Language Is Rule-Governed

Language Is Rule-Governed Wittgenstein stated that his aim in philosophy was to show the fly the way out of the fly-bottle that is, to lead us out of the web of misconceptions and confusions that cloud our understanding. He argued that our confusion lay in our misunderstanding of language and the rules that govern its use. This misunderstanding resulted from the assumptions of traditional Western Philosophy which are based on a Cartesian theory of mind, a Platonist conception of reality and an Augustinian view of language. These assumptions led to the belief that the private mental realm was the primary source of language, the essential function of language was to name objects, and the rules of language were set in a fixed pattern of application respectively. As this account of rules relies on their having a fixed content, the only way to follow these rules is to discern their meaning by finding an appropriate mediating interpretation. Once the rules have been interpreted correctly, they would then disclose h ow they should be applied. Wittgenstein argued that these assumptions cloud the true nature of rule-following and meaning, leaving them vulnerable to scepticism as we lay down rules, a technique for playing a game, and that then, when we follow the rules, things dont turn out as we had assumed. So that we are, as it were, entangled in our own rules.  [2]  The issue that Wittgenstein raises is if we can argue that any action can be interpreted as acting in accordance with a rule, how can we ever know if we are following a rule correctly and therefore, how can we justify that our use of language holds any meaning? This reveals the flaws in the traditional belief that it is the rules themselves that act as the normative standards by which we discern whether or not our use of language is correct. Therefore, we must look for another source of normativity in order to preserve the notion of meaning. In light of Wittgensteins view that following a rule is a practice  [3]  which is analogous to obeying an order  [4]  , I believe that his account of language establishes it as rule-governed by situating the requisite justification and normativity in the linguistic community. These requisites are met in Wittgensteins account as when we are taught a rule we are also trained to follow it in a particular way determined by the linguistic community of which we are a member. I will expound this view by firstly looking at the rule-following considerations as found in 185 and 201 to explicate Wittgensteins view that we cannot establish how to follow a rule correctly by looking at the rule itself, but rather we must examine at how the rule is applied as part of a communal practice. I will then use Meredith Williams critique of Saul Kripkes sceptical solution to the paradox and her argument for a communitarian view of Wittgensteins account of rule-following to discuss what a socially e mbedded justification and standard of normativity might entail. Following from this I will go on to examine John McDowells critique of Crispin Wrights anti-realism in order to discuss how a social normative standard can be established through the shared understandings held by a linguistic community. When describing the purpose of the rule-following considerations, Wittgenstein stated that what we are destroying is nothing but houses of cards and we are clearing up the ground of language on which they stand  [5]  by which he means that through a re-evaluation the nature of language we may dissolve the empty questions that traditional philosophy had been concerned with, including the question of what constitutes meaning. Wittgenstein aimed to achieve this by reminding the reader that rule-following cannot be a mental process by which we discern the meaning of the rule and then establish a set pattern of application. Perhaps the most important issue with the traditional view of rule-following that Wittgensteins attack brings to light is the regress of interpretation. Wittgenstein highlights this flaw in the belief that interpretation necessarily clarifies the content of a rule and provides a method of application. He does so by stating that there is no reason why an interpretat ion may not be just as ambiguous as the rule itself and therefore may also be subject to the same interpretative process as the rule. No one interpretation is going to be unambiguous in every situation to every individual. Therefore, the move to symbolic language does not clarify the rules contents, it simply leads to a regress as in this chain of reasoning we place one interpretation behind another as if each one contented us at least for a moment, until we thought of yet another lying behind it.  [6]  This regress means firstly that there is no ultimate justification to be found through interpretation, and secondly that the countless interpretations that a rule may be subject to renders the rule meaningless. From this Wittgenstein concludes that there is a way of grasping a rule which is not an interpretation  [7]  , meaning that understanding is not always aligned with the act of interpretation and rule-following does not necessarily involve a mediating interpretation bet ween the rule and its application. A second challenge uses the discrepancy between the infinite applications of a rule and the finite amount of times we can observe this application. This discrepancy shows that we cannot regard our understanding of a rule as the grasping of a set pattern of application that we must replicate in every future circumstance. Wittgenstein explicates this challenge in his deviant learner example in paragraph 185, in which a student seems to be following a numerical series +2 correctly up until he reaches 1,000 where he then changes to the series of +4. If the teacher had made the student stop following the series before 1,000 he would have never known that the student misunderstood the rule that he had been taught. The deviant learner also brings forth the issue that for any rule applied, for example, a 100 times, we can imagine other rules that give the same results but then diverges on its 101st application. This means that we cannot conceive of the meaning of rules as an infinite set of their application and therefore it is implausible to argue that when we explain a rule that we have an infinite set in mind. Just like the teacher in the deviant learner example, we may believe that someone has mastered the application of a rule, up until the point where they begin to get it wrong. This may happen at any point through a sequence and thus there is no way of knowing for certain if the person has understood the rule. Therefore, if we represent rules as infinite sets of applications but we only deal with finite numbers of these applications we can never be sure that we have successfully taught the rule, or are following it correctly ourselves. This means that if we wish to examine rules through how we follow them rather than their content, we cannot regard rule-following as being guided by rails invisibly laid out to infinity  [8]  if we wish to develop any semblance of normativity. Regarding his own view of the relation between a rule, our understanding of it and our method of application, Wittgenstein uses the analogy of playing chess, stating where is the connection effected between the sense of the words lets play a game of chess and all the rules of the game? Well, in the list of rules of the game, in the teaching of it, in the everyday practice of playing  [9]  . This means that our understanding of a rule results in how we are taught to understand it and this socially constructed comprehension manifests in the action of following of the rule as part of a custom. For example, when we encounter a signpost pointing right, we react to this by turning right because there is an established custom of doing so which we are initiated into through training. As there is clearly nothing inherent in the arrow that tells us how to react to it, this custom can only have been established by the community of which we are a member. Although Wittgenstein makes it clear that he believes that how we follow a rule is how we participate in a communal custom, he recognises the problem concerning the sustainment of normativity that this view must address. If our understanding is moulded by how we are trained, what happens when two people react to their training differently and how do we know which reaction is the correct one?  [10]  As it is the community that establishes how we follow a rule, and we can make no valid reference to the rule itself, it must then be the community that decides whether an individual follows a rule correctly. However, is there any way to prove that the community can provide the normative standard required to know whether or not we are following a rule correctly? I will now address this issue, beginning with an examination of Kripkes sceptical account of rule following. Saul Kripkes discussion of Wittgensteins account of language (which he stressed was not an interpretation, but a line of thought inspired by his reading of Wittgenstein) rests on the sceptical belief that there is no mental fact that can provide an ultimate justification for our belief that we are following the same rule in the same way as we have in the past, and therefore no objective notion of meaning. Although Kripkes account has not been popular, its influence is undeniable as it is used as the point of departure for the standard approach to rule-following  [11]  . Kripke founded his sceptical version of Wittgensteins account of rules on the first challenge to the classical account that I previously discussed which he named the sceptical paradox. This was our paradox; no course of action could be determined by a rule, because every course of action can be brought into accord with the rule. The answer was: if every course of action can be brought into accord with the rule, then it can be also brought into conflict with it. And so there would be neither accord nor conflict here.  [12]   Kripke saw this issue to be, the most radical sceptical problem that philosophy has seen to date  [13]  he stated that the problem lies in that we cannot discern a fact about the mental state of an individual that can justify their belief that they are following a particular rule in the correct way. Thus, the notion of rule-following becomes meaningless. In order to explicate the problem Kripke used the quaddition example in which he asked the reader to imagine in the method of calculation quaddition where, x quus y = x + y if x, y This would mean that quus would give the same results as plus for numerous calculations, up until y In order provide a solution to the sceptical paradox, Kripke argues that Wittgenstein must look for an exterior source for justification and normativity. Kripkes Wittgenstein finds this justification by first accepting the sceptical problem and acknowledging that there can be no ultimate justification therefore the solution must be sceptical itself. From this starting point he then reduces the severity of the problem by arguing that what is required to solve the sceptical problem are not truth conditions (the facts that meanings must obtain to in order to be true), but justification conditions. These justification conditions rest on our answers to the question what is the role, and the utility in our lives of the practice of asserting (or denying) the form of words under these conditions?  [14]  In other words, we must justify our understanding of a rule by showing how we use it within our everyday lives. Our application of the rule is then evaluated by the community as to whethe r it conforms to the usual application of the rule and is therefore correct. Kripkes sceptical account of rule-following does succeed in providing a comprehensive and plausible account for how we invest meaning into the notion of rule- following through community based justification and evaluation. However, it seems that by accepting the scepticism brought to light by the by the paradox Kripke is guilty of the very misunderstanding that Wittgenstein was trying to correct. Wittgensteins rejection of the sceptical problem appears to be shown in the second paragraph of 201 in which Wittgenstein states that we thereby show that there is a way of grasping a rule which is not an interpretation, but which, from case to case application is exhibited in what we call following the rule and going against it  [15]  . From this it appears that Wittgenstein believed it was possible to reject the view that understanding is reliant on interpretation without having to accept on a sceptical theory of meaning. Meredith Williams highlights Kripkes misunderstanding, arguing t hat his belief that the apparent lack of epistemic guidance and justification for the correct application of a rule presents a genuine problem reflects a continued allegiance to the ideal expressed in the classical view  [16]  . She argues that this allegiance distorts Wittgensteins view by searching for an epistemic solution, leading Kripke to replace truth conditions with justification conditions and subjective verification with communal verification. Although Williams shares Kripkes community view of rule-following, she holds that this is not simply a sceptical solution but a genuine source of justification, stating that Wittgensteins answer to the paradox is not a sceptical throwing up of the hands with But this is what I or we do, but an appeal to the social embeddedness of rules  [17]  . She also criticizes Kripke for misunderstanding the community view by denying the authority of those who have mastered the language and forms of life that they are involved with, thus making the authority of the community arbitrary. Williams argues that Wittgenstein held an overtly communitarian view of rules, she evens goes as far as to argue that only the communitarian view can provide rules with the power to constrain the behaviour of the individual and space needed for the basic normative distinction between correct and incorrect. Williams describes the activity of rule-following as a matter of establishing a second nature  [18]  . Rules gain their power from appearing natural and inevitable, meaning that we develop an instantaneous and blind obedience to them. Blind obedience is cultivated through the training of a novice by a master wherein the novice is taught the technique of application that lies in the background and gives content to the formula as rule  [19]  . These techniques then become bedrock practices which need no epistemic justification as they are legitimised by their conformity. Williams argues that it is the blind obedience in the application of bedrock judgements and actions that create space for the rule rather than vice versa, which she calls the primacy of action. Williams argues that both the novice and the master act blindly, they are alternative blind as they are unaware of alternative actions and judgements. The Novice is blind as they unquestioningly follow the example and in struction of the master as they are aware of no other alternatives. Masters act blindly as once they have mastered the language they are blind (or no longer subject to) the verification of the community. From this Williams then argues that it is these two kinds of blindness than can give weight to the constraints that rules place upon an individual by providing the necessary foundational level needed to stop the regress of interpretation. In regards to the issue of normativity, Williams argues that the necessity of following a rule in a particular way is established through a communal regularity which constitutes the form of life against which error and mistake, truth and falsity can be discerned.  [20]  This means that the community does not provide a normative standard through its assent. Rather, it is the structure of the community or in other words, a certain history and a certain setting  [21]  which sustains the regularity of practices over time therefore acting in accordance with this regularity that constitutes following a rule correctly. This means that when we engage in blind actions and judgements, we comply with rules in a way that has been developed in the community of which we are a member, therefore, it is only in relation to the structured practice of the community that the individual can engage in normative activity  [22]  . Williams theory of blind obedience as the source of the necessity of rules and normativity of rules as socially constructed appears to be a valid interpretation of Wittgensteins account of rule-following. However, the notion of socially embedded normativity appears to be in need of further examination. Even if Williams account does not rely on the overtly arbitrary assent of the community, how can an individual compare their understanding of the meaning of an expression with the one provided by the structured practice of the community and furthermore, how may the community ascertain an individuals understanding of a rule in a comprehensively in order to subject it to verification? In light of these queries, I believe that a more substantial account of social normativity is needed, one that I will explore in John McDowells critique of Crispin Wrights anti-realist theory of meaning. Crispin Wright held a community view of Wittgensteins