Disciplines and Ideas

in the Social Sciences

Module 9:
Analyze the basic concepts and principles of the major
social sciences ideas: a) Institutionalism b) Feminist
Theory
c) Hermeneutical Phenomenology d) Human-Environment
 Learning Objectives

At the end of the module you should be able to:

Explain institutionalism;
Identify the key concepts and theorists on
institutionalism; and
3. Express the importance of the different
types of institutionalism
Directions: FIND AND PAIR
COLUMN A COLUMN B
_____1. He is known as the Father of “Institutionalism” a. Douglas North
____2. This is an approach that aims to understand and analyze how actions, b. Environment
thoughts, and meaning that penetrate into the social consciousness deeply enough to Systems
embed themselves into the social psyche.
_____3. Patterns, routines, norms and rules that govern and direct social thought and c. David Mitrany
action
_____4. Refers to social practices that have been commonly viewed as acceptable and d. Institutionalism
more persistent than codified laws.
_____5. It operates through coercive isomorphism, which places value on expediency e. Cognitive Fucntion
as an effect of compliance
_____6.These are the codified rules, policies, and norms that are considered official, f. Formal Institution
originating from state laws, government or organizations.
_____7.He was a French political economist and diplomat and was viewed as one of g. Institutions
the originators of the European Union. He saw how the needs of the state are to be
achieved through the principle of supra-nationality.
_____8.It refers to the people who make up society, whose actions are controlled and h. Institutional Actors
regulated by institutions.
_____9.It operates through mimetic isomorphism, which places values on what is i. Informal Institution
being complied with by others.
_____ 10. He was known as a Romanian-born Bristish scholar, historian, and political j. Jean Monnet
 Activity 1: PICTURE ANALYSIS

Study the pictures below, and answer the questions

that follow. Write your answers in your activity
notebook.
 Activity 1: PICTURE ANALYSIS

Study the pictures below, and answer the questions

that follow.
• 1. What can you say about the pictures above?
• 2. How can you relate this to your daily life?
• 3. What do you think are two concepts of
institutionalism that you can get from the pictures
above?
 Institutions

Institutions are patterns, norms rules and

schemes that govern and direct social thought
and action.

a group of persons formally joined together

for some common interest an institution
devoted to studying social problems and
proposing solutions for them.
 Institutionalism

Institutionalism, therefore, is an approach that

aims to understand and analyze how actions,
thoughts, and meanings penetrate into the social
consciousness deeply enough to embed
themselves into social psyche.
There are different types of institutionalism, but
their common concern is to find out the effects of
these institutions and determine how these affect
the manner by which the society functions.
 Isomorphism
Institutions provide social legitimacy and
survival through Isomorphism.
Isomorphism refers to the similarity in form,
shape or structure. Institutions arise, change,
and persist due to their regulative, normative
and cognitive functions.
These functions are isomorphic in nature as
they adopt in form, shape or structure to provide
social legitimacy, survival or both.
 Three functions of Isomorphism:
 regulative function operates through coercive
isomorphism, which places value on expediency as effect of
compliance. Change either happens or not depending on
external factors such as rules and laws.
 normative function operates through normative
isomorphism, which places value on complying with social
obligations. Change either happens or not depending on
external factors such as accreditations and certifications.
 cognitive function operates through mimetic
isomorphism, which places value on factors such as
uncertainty and prevalence of others‟ performance.
 Key Concepts in Institutionalism
• Formal and Informal Institutions
• Formal and Informal institutions can be distinguished
by what rules, practices and norms they derive
authority from.
• Formal institutions are codified rules, policies and
norms that are considered official, originating from
state laws, government or organizations. Examples:
constitution, official law, regulation, standards
enforced by the state.
 Constitution example
• The 1897 Constitution of Biak-na-Bato. Wikisource has
original text related to this article: ...
• The 1899 Malolos Constitution. ...
• Acts of the United States Congress. ...
• Philippine Organic Act of 1902. ...
• Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916. ...
• Hare–Hawes–Cutting Act (1932) ...
• Tydings–McDuffie Act (1934) ...
• The 1935 Constitution.
 Sample Laws in the Philippines
• Designation Date passed Result
• RA 7160 October 10, 1991 Local Government Code of
1991
• RA 8293 June 6, 1997 The Intellectual Property
Code of the Philippines (the
copyright law).
• RA 8353 September 30, 1997 The Anti-Rape Act of
1997
• RA 8485 February 11, 1998 The Animal Welfare Act
of 1998
 Informal institutions
• Informal institutions, on the other hand, are
equally known rules and norms but are not commonly
written down. Informal institutions are social practices
that have been commonly viewed as acceptable and
are more persistent than codified laws like that of
formal institutions. Examples: Informal institutions,
social norms, attitudes, traditions, self-enforced
morals
 Examples of Social Norms

