Marxism and Feminism: Analyzing Religion through Sociological Theories

This essay compares and contrasts Marxism (Conflict theory) and Feminism (Radical and Liberal) as key sociological perspectives. It applies these theories to analyze the role of religion in social life, focusing on how religion impacts individuals and perpetuates social inequalities. The analysis considers...Read More

Sociology an Introduction

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Comparing and contrasting two key sociological perspectives............................................3
2.1 Analyzing area of social life by using sociological theories.................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Sociology is defined as the study of human societies and human interaction along with
the processes to change and preserve the patterns within the society (Cipriani, 2021).
The report will analyze two key sociological perspectives to be compared and contrasted
which are Marxism (Conflict) and Feminism (Radical and Liberal) theories. Along with this,
both the theories will be made applicable for the religion factor to know how this aspect impacts
in the social life of the individuals facing the issue within the society. Feminism theory will be
explained for both the factors which is radical and liberal and this will help in knowing how the
religion aspect is taken in its reference.
MAIN BODY
1.1 Comparing and contrasting two key sociological perspectives
Marxism (Conflict) — Conflict theory developed by Karl Marx signifies that due to
society's never — ending competition for finite resources, it will always be in state of conflict.
This theory implies that the individuals which have the possession of the wealth will protect the
resources, while the other individuals will perform any action to obtain those resources. The
theory in detail means that there is constant struggle between rich and poor. Karl Marx argued
that there is constant conflict between the classes which has helped in offering the basis through
which all perspectives are known and this has known in detail the value of society is evaluated
which is differentiated between rich and poor (Therborn, 2018). This theory was applied in the
society which incurred changes at large scale. The social structure is based on the conflicts and
contradictions which is being created to devalue the measure of how the things have been
measured within the society due to the comparison between the rich and poor. Weber believed
that western society developed through four main approaches — ancient society, feudal society,
primitive communism and capitalists society.
Marx observes class in economic terms which means that as per the views of Karl Marx
asserts the elements of society’s structure is dependent upon its economic structures. The classes
have been developed in market economies in which there are conflicts which are seen for the
economic gain in society (Moshiri, 2019). The causes and consequences of class conflicts are
being observed which depicted that there are two classes among which the conflicts have been
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arising and this creates the scale through which all the measures of what is the situation between
two classes is being observed. The two classes mentioned by Weber are — the bourgeoisie
which is the powerful minority class and an oppressed majority class which is the proletariat.
Therefore, there are conflicts which arises between two classes and this helps in measuring
conflicts between the classes which are being measured at large scale. The conflict between two
classes describes what are main characteristics that have been drawn upon within society.
Feminism (Radical and Liberal) — There is difference between radical liberal feminism which
helps in knowing the perspectives and the beliefs that are framed for Women within the society.
Feminism is the perspective which helps in creating the value through which both the
perspectives are known and then the delivery of what are the essential characteristics are being
identified. Both the feminism perspectives are described as below -
Radical feminism is described as the perspectives which locates the root cause of women's
oppression within patriarchal relations related to gender. The radical feminism describes the
boundation of women within the society by following the patriarchy and being within the society
by following the rules and regulations which are being created to live within the society at large
scale (Xaba, 2017). Gender related issues and inequalities can only be solves by restructuring the
perspectives within the society related to radical feminism. Radical feminism identifies male
supremacy as the root cause of gender inequality. This is the more militant form of feminism
which helps in addressing the root cause of inequality within gender.
Liberal feminism is described as social gradual progress and equality on the basis of liberal
democracy rather than the radical feminism approach which is created by oppressing the women.
Gender inequality can be eliminated when women are provided similar rights as men through
political, social and legal means within the existing system which is being framed by the society
at large scale (Baehr, 2021). The root cause of gender issues is not identified within this system
and this creates more fuss for the women living within the society at large scale. This does not
advocate the complete restructure therefore this can be the main issue which is being created to
deliver the value through which all perspectives will be solved within the society.
Therefore, this helps in creating the value through which all the aspects of feminism are
known by restructuring the gender base and evaluating it at large.
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2.1 Analyzing area of social life by using sociological theories
The area of social life which is taken is described through religion perspective and this
explains how effectively all the known sources are being evaluated at large scale. Religion is the