account of rule-following however, he saw this as necessarily aligned with an anti-realist stance due to the scepticism against investigation-independent truth values that he took to be inherent in Wittgensteins rule-following considerations. According to Wright, there can be no such thing as an objective or investigation-independent fact and so the only source of normativity available to a language speaker is the verdict of the linguistic community. However, due to the lack of investigation-independence this verdict is arbitrary. Wright challenges the existence of investigation-independence by refuting the hypothetico-deductive picture of understanding which he believes to be a foundational aspect. In the case of learning a language, this theory assumes that the trainee is able to form a hypothesis of what they believe their trainer is attempting to convey. Wright argues that this would suggest that we all have some innate grasp of an idiolectic pattern of application. If this is the case, we can then assume that this insight is shared communally. Wright rejects this view of understanding as psychologically artificial  [23]  as it rests on the assumption that we have such access to understanding that allows us to make verifiable assertions about the meaning of expressions. He argues along similar lines to Kripke, that there is no way that a trainee may prove that her hypothesis correctly mirrors that of the apparent investigation-independent fact in every case of application. This then means that it is not possible to have a direct and privileged insight regarding the requisites of understanding an expression irrespective of whether this insight is shared. If we wish to claim that investigation-independent facts pertaining to language exist, they must be recognisable; otherwise the correct use of language would have to be regarded as a radical transcendence of human consciousness  [24]  . However, Wrights examination of the hypothetico-deductive picture shows that an individual cannot attribute themselves with the abil ity to recognise whether they are using an expression in accordance with the prescribed pattern of the fact, let alone persuade anyone else that they have this ability. From this Wright concludes that there is truth in the idea that it is community of assent which supplies the essential background against which alone it makes sense to think of individuals responses as correct or incorrect  [25]  . However, if we suppose that this means that the community has the capability that the individual lacks to recognise whether they are conforming to a determined pattern, we are then faced with the same dilemma as the individual as there is no way of knowing whether consensus aligns with correctness. Wright argues that communal consent can be the only authority regarding the correct employment of language (or in other words the application of the rules of language) but for the community itself there is no authority, so no standard to meet  [26]  meaning a community does not go right or wrong in accepting a particular verdict on a particular decidable question, rather, it just goes.  [27]   In accordance with Wrights belief that meaning cannot be constituted by investigation-independent facts he states that, the only notion of objectivity which the anti-realist can allow himself is the ordinary contrast between areas where disagreement is taken to betoken error or misunderstanding  [28]  . He argues that this is an acceptable view of meaning as our assertions can be given substance through reflecting on our epistemic practices from which they arise. However, this does not seem to be satisfactory, or even in alignment with Wittgensteins intentions due to such statements such as the agreement of ratifications is the pre-condition of our language-game, it is not affirmed in it  [29]  . It appears Wittgenstein believed not only that language games and the rules that govern them are not wholly determined by ratification, but they needed a stronger validation than such ratifications can provide. Although it is clear that Wittgenstein would not regard our grasping of m eaning as the grasping of a private idiolectic pattern, the way in which Wright approaches this seems to threaten normativity in an unnecessary way by associating the invalidity of the hypothetico-deductive picture with an inability of a community to recognise whether or not the individual is able to follow rules correctly. McDowell takes this view in his article Following a Rule in which he argues that Wrights anti-realist theory of meaning and understanding is not recognizable as such and furthermore cannot be regarded as Wittgensteins view. He states that Wrights rejection of investigation-independence yields a picture of the relation between the communal language and the world in which norms are obliterated  [30]  . In light of this it is difficult to see how the susceptibility of the individual to be corrected by the community can be regarded as a form of normativity as there are no norms that may constrain the judgement of the community. McDowell states that this revelation turns Wrights argument on its head  [31]  as it is then becomes necessary to reject anti-realism in order to discern an applicable notion of meaning. According to McDowell, the crux of Wrights misunderstanding, shared with Kripke lies in their overlooking of Wittgensteins intention to refute the convergence of understanding with interpretation which reflects his desire to preserve the sanctity of normativity and meaning. In fact, McDowell sees Wittgensteins goal as finding a middle path between two horns of a dilemma, one which he takes to be Kripkes view that understanding is necessarily interpretative leading to the sceptical paradox, and Wrights view in which expressions are behavioural reactions cultivated by the community making any notion of normativity an illusion. McDowell argues that the way in which we may follow a rule blindly avoiding the need for interpretation while retaining normativity is to situate the questions regarding rules, meaning and understanding within a framework of communal practices  [32]  and furthermore, to redefine what it means to be a member of a linguistic community. According to McDowell, a linguistic community is bound together, not by a match of mere externals (facts accessible to just anyone) but by a capacity for meeting of minds  [33]  . It is as a result of the capacity of members within a linguistic community to access aspects of other members understanding of expressions, that they are able to ascertain a shared meaning. McDowell concedes that Wright is correct to reject the idea that understanding an expression is to formulate a hypothesis concerning something concealed by the speakers linguistic behaviour. However, the anti-realist conclusion from this rejection is misguided in that it fails to also reject the idea that there is such a thing as surface linguistic behaviour. The linguistic behaviour of a speaker that is apparent to others must be characterised in terms of the contents of utterances  [34]  . A command of the language spoken by the speaker allows direct cognitive contact  [35]  with the meaning of this content and thus establishes true meeting of the minds. By this McDowell is suggesting that what we mean by our utterances is not hidden, it is in fact clearly discernible to those who speak the same language. By taking this view McDowell highlights Wittgensteins call for us to stop trying to look beneath the bedrock for reasons as to why we follow rules in a certain way. It is possible to ask further questions concerning the nature of rule-following and meaning but to do so blocks off the obvious and surely correct reading: that hearing a word in one sense rather than another is hearing it in one position rather than another in the network of possible patterns of making sense that we learn to find ourselves in when we acquire mastery of a language  [36]  . When we learn a language we also learn the ways in which this language should be used; there need not be a gap between the expression of a rule given in trainingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦and an action in conformity with it  [37]  . Therefore, when we understand an expression we use it in accordance with the communal use and our meaning is clear to those who share our language and customs. If we do not understand, our incomprehension is also clear and we may then be corrected. This appears to coincide with Wittgensteins belief that what is true or false is what human beings say; and it is in their language that human beings agree. This agreement not in opinion, but rather in form of life.  [38]   In this essay I have addressed the question of does Wittgenstein establish that language is rule-governed by discussing the issue of whether his account of rule-following can provide the justifications and normative standards that following a rule require. My exposition of the rule-following paradox and the deviant learner example revealed how Wittgenstein proved that we cannot provide a comprehensive account of rule-following by referring to the content of rules. However, even if this is the case, it does not necessarily mean that we must be sceptics regarding meaning as Kripke suggests. To believe that normativity and justification must be epistemic in nature is to misunderstand what it is to follow a rule. Williams account of how training situated within a particular social structure leads individuals to follow rules blindly effectively encapsulates how the only justification we require for the way we follow rules is that we have been trained to do so. I do believe Wright raises a valid point in asking how we may recognise that our understanding of certain rules is shared by others. However, through my examination of McDowells view that by sharing a language we are able to gain significant insight