• Greeting People: In many cultures, it is a social

norm to greet others with a handshake, a bow,
or verbal greetings .
• Shaking hands when meeting someone in many
Western cultures, while bowing is customary in
countries like Japan. Dining: Using forks and
knives
 Examples of Social Norms

• Dress Code
• Avoiding Cheating
• Etiquette
• Respectful to others
• Saying thank you and please
Important Theorists
on Institutionalism
 David Mitrany

•  David Mitrany (1888-1975) was a Romanian-

born British scholar, historian, and political
theorist.
• Mitrany is considered as the father of
functionalism in international relations, which
is classified under liberal institutionalism.
• Functionalism, as applied to the study of
states, proposes an alternative to
territorialism, which is the foundation from
which states derive their power of authority
from territory.
 David Mitrany

• Functionalism explains that a state‟s authority lies

in functions and needs, and the ability to provide
for those needs.
• Its sees scientific knowledge and technological
advancements as sources of authority from which
the state can derive its power.
• Territory then becomes negligible and focuses
instead on expertise and the ability to produce
what is needed by the people or by other states.
 Jean Monnet
Jean Monnet (1888-1979) was a French
political economist and diplomat.
As one of the originators of the
European Union, he saw how the needs
of the state are to be achieved through
the principle of supranationality.
As Mitrany argued against territory
being the source of authority, Monnet
used the argument to erase country
borderlines.
 Jean Monnet
During Monnet‟s time, coal production was
abundant in Germany, which was still under the
sanctions imposed by the Allies‟ victory after
World War II.
France at that time also needed some coal.
Given the situation, Germany needed some
sanctions to be lifted so as to gain some
economic growth, while France needed coal to
get back to its pre-war economic status.
 Stephen Krasner

• Stephen Krasner (born 1942) is an

American professor of international
relations. Krasner argues that the
American government and
nongovernment organizations should
prioritize the stabilization of weakened
states so that American interests would
be protected.
 Stephen Krasner
In order to address the continued deterioration of weaker
states, he suggested creation of institutions that will allow
the weaker states to enter a market democracy.
Krasner also argues that the formal institutions of the U.S.
come from decisions made by the president, but
bureaucratic process convey the idea that many people
decided on these matters and not just the president.
He holds that the president’s power to control, manipulate,
and create policies is seemingly perceived as being
dissipated by the bureaucratic machinery.
 Types of Institutionalism:
Normative institutionalism- is a sociological
interpretation of institutions and holds that a “logic of
appropriateness” guides the behavior of actors within an
institution. It predicts that the norms and formal rules of
institutions will shape the actions of those acting within
them.

• Rational Choice Institutionalism- is a theoretical

approach to the study of institutions arguing that actors use
institutions to maximize their utility. However, actors face
rule-based constraints which influence their behavior.
 Types of Institutionalism:
Historical institutionalism – is a new institutionalist
social science approach that emphasizes how timing,
sequences and path dependence affect institutions, and
shape social, political, economic behavior and change.

