The usual approach to sociological theory has been to offer a choice between two mutually exclusive approaches. One is macro, ‘scientific’ and structural; the other is micro, humanistic and interpretivist. The former approach has its roots in the emergence of sociology in the mid-nineteenth century.
Marxism, functionalism and to some extent feminism, all fall into this macro, structural camp. Forms of structural difference — such as those produced by markers of social class, ethnicity and gender — are all viewed as being very powerful in their capacity to define us and shape our behaviour and life chances.
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