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Whether you want to disseminate an issue, send invitations for an upcoming event, promote or support a good cause, connect with old friends, or even create a buzz about something for that matter, social networking sites are what people take to these days for any sort of such activity. The rising trend of this generation is that almost everything, personal or professional, is online. Forms like email and instant messaging are losing their significance in the lives of today's generation as the bulk of users engaged in social networking platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus, and LinkedIn are increasing at an exponential rate. Although impossible to pick the best, the most prevalent today are Facebook and Twitter. They are both ruling social media today, but are different in terms of their versatility, privacy settings, and features such as groups and pages. Both Facebook and Twitter are extremely popular social networking services with a colossal user base. With Facebook touching a monthly user base of 1.23 billion in 2013, it has emerged as the most powerful social media of all time ("Facebook Userbase," 2014). Not so far behind is Twitter that has now evolved as one of the top most social messaging platforms with 232 million monthly active users (Edwards, 2013). Both are based on the central idea of connecting the world and are special in their own ways. They are both now available as mobile apps for Android, Apple, Windows Phone and BlackBerry users. However, there exist some features that make Facebook quite distinct from Twitter. To begin with, the former is quite evolved in terms of versatility compared to the latter. Every Facebooker can upload photos and videos, play popular games such as Fa... ...nuously as well. In fact, if the user base of Twitter grows at a faster rate and the developers add more new features to make it more versatile and user-friendly it may even prove to be a threat to Facebook. Nevertheless, it is paramount for both to stay in their zones and work on what they are best known and valued for in order to cater to the masses in the long run. References Facebook userbase touches 1.23 billion in 2013. (2014, January 30). The Economic Times. Retrieved from http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-01-30/news/46828393_1_ad-revenue-facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-facebook-coo-sheryl-sandberg Edwards, J. (2013, Nov 5). Twitter is surprisingly small compared to a bunch of other apps and online companies. Business Insider. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-user-base-compared-to-other-apps-and-online-companies-2013-11

Self reflection in it truest sense education essay

Integrating a brooding pattern in one ‘s ain professional instruction methods, would be one manner to maintain up with the on-going assessments that should happen in any professional set up or larning experience. One could depict contemplation as looking back at past instruction experiences, either good or bad, and finding whether the experience could hold been better managed or taught. There is a clear differentiation between believing and reflecting. Thinking could be associated with a job and solution where as reflecting may non hold an absolute terminal consequence. Working as a instructor in a secondary school airss many jobs, and many inquiries that are really seldom answered. The job that surfaces with the thought of reflecting on 1s ain pattern is that we as instructors are non given the clip, or the motive to reflect more frequently, or more profoundly into our methods, learning manners or bringing of the course of study. The debut of standardization by manner of the N ational Curriculum towards the terminal of the 1980 ‘s and the beginning of the 1990 ‘s by the Conservative Government, has taken away the power from the single instructor in make up one's minding what is of import. It could be argued it has reduced the instructor to nil more than a courier of a province controlled course of study. It besides suggests a concealed docket. Neary, M ( 2002 ) highlights the ‘hidden course of study ‘ and the attitude towards instruction and the map a school should play in fixing people for society. Neary, M ( 2002, p45 ) states Lynch 1989 ( 1989, p3 ) : ‘The peculiar societal dealingss they deem of import in the generative procedure are chiefly the hierarchal division of labor between instructors and scholars, the anomic character of scholars ‘ school work itself, and the atomization in work – reflected in the institutionalized and frequently destructive competition among scholars through continual and apparently meritocratic ranking and rating ‘ . Neary, M argues that authors such as Bowles and Gintis have made connexions with a capitalist society and how this is reflected in the school system. It is of import to reflect on the course of study one Teachs and who decides what is ‘Really Useful Knowledge ‘ and how socially effectual this is for the scholars that we teach. The course of study that is offered at The Community College Whitstable is GCSE ‘S in all the nucleus topics, BTEC in Construction, Physical Education, Science, Drama, Science, Music, Business Studies, Travel and Tourism, Design and Technology, NVQ in Hairdressing, professional makings in Motor Vehicles ( IMA and ABC ) and A ‘ Levels. Students at The Community College Whitstable are progressively going familiar with BTEC instead than the traditional GCSE ‘S which are favoured by most Grammar and the top grade of other State schools. The logical thinking for this could be that province instruction is undergoing immense cardinal alte rations through political and ideological mentalities. The National Curriculum was sought to increase the pupil ‘s acquisition, the House of Commons 4th study provinces ( 2008, p10 ) : ‘This papers basically identified four wide intents ; presenting an entitlement for students to a wide and balanced course of study ; scene criterions for pupil attainment and to back up school answerability ; bettering continuity and coherency within the course of study, and helping public apprehension of the work of school: ‘ The school province system has now moved on more than a decennary since that pledge and is presently at the Centre of a political inspection and repair. The Community College Whitstable is come ining more pupils onto the BTEC programmes than of all time before. Through contemplation of the stance and vision that the school is taking, and with respects to the increased flexibleness of the school course of study programme, one could see that schools such as The Community College Whitstable are progressively fighting to vie on national and local footings through GSE ‘S consequences. Therefore turning to BTEC ‘s is a manner to increase pupils consequences and travel up the conference tabular arraies. The popularity with BTEC ‘s are that they are all coursework driven and this does give them an advantage over GCSE ‘S which are portion coursework, and portion terminal of twelvemonth test towards concluding Markss. The coursework is internally marked and externally v erified, pupils who would non hold had any opportunity of acquiring good consequences through GSES ‘s, stand a better opportunity with BTEC ‘s ( perchance acquiring 4 GSSE ‘s at A* – C class on another topic. ) The Community College Whitstable has been first-class in implementing the old Governments