Rational Choice Institutionalism- is a theoretical

approach to the study of institutions arguing that actors use
institutions to maximize their utility. However, actors face
rule-based constraints which influence their behavior.
 Types of Institutionalism:
Sociological institutionalism – is a form of new institutionalism
that concerns “the way in which institutions create meaning for
individuals, providing important theoretical building blocks for
normative institutionalism within political science”.
Institutional Economics – focuses on understanding the role of
the evolutionary process and the role of institutions in shaping
economic behavior.
Discursive institutionalism – is an umbrella concept for
approaches that concern themselves with the substantive content
of ideas and the interactive processes of discourse in institutional
context.
 Types of Institutionalism:
Constructivist institutionalism – According to multiple
theorists, this is so whether the field in question is directly
denoted as or has to do more with bringing constructivist
ideas into some other field, or with bringing ideas back into
the theory in contrast against structuralist and/or system.
Feminist institutionalism – is a new institutionalist
approach that looks at how gender norms operate within
institutions and how institutional processes construct and
maintain gender power dynamic.
FEMINIST THEORY
Learning Objectives
At the end of the module you should be
able to:
Explain feminist theory;
Identify the key concepts and feminist
theorist; and
Express the importance of feminist
theory
Learning Objectives

A. Female Feminism B. Feminist Theory

C. Multicultural Feminists [Link] Performativity
F. Human Feminism G. Radical Libertarian
Feminists H. Liberal Feminism
Identification. Read the questions carefully.
Choose your answer inside the box and write
the correct answer in your activity notebook.
1. It holds that the patriarchal system that oppresses
women must be completely eliminated and that women
should be free to exercise total sexual and reproductive
freedom. _______________
2. 2. It refers to the belief that men and women deserve
equality in all opportunities, treatment, respect, and
social rights. ________
3. 3. This includes attempts to describe and explain how
gender systems work, as well as a consideration of
normative or ethical issues, such as whether a society's
gender arrangements are fair. ______
Identification. Read the questions carefully.
Choose your answer inside the box and write
the correct answer in your activity notebook.
4. This explains how the idea of „sameness‟ could
counter intuitively be used as an instrument of
oppression rather than liberation. _______
5. It is a social belief that supports gender inequality. It
is a social divide that establishes perceived roles for
men and women and relegating them to specific roles.
__________
6. It is a movement that calls for an end to capitalism
through a socialist reformation of our economy.
____________
Identification. Read the questions carefully.
Choose your answer inside the box and write
the correct answer in your activity notebook.
4. This explains how the idea of „sameness‟ could
counter intuitively be used as an instrument of
oppression rather than liberation. _______
5. It is a social belief that supports gender inequality. It
is a social divide that establishes perceived roles for
men and women and relegating them to specific roles.
__________
6. It is a movement that calls for an end to capitalism
through a socialist reformation of our economy.
____________
Identification. Read the questions carefully.
Choose your answer inside the box and write
the correct answer in your activity notebook.
7. It argues for equal treatment of women
and disapproves discrimination based on
sex. ________
8. It also argues solidarity among women
and acknowledges that there are
differences in human capacities that are
based on sex. ________
Identification. Read the questions carefully.
Choose your answer inside the box and write
the correct answer in your activity notebook.
9. This is a theory on the creation of gender,
similar to how theatrical actors create roles
identifiable to audiences. ______
10. This is an individualistic form of feminist
theory, which focuses on women‟s ability to
maintain their equality through their own
actions and choices. ______
Activity 1: PICTURE ANALYSIS

Study the pictures below and answer the questions

that follow. Place your answers in your activity
notebook.
Activity 1: PICTURE ANALYSIS

• 1. Do you know who are in the first, second, and

third picture and their accomplishments?
• 2. What do you think is the last picture trying to tell
us?
• 3. List down your interpretations in each picture.
• 4. What makes them different from other women?
Activity 1: PICTURE ANALYSIS