key concern where the individuals are born and brought up. The religion perspective is being
analyzed by applying the two major social theories which are in context of how effectively and
in appropriate manner the scale of individuals is known. The sociological theories which are
taken for the concern of how the family perspective is described can be done by -
Marxism (Conflict) is the main theory of social conflict. As per the views of Marx,
religion plays an important role in a capitalist society in maintaining an unequal status quo. In
those communities certain groups of people have more resources and power than the others. It is
being taken for the perspective of religion as this implies that the individuals are also facing
gender issues while having different religions and this creates major issues in which the
individuals are taking concern as to how effectively can they contribute within the society having
difference in their religions. The conflicts arises within the society having difference in the
religions and this impacts the growth and development of the society overall (Parkin, 2018).
Marx have also argued that religion is a tool which is used to keep powerful people pacified.
Through this religion is able to do this through promising rewards in their after-life instead of
their present life.
The difference in the religions are the main cause and consequence of which all
perspectives of what are known for living with a particular religion within the society is being
measured. The perspective of religion is being known which helps in knowing that the gender
issues within the society should be restructured and this creates the evaluation through which
different forms of religion issues are described by living within the society and following the
rules and regulations of how different forms of gender and other brassiness issues are being
faced by the individuals within the society. The main thing which is being evaluated with the
Marxism theory is that the individuals face conflicts within the society which also faces gender
issues (Murphy, 2019). This problem should be solved as this impacts the society and growth
and development of individuals living within the society. Thus, restructuring of theory should be
done for effectively framing the society structure. Marx’s approach in this theory is to sociology
which is crucial in the sense that it advocates for a change in the world as well.
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The other theory which is Feminism (radical and liberal) helps in knowing the aspects
through which the gender bias factor is framed for the religion aspect to be known within the
structure in which the radical feminism is described which is known to have the description as
the oppression of the women within the society which is specifically being faced by them within
different religions and this impacts the reputation and the growth of the society (O'Reilly, 2021).
The liberal feminism perspective affects the gender class within the society and this impacts the
base through which women are not provided the similar rights as men and this creates an issue
within different religions of the society. The rights of men and women are based on the
significance through which the feminist cycles are evaluated and this encompasses the scale
through which religion aspects are being measured within the society. Liberalism is the equal
democracy rights which should be provided to the women within different religions of the
society so that they can stand equally with the man and women helping them to evolve with the
perspectives of how the society is being framed and what are the aspects through which the
development and growth is being valued within the society at large scale.
The main aim and objective of the different perspectives which are being framed within
the society are relatable for analyzing the aspects of how effectively the religion beliefs are being
followed without any gender bias factor (Cudd, 2018). There is much need of restructuring the
society in providing the equal importance to each and every religion. This helps in creating and
analyzing the aspects through which all the efforts have been put into framing and structuring the
new rules and regulations for the theory so that feminist bias aspect is well-known to the
individuals and helps them in getting equal opportunities as men within the same society by not
differing in the relations in effective manner.
CONCLUSION
Thus, it is analyzed from the above report that two key sociological perspectives were
being compared and contrasted which were Marxism (Conflict) and Feminism (Radical and
Liberal) theories. Along with this, both the theories were made applicable for the religion factor
to know how this aspect is being impacted in the social life of the individuals facing the issue
within the society. Feminism theory was explained for both the factors which is radical and
liberal and this helped in knowing how the religion aspect was taken in its reference.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Baehr, A., 2021. 8 Liberal Feminism: Comprehensive and Political. In Feminist Interpretations
of John Rawls (pp. 150-166). Penn State University Press.
Cipriani, R., 2021. The new sociology of religion. Encyclopedia.1(3).pp.822-830.
Cudd, A.E., 2018. Rational choice theory and the lessons of feminism. In A Mind of One's Own
(pp. 398-417). Routledge.
Moshiri, F., 2019. Revolutionary conflict theory in an evolutionary perspective. In Revolutions
of the Late Twentieth Century (pp. 4-36). Routledge.
Murphy, J.G., 2019. Marxism and retribution (pp. 107-133). Routledge.
O'Reilly, A., 2021. Matricentric feminism: Theory, activism, practice. Demeter Press.
Parkin, F., 2018. Marxism and class theory: A bourgeois critique (pp. 193-201). Routledge.
Therborn, G., 2018. From Marxism to Post-Marxism?. Verso Books.
Xaba, W., 2017. Challenging Fanon: A Black radical feminist perspective on violence and the
Fees Must Fall movement. Agenda.31(3-4).pp.96-104.
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