name for Vocationalism and Diversity in the course of study but is that all about to alter with the new Coalition Government. It is of import to reflect on 1s learning of the course of study, cognition, bringing, larning manners and methods, if we are to come on and turn as a instructor or facilitator. At present there are no school guidelines to go a Brooding Practitioner but there have been many writers and professionals that have laid down theoretical accounts for brooding pattern to be incorporated into the course of study. Brookfield, S provinces ( 1995 p29 ) : ‘We have available four lenses through which we can see our instruction. These lenses are represented by the four pointers in figure 2.1. They are ( 1 ) our autobiographies as instructors and scholars, ( 2 ) our pupils ‘ eyes, ( 3 ) our co-workers ‘ experiences, and ( 4 ) theoretical literature. Sing what we do through these different lenses alerts us to falsify or uncomplete facets of our premises that need farther probe. ‘ For illustration utilizing a ambitious pupil as a instance survey who attends the vocational Centre is a good manner to reflect on Brookfield ‘s lenses. The pupil that I have identified has had domestic jobs and personal jobs that stem from his place life. The pupil has a low academic ability and falls into the class of extra excess demands, which would hold been recorded on his informations from appraisals conducted in cardinal phase two and three. I believe this pupil suffers from low ego regard and assurance which reflects his aggressive nature towards instruction and higher-ups such as instructors and people in authorization. The pupil was pushed into the vocational Centre because of stereotyping and the low standards needed to inscribe on the classs at the vocational Centre at The Community College Whitstable. Taking this into consideration and seeing it from the pupil ‘s eyes would assist all instructors deal with his/her disputing behavior with greater empathy and compassion, and in bend this would enable us to undertake these jobs with greater cognition. A minority of pupils may hold an atrocious place state of affairs and life in a societal environment that does non advance larning. Students may be come to school with that luggage of place life and may endure from a deficiency of assurance through low academic ability. Sing this state of affairs from a pupil ‘s point of position should promote us as instructors to be more thoughtful and tactful when covering with certain pupils. From my experience of working and learning at The Community College Whitstable, the pupils who chose vocational classs are by and large lower ability pupils. Although there are some exclusions to this, and at that place will ever be pupils who opt for vocational class who are academically bright. Students that are on the Construction courses at The Community College Whitstable may hold jobs that range from behavioral, societal and academic through to the medic al and physical. Through my experience as a instructor, communicator or facilitator I have ever relied on my autobiographical acquisition, for illustration, learning pupils woodworking and joinery through my ain good experience as an learner and so traveling on to analyze at college. This contemplation into my past experiences has helped me to go a more rounded and competent instructor of the accomplishments of a trade that goes back many centuries. I believe that all instructors should utilize their autobiographical acquisition in their instruction because we can all retrieve the good instructors or the good teachers and employers. Our autobiography should organize the foundation of our learning methods and manners. Peer appraisal is a important portion of a instructors larning experience either informal or formal, both of these tools are every bit of import. Teaching on the BTEC Level 2 Construction class involves two members of staff and each member has equal duty to internally verify each others work. Fifty per cent of all pupils work will necessitate to be cross referenced and internally verified. There are regular squad meetings and departmental meetings on marker, pupil ‘s public presentation, attending and behavior. These meetings have ever been a good manner to go through on shared cognition and to interchange thoughts and beliefs on the best ways of learning. Informal feedback from 1s co-workers can be merely as effectual, for illustration inquiring a co-worker to come into a category to detect a peculiar portion of the lesson can supply us with greater cognition of the state of affairs. By merely inquiring other instructors how they deal with job pupils can work out the enigma. From my experience a co-worker had advised me to do up a seating program at the beginning of the lesson to battle bad behavior. The thought is that you have already taken control of the state of affairs and the pupil understands this and responds consequently. To this twenty-four hours the scheme has worked. Understanding how and why pupils behave in a mode requires understanding of human demands, this may non come of course to most of us, but the ability to reflect and to research is a tool all instructors have at their disposal. Completion of the Certificate of Education class in old old ages and now analyzing the BA Hons in Lifelong Learning, has put me on a acquisition curve utilizing theoretical literature that I am still researching and seeking to grok. This research into course of study political orientation, course of study alteration, cognition of instruction etc. suggests that instruction is non what it seems but a smokescreen for viing self-importances and constabularies f rom political parties at the helm of the state ‘s hereafter. Brookfield ‘s Lenses challenges us to travel off from our point of position and to take onboard other interventions that may or may non do a pupils advancement or fail. Brookfield highlights the complexnesss of how we learn, and how the acquisition environment is ever affected by more than one issue. By going a Brooding Practitioner it can assist one understand the jobs that arise from the jobs instructors face. Brookfield identifies Reflective Practice as a manner in which instructors can do sense of the instruction system and the political invasions that occur in the course of study. He suggests that through critical contemplation we find our terms and are so able to hold an openness that benefits both pupils and instructor. The pupils can be really ambitious and will all hold their ain set of issues to cover with as lineations above. Using Brookfield ‘s Four Lenses to cover with a ambitious pupil would be one manner of detecting the true art of pedagogical instruction. Brooding Practice through Brookfields theoretical account would be good when 1 encounters a hard twenty-four hours. Peer rating signifiers an of import function in our instruction methods, Brookfield highlight this in his Four Lenses and provinces ( 1995, p35 ) ‘Our co-workers serve as critical mirrors reflecting back to us images of our actions that frequently take us by surprise. As they describe their ain experiences covering with the same crises and quandary we face, we are able to look into, reframe and broaden our ain theories of pattern. ‘ This find through other instructors who deal with the same job pupils is really of import for a instructor to come on, and travel on in their chase of going a competent instructor. Brookfield ‘s 4th lens system focuses on theoretical literature whereby instructors and lectors should read more about the procedures of larning theory and research. Brookfield provinces ( 1995, p37 ) : ‘Reading a theoretical analysis that offers an alternate interpretative model for a state of affairs can be life salvaging – or at least, calling economy. Critical theory may assist us recognize, for illustration, that pupils ‘ neutrality is the predictable effect of a system that forces people to analyze staccato balls of cognition at a gait prescribed by course of study councils and license organic structures. ‘ Theoretical literature is covered by the leading squad at The Community College Whitstable in Staff Development eventides. From my experience this literature is used to warrant their scheme instead than to professionally develop a instructor ‘s head. Theoretical literature can assist instructors to still their frights and seek confidences from other professionals outside their on the job environment. Unfortunately excessively few instructors actively read theoretical literature on pedagogical instruction, from my experience reading and analyzing literature on behavior has been a great beginning of encouragement. Brookfield