• 1. Do you know who are in the first, second, and

third picture and their accomplishments?
• 2. What do you think is the last picture trying to tell
us?
• 3. List down your interpretations in each picture.
• 4. What makes them different from other women?
 Feminism
• Feminism refers to the belief that men and women
deserve equality in all opportunities, treatment,
respect, and social rights.
• In general, Feminists are people who try to
acknowledge social inequality based on gender and
stop it from continuing.
• Feminists point out that in most cultures throughout
history men have received more opportunities than
women.
 Feminism
• While this basic idea of Feminism seems simple enough, there are
many people who misunderstand what the goal of Feminism is.
• Some people imagine that all Feminists are angry, bitter women
who only want to subjugate men! Of course, this stereotype
offends actual Feminists.
• Why is there such a big difference between stereotype and reality
when it comes to Feminists?
• One of the reasons for this discrepancy might be because there
are, in fact, lots of different, specific types of F Feminism.
• Let‟s cover four of those types now - Radical Feminism, Socialist
Feminism, Cultural Feminism, and Liberal Feminism. Maybe you are
a Feminist, and you didn't even know it!
 Feminism
• Feminist theory includes attempts to describe and explain
how gender systems work, as well as a consideration of
normative or ethical issues, such as whether a society's gender
arrangements are fair.
• Feminist theory is a major branch within sociology that shifts
its assumptions, analytic lens, and topical focus away from the
male viewpoint and experience toward that of women.
• In doing so, Feminist theory shines a light on social
problems, trends, and issues that are otherwise
overlooked or misidentified by the historically dominant
male perspective within social theory.
 Feminism
• Feminist theory encompasses a range of ideas,
reflecting the diversity of women worldwide.
• Feminism counters traditional philosophy with new
ways of addressing issues affecting humanity,
calling for the replacement of the presiding
patriarchal order with a system that emphasizes
equal rights, justice, and fairness.
• Liberal feminists cite women‟s oppression as rooted
in social, political, and legal constraints.
 Feminism
• Feminist theory encompasses a range of ideas,
reflecting the diversity of women worldwide.
• Feminism counters traditional philosophy with new
ways of addressing issues affecting humanity,
calling for the replacement of the presiding
patriarchal order with a system that emphasizes
equal rights, justice, and fairness.
• Liberal feminists cite women‟s oppression as rooted
in social, political, and legal constraints.
 Feminism
Radical Libertarian Feminists hold that the patriarchal
system that oppresses women must be completely
eliminated and that women should be free to exercise
total sexual and reproductive freedom.
Radical Cultural Feminists urge women to extricate
themselves from the institution of compulsory
heterosexuality.
Marxist–socialist feminists claim it is impossible for
anyone, especially women, to achieve true freedom in
a class-based society
 Feminism
• Multicultural feminists explain how the idea of „sameness‟ could
counter intuitively be used as an instrument of oppression rather than
liberation.
• Postmodern feminists challenge Western dualistic thinking. Global
feminists stress the universal interests of women worldwide.
• Eco feminists focus on the connection among humans to the nonhuman
world. Feminist theory has impacted virtually all structures, systems,
and disciplines, challenging traditional ontological and epistemological
assumptions about human nature as well as „maleness‟ and
„femaleness.‟
• Modern feminism, which began 200 years ago, has evolved in
threewaves. The first wave dealt with suffrage; the second centered on
equal access; and the current wave is focusing on global equality.
 Key Concepts in Feminism
• Feminism studies gender and its relation to power, and the dynamics
these two concepts play out in economics, politics, sexuality, race and
nationality among others.
• It is both a sociological perspective and a philosophy that aims to promote
gender equality, social justice, and women‟s rights.
• However, the primary concern that feminism tries to address is the
oppression of women in society and the patriarchal structure of most
societies.
• Patriarchy, in its most basic sense, is a social organization wherein the
father or eldest male heads a society or government. The head of the family
is the father, and the mother is subordinate to the decisions of the father.
• In some contexts, however, patriarchy constructs a social structure where
men are seen as more powerful than women.
 Gender Ideology and Inequality
Gender ideology is a social belief that supports gender
inequality. It is a social divide that establishes perceived roles for
men and women and relegating them to specific roles.
Some gender ideologies include women staying at home while
men go to work, and women being more delicate, emotional, and
nurturing compared to men who are more aggressive, assertive,
and dominant.
Gender ideology is also actualized in how toys are determined for
children. Typically, action figures are supposed to be played by
boys and dolls are to be played by girls. A boy playing with a doll
is ridiculed as being gay, while a girl playing action figures is
teased as a lesbian.
 Gender Ideology and Inequality
Gender inequality is the actualization or
realization of gender ideology. There is gender
inequality when the perceived role of women
subordination to men reflects hiring procedures
and requirements.
