutions, gender equality movements) reduce the relevance of those factors. This aligns with the description in the question, making this option correct.
Option 3: interactionist perspective. Interactionism focuses on micro-level social interactions, symbols, and everyday meanings. While it can address gender norms in daily life, it does not inherently theorize broad historical power shifts tied to physical attributes and reproductive roles as a primary explanation for male dominance. Thus, this option does not match the claim.
Option 4: global perspective. The global perspective examines issues across nations and cultures, often emphasizing cross-border comparisons and macro-level processes. It does not specifically center on a historical narrative of male power stemming from physical capacity and childbearing duties as described in the question. Consequently, this option is not the best fit.
In sum, only the conflict perspective directly addresses the idea of historical power dynamics based on physical strength and reproductive duties, and their diminished relevance in contemporary contexts, while the other perspectives provide different focal points that do not capture this claim.

Sociology Week 4 Final Exam Sociology Week 4 Final Exam

Which perspective suggests that men may originally have become powerful in preindustrial times because their size, physical strength, and freedom from childbearing duties allowed them to dominate women physically, but in contemporary societies, these considerations are not so important?

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