points out that the logical thinking for this is that the surveies carried out about learning in theoretical books are ever written by faculty members and non instructors. The old Government had realised this, the 4th study on the National Curriculum provinces ( 2008, p32 ) : ‘At the same clip, instructors need to be given a stronger sense that their ain inventions in teaching method can be valued. There is considerable support for the debut of some signifier of ‘pedagogic bank ‘ developed by instructors for instructors. ‘ In order for instructors to go a Brooding Practitioner or instructor they would hold to oppugn the footing of the Curriculum and the hierarchal establishment that administers it. This would convey them in direct struggle with the whole school system and the powers that control the system, both centrally through authorities, and straight through the senior direction of the school. This theory of oppugning the nucleus values of an educational establishment goes against the National Curriculum set up under the Conservative Government, where instructor control and powers are limited. In a universe where we are now used to following the regulations and codifications of administrations the true spirit of people power has been born out of us through Capitalism, Globalisation and laterality. If one was to take onboard brooding instruction and utilize it as portion of the course of study timetabling it would assist us to go better instructors and this would assist us learn pupils what we thin k is of import to them in the outside universe. Schon, D ( 1995, p332 ) argues: ‘What happens in such an educational bureaucratism when a instructor begins to believe and move non as proficient expert but as brooding practician? Her reflection- in-action poses a possible menace to the dynamically conservative system in which she lives. ‘ As mentioned earlier the ‘hidden course of study ‘ has many dockets, of all time since the debut of free province schooling in the 1940 ‘s the issue has ever been what should the pupils learn and why. Education was seen to be a manner to travel a state on from the injury of the World War and the deepnesss of desperation. The Education Minister at the clip was R. A. Butler. In a bill of exchange white paper ( 1943, pp182 ) he stated: ‘The new educational chances must non, hence, be of a individual form. Schools and classs must be available to accommodate the demands and aptitudes of different types of student or pupil. It is merely every bit of import to accomplish diverseness as it is to guarantee equality of educational chance. ‘ Although the Government were non straight involved in educational course of study there was a steadfast directive from the Government. Scholars throughout history have identified learning theoretical accounts and theories, armitage et Al ( 2003 ) identified five Models of Educational Political orientations: Classical Humanism, Liberal Humanism, Progressivism, Instrumentalism and Reconstructionism. Armitage argues that we as instructors need to understand these political orientations in order to take them on board and through this cognition we as instructors can put the acquisition experience for our pupils. Out of the five political orientations Reconstructionism seems the furthest off from our educational system and would accommodate the Developing World who need political orientations to draw themselves out of economical convulsion. Neary, M ( 2002 ) suggests that the Liberal Humanist political orientation has been the most relevant since the industrialized West evolved. Neary argu es that this political orientation had favoured the private and higher classed schools such as the Grammar schools but non the State schools. Tony Blair ‘s New Labour Government and the educational political orientation could be coined with instrumentalism. The educational policies under Blair such as the Leitch Report ( 2006 ) are in maintaining with the instrumentalism armitage et Al provinces ( 2003, p209 ) : ‘The instrumental course of study sees knowledge in factual footings and is clearly lecturer/teacher/trainer led. Therefore, through instrumentalism instruction and preparation pupils are fixing themselves for their functions in the workplace and in society as a whole. ‘ This instrumentalism has had a major consequence on province schools such as The Community College Whitstable because since New Labour, Vocationalism has made its manner into Secondary schools and is now portion of the course of study for 14 twelvemonth olds. It remains to be seen whether the new Coalition Government are prepared to transport on these political orientations or follow another way. In a perfect universe the educational political orientation would be Progressivism Armitage et Al provinces ( 2003, p208 ) : ‘The course of study would be based around active problem-solving in a assortment of societal contexts and be constructed of subjects which interested and challenged pupils ( larning from experience ) with the purpose that people would larn how to believe for themselves, make determinations, cooperate and take part as shapers of a democratic society. ‘ The job that has arisen in the course of study today is that pupils are being spoon fed the information and that they can non believe for themselves. This is the consequence of the course of study being excessively narrow and excessively focussed on good consequence and attainment instead than pupils growing. In order for our society or political administrations to make up one's mind the destiny of our instruction system or the function it plays in how the pupils will be taught, curriculum research is carried out to determine the terminal end. Neary, M ( 2002 ) has highlighted two course of study theoretical accounts the Product Model and the Process Model. The Product Model is linked with behavior and Neary, M ( 2002, p60 ) cites Tyler ( 1949 ) ; ‘1. What are the purposes and aims of the course of study? 2. Which larning experiences run into these purposes and aims? 3. How can the extent to which these purposes and aims have been met be evaluated? 4. How can these learning experiences be organised? ‘ Under this theoretical account each inquiry will necessitate to be answered in order for the development of the course of study to be successful and achieve the ends and results intended. Harmonizing to Neary the theoretical account was non without its critics based entirely on the idea that a course of study can non be based on Behaviourism. Armitage et al provinces there was an alternate theoretical account for course of study development, the Process Model ( 2003, p203 ) : ‘This is an attack to curriculum which is interested in the procedures and processs of larning so that the scholar is able to utilize and develop the content, non merely have it passively. ‘ Neary, M states the Process Model focuses on ( 2002, p61 ) : ‘Teacher activities ( and hence the instructor ‘s function ) , pupil and scholar activities ( possibly the most of import characteristic ) , the conditions in which the acquisition takes topographic point. ‘ Students on the BTEC degree 2 Construction classs at The Community College Whitstable will hold a variable grade of both theoretical accounts in the class purposes and aims and the construction and bringing of the content stuff and appraisals. The BTEC Level 2 Construction classs will already hold predetermined purposes and results in which the scholar will hold to run into to fulfill the awarding organic structure, if they are to accomplish the making, this type of course of study falls in line with the Product Model. The BTEC does let for some liberty of the instructors because the faculties or units will hold to be personally written by the instructor or lector for the pupils to finish. This does reflect portion of the Process Model but the ego written units and bringing of the units have specific guidelines laid down by BTEC Edexcel. Curriculum alteration and the political orientation behind it are really of import when sing a sweeping alteration of the National Curriculum for schools in Britain. With the debut of new makings, the appraisal of that is basically of import to the success and the length of service of the new set up. Knight, J Minister of province schools ( 14-19 ) provinces ( 2008, p1 ) : ‘Many schools are already seeing the benefits of utilizing appraisal for larning patterns and resources, but I want all schools to hold entree to high-quality preparation and support so that appraisal for acquisition can be embedded in all schoolrooms. ‘ The old Labour Government had targeted appraisal as the manner frontward for schools to undertake pupil ‘s weaknesss. Harmonizing