For example, a secretarial post accepting only
female applicants. Salaries are also unequal when
it comes to men and women.
 Four types of Feminism
Socialist feminism is slightly less extreme but still calls for
major social change. Socialist feminism is a movement that calls
for an end to capitalism through a socialist reformation of our
economy.
Basically, socialist feminism argues that capitalism strengthens
and supports the sexist status quo because men are the ones
who currently have power and money.
Those men are more willing to share their power and money with
other men, which means that women are continually given fewer
opportunities and resources.
This keeps women under the control of men. In short, socialist
feminism focuses on economics and politics.
 Four types of Feminism
Cultural feminism is a movement that points out how
modern society is hurt by encouraging masculine
behavior, but society would benefit by encouraging
feminine behavior instead.
This also refers to the philosophy that men and women
have different approaches to the world around them, and
that greater value should be placed on the way women
approach the world.
In some cases, cultural feminism argues that a woman‟s
way of looking at the world is actually superior to men.
 Four types of Feminism
• Liberal feminism is an individualistic form of feminist
theory, which focuses on women's ability to maintain
their equality through their own actions and choices.
• Liberal feminism's primary goal is gender equality in
the public sphere, such as equal access to education,
equal pay, ending job sex segregation.
• It is broadly accepted that the proposition of
contemporary advanced industrial societies are
meritocratic, and that women as a group are not
innately less.
Important Theorists
in Feminism
 Wollstonecraft
• Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797) was an English
writer, philosopher, and women‟s rights advocate.
• Wollstonecraft advocated that the human rights
written by John Locke also be accorded to women.
• Although Locke‟s human rights did not discriminate
sexes, their application during that time was relegated
only to men.
• Wollstonecraft thus, argued that women should also
have the right to life, property, pursuit of happiness
and suffrage.
 Nancy Cott
• Nancy Cott (born 1945) is an American historian and
professor. Cott traced the historical roots of the feminist
movement in America and identified its paradoxes, struggles,
and periods of decline.
• One paradox by Cott was the rise of two feminist ideologies-
human feminism and female feminism.
• Human feminism argues for equal treatment of women and
disapproves discrimination based on sex.
• Female feminism, on the other hand, argues solidarity among
women and acknowledges that there are differences in
human capacities that are based on sex.
 Adrienne Rich
• Adrienne Rich (1929–2012) was an American poet, and
feminist. She used poetry to bring to light the oppression of
women and lesbians in society. Her poems explored themes
such as women‟s roles in society, racism, and war. Her
collection of poetry, “Diving Into the Wreck”, garnered wide
praise and accolades.
• In her essay, “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian
Existence”, Rich defined how heterosexuality becomes an
alienating and oppressing concept that only lends to the
establishment of male dominance over women.
• Rich defined being a lesbian as more than a sexual preference,
but a cumulative lived experience of women and their history.
 Judith Butler
• Judith Butler (born 1956) is an American philosopher and gender
theorist, whose key idea is her theory of Gender Performativity.
• Gender performativity is a theory on the creation of gender similar
to how theatrical actors create roles identifiable to audiences. Butler
claims that gender is an action which is separable from the actor.
• Gender is performative in a sense that gender roles and norms have
already been established in society throughout history.
• Humans are so accustomed to these traditions that we associate
certain acts to a particular gender.
• For Butler, gender is not a pre-established identity, but an act of
existing in as much. Gender is a choice- a choice to act according to
how society established norms of masculinity or femininity.
 Patricia Hill Collins
• Patricia Hill Collins (born 1948) is an American sociologist. Her
work studies feminism in the perspective of a black woman.
• Collins argues that different oppressions happen within the
context of race, gender and class and that there are
overlapping instances of oppression.
• Collins claims that knowing the point of view of a black
woman‟s struggle and feminism can provide a window for
other similarly oppressed groups or individuals.
• She also argues that the dynamics of oppression must be
seen from all angles, and not simply on one form or factor of
oppression.
 Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand (1905–1982) was an American novelist, philosopher, and
playwright. Calling her philosophy objectivism. She aimed to use reason
in order to achieve personal happiness.
Her theories and arguments were not limited within the confines of the
feminist agenda, but encompassed all of human existence. She did not
identify differences between genders because she talked about
universalities such as human rights.
Objectivism, in particular, is living for one‟s own sake without sacrificing
himself or herself for another. It is a philosophy determined to find
personal truth and fulfill without the use of force or violence.
She is considered a feminist due to her stance that all human beings are
equal- equal in their pursuit of self-interests and equal in upholding their
rights.