to the section for Children, Schools and Families ( 2008 ) the appraisal for larning championed by Labour would enable pupils, instructors, parents and schools to cognize how the pupil is executing, where they should be and how they are traveling to accomplish a satisfactory degree of public presentation. For schools this meant that the construction would be crystalline for all to see. For instructors they would now hold a foundation to work from and be able to prove pupils intermittently against the in agreement appraisals and standards that are laid down by Government organic structures. There are many ways to prove pupils runing from summational testing ( terminal of twelvemonth test ) , to formative testing: this could be conducted in the schoolroom and workshops, and initial testing which would be carried out at the beginning of the class. The n ucleus inquiry that needs to be answered when assessing is, are the agencies of proving dependable and valid? Armitage et Al ( 2003, p 157 ) provinces: ‘A valid appraisal method is one which tests whether the purposes and aims of a learning experience have been achieved. ‘ The BTEC degree 2 Construction class that is taught at The Community College Whitstable has assorted signifiers of appraisal in order for the pupil to finish the units for that peculiar class. Currently pupils will hold to go through six units in which three are theory units, and three are practical units. The theory units are taught on a modular footing, one time the pupil has completed one unit they move onto the following 1. The units are broken down into three smaller balls of appraisal so that it is easier for the pupils to digest and use themselves and come on through the scaling system. The rating systems start with a base on balls and so travel onto a virtue and eventually a differentiation. This sort of appraisal follows the standard referenced path of appraisals, the pupils will hold a set of inquiries and each inquiry will hold base on balls, virtue or differentiation attached to it. The pupils can lucubrate on their replies and accomplish a higher mark or class. The prono unced work is so marked by the assessor and so internally verified by a co-worker learning the same class. This is indispensable for the appraisal procedure to be made valid and dependable. The practical elements of the BTEC degree 2 Construction class are marked by the assessor every bit shortly as the pupils has achieved the purpose, which could run from constructing a Flemish Bond wall, doing a panel door or preparing and painting a booth. The instructor ( assessor ) will immediately tag their piece of work in line with the class specification and rate the pupils a fail, base on balls, virtue or differentiation. This appraisal is in maintaining with a competency based expression which is similar with NVQ ‘s. There have been unfavorable judgments of this sort of competency based proving Armitage et Al ( 2003, p166 ) provinces: ‘Some argue that a competence-based system makes larning assessment-led. That is, for pupils at least, one oculus is ever on the competences that have yet to be awarded and the full class of survey the becomes skewed towards clicking off such competences. ‘ The pupils at The Community College Whitstable could place with this unfavorable judgment as we as instructors are pushed to increase accomplishments and base on balls makings instead than doing certain that the pupil is ready equipped for the outside universe. Assessment schemes and the dependability and cogency have become an issue with new Coalition Government. An independent reappraisal conducted by Sir Richard Sykes ( 2010p3 ) provinces ; ‘There is an compulsion with measuring, puting quantitative marks and roll uping conference tabular arraies, as though what can non be measured numerically has no value and should hold no topographic point in instruction. Yet the best things in instruction frequently can non readily be measured in this manner. ‘ Dockrell and Black ( 1980 ) pick up on this subject of cogency and dependability but their focal point is assessment in the affectional sphere. Dockrell and Black ( 1980 ) argue that this sort of appraisal is good for the success of the pupil ‘s patterned advance in their educational experience. Assessing person ‘s public assistance and fixing lessons to suit all pupils sat in forepart of them is portion of the pupil centred course of study at The Community College Whitstable. Teachers are expected to compose studies three times a twelvemonth on every kid they teach measuring both ability and attitude although this does non travel towards their concluding class it can move as a tool to measure the pupil ‘s advancement. Every kid must be taught to the best of their ability is the mantra at the college. Although I do non hold with the current instruction system in Britain one hundred per cent, there seem to be really small alternate. The 11 plus trial that is conducte d in the Kent District is designed to divide the brighter pupils from the less academic to the addition of the Grammar schools. This sort of appraisal has a immense consequence on all secondary schools in Kent, particularly The Community College Whitstable who will hold to choose pupils that have failed or are non eligible. The Tomlinson study ( 2004 ) had promised or set out a new course of study and appraisal that would hold revolutionised our province instruction. The study had identified that GCSE ‘s and A'Levels needed to be reformed every bit good as vocational instruction for 14 twelvemonth olds. Unfortunately, the reform did non transform the instruction system but was merely brought in a moire downed degree. Sir Richard Sykes ( 2010, p3 ) argues: ‘We therefore present a treatment and a set of recommendations which if adopted would, we believe, help to right the balance between instruction and appraisal. ‘ The new specification for all BTEC classs has been renewed as of September 2010, this follows a whole shingle up of the QCA model and the regulating organic structures that preside over the way of our making system in Britain. It remains to be seen whether this will convey the alteration that will bridge the spread between pupil ‘s advancement and an instruction system that is envied throughout the universe. In decision Reflective Practice enables one to see their professional function as a instructor and within society. It is of import that we as instructors and professionals encourage pupils to accomplish all that they can in the instruction system and to go life long scholars. It is of import that we encourage pupils to non merely larn what the course of study has offered them but to widen their acquisition. The essay has researched the course of study of The Community College Whitstable and how it has adapted to the alterations of a tiered school system through conference tabular arraies and appraisals such as the Eleven Plus. Schools such as The Community College Whitstable will hold to continually excel their outlooks if they are to last in this Capitalist State System. Brookfield ‘s Four Lenses is an of import starting point for contemplation in 1s ain professional pattern and this can set the teacher/professional onto the route of true satisfaction of 1s ain pattern. Curric ulum political orientations have played an of import portion in Britain and the World ‘s instruction system. This essay has focussed on instrumentalism and how this affects The Community College Whitstable and how it has played an of import portion in Britain ‘s Education System. This essay has identified and developed a cognition and apprehension of appraisals in our State Education System. It has identified how these appraisals are being used in a vocational sense through BTEC makings at The Community College Whitstable. It is of import to understand Britain ‘s instruction system, political orientations and cardinal beliefs as this will enable the instructor to come on and to do sense of educational alteration. Schools such as The Community College Whitstable have benefited from political orientation, political invasion and course of study development because more pupils are now come ining 6th signifier and traveling on to university or higher instruction than of all time before. Schools play an of import portion when educating the pupil and the local community, it is the start of womb-to-tomb acquisition for some pupils. Comparing the instruction system of the 1970 ‘s to the present twenty-four hours, pupils have a greater advantage because schools are now set up to profit the pupil. The Community College Whitstable offers a huge scope of makings that would be the enviousness of many states.

Gender - Critical Aspect of Social Inequality - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2355 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2019/04/26 Category Sociology Essay Level High school Tags: Gender Roles Essay Did you like this example? Gender has been defined as a means to serve to reduce assumed parallels between biological and psychological sex or at least make explicit any assumptions of such parallels (Unger 1976, p. 1086). Gender inequality is a prevalent issue in society as a whole, and America is no exception. It is a sociological construct which carves the path in which men and women will live their lives, affecting a broad range of choices and availability of resources (Macionis, 2018). Gender inequality exists due to the fact that women and men are clearly defined as distinctive types of people (Macionis, 2018). Gender inequality primarily impacts women. For instance, women often encounter a glass ceiling which defines the maximum potential for promotions in their often male dominated professions. Alison Bechdel demonstrated gender inequality in the form of a simple cartoon which depicted a test where a movie passed if it met this criteria: there are at least two female characters with names, those characters interact with one another, and their discussions include something other than men (Macionis, 2018). Applying this test to recent films, analysts claim that around half do not pass this test (Macionis, 2018). This simple test depicts the way in which men dominate society, and while some women do rise above, many hit the glass ceiling. In fact, due to the presence of several forms of gender inequalities, the workplace has been claimed at times to be inhospitable for women (Abrams, 1991). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Gender Critical Aspect of Social Inequality" essay for you Create order Additionally, books and media influence children by presenting stereotypical roles of men and women, with women lacking representation in traditionally male roles (Purcell and Stuart 1990). More over, these influences continue later in life and spread to other means, such as video games, social media and celebrities. Even advertisements perpetuate gender bias and reinforce gender norms, with men in advertisements shown to focus on the product theyre representing, while women focus on the men (Goffman, 1979). In fact, gender is instilled into children even before they are born by parents carefully selecting gender appropriate clothing, such as pink for newborn girls and blue for newborn boys (Zosuls et al., 2001). Why is it that gender exists at all? In earlier times, the use of gender and the roles each sex played were more abundant than in todays time. The differences in biological make up that each sex carried were far more important (Macionis, 2018). For instance, in the time of hunters and gatherers, there was no means of controlling pregnancy and reproduction, which burdened women as being caretakers of their many children (Macionis, 2018). Because women were bound to their homes and their children, women were forced to construct their roles around the home (Macionis, 2018). Thus, women often took on such jobs as planting and gathering vegetation to provide food for themselves and their family (Macionis, 2018). Men, on the other hand, boasting their stronger and larger size due to the biological differences in their genetic make up, often took on the role of hunting or warfare, which left the women, again, with no choice but to be bound to their homes (Macionis, 2018). As time continued on, gender roles became less and less fundamental. When the Industrial Revolution took place, there were effective means of preventing pregnancy (Macionis, 2018). The ability to decide when and if to get pregnant gave women more of a choice in their home-maker status. Additionally, the Industrial Revolution developed more advanced technology that diminished the need for physical strength in the workplace and for economic production as a whole (Macionis, 2018). Many advances in technology and changes to society that have followed in the time after the Industrial Revolution have led to gender roles becoming less and less of a determinant for what kind of job one may possess. With the need for gender to exist diminishing more and more with each step society and technology takes, what is it that makes gender still relevant? One may turn to sociological perspectives in order to gain insight on such a question. According to the structural-functional theory, gender is societys recognition that women and men differ in some respects (Macionis, 2018, p. 118). Gender is viewed as complementarity, meaning the differences between men and women are limited but important (Macionis, 2018). Gender, according to the structural-functional approach, defines the different obligations each sex is required to perform (Macionis, 2018). Due to these differences, the genders are complementary in the way in which both sexes rely on one another to perform their duties, which is said to bring unity to families and in a broader sense, communities as a whole (Macionis, 2018). Talcott Parsons, who was born in 1902 and passed away in 1979, was an American sociologist. Parsons developed the most well known theory of gender in the realm of structural functional outlooks (Macionis, 2018). According to Parsons, the differences in gender continue to grow smaller as time moves forward, yet are still encouraged by modern societies as they are a useful integration tool and encourage the sexes to work together (Macionis, 2018). The main point of specification of this is that gender is defined in a complementary way that encourages both men and women to rely on one another and see one another as an asset (Macionis, 2018). For example, women are child bearers, and the biological drive in men to produce offspring brings the two genders together. Due to this reliance, both genders see benefits in forming a relationship and, more importantly, a family (Macionis, 2018). Despite the diminishing differences in women and men, women are traditionally still deemed as the primary caretaker of the household, while men are seen as the primary wealth holder and are deemed responsible for the economic advancement of the family (Macionis, 2018). In order to achieve a society in which the genders work complementarily, gender differences are engrained into a person starting from a young age (Macionis, 2018). For example, masculinity is an instrumental orientation, emphasizing rationality, competition, and a focus on goals (Macionis, 2018, p. 118). Femininity, on the other hand, involves an opposing expressive orientation: emotional responsiveness, cooperation, and concern for other people and relationships (Macionis, 2018, p. 118). These inherent differences in upbringing result in women smiling more, and maintaining politeness in situations where they would rather not. Societies pressures to fill these gender roles lead to disapproval of those who go against th eir gender norms, who often find loss of sex appeal amongst the disapproval (Macionis, 2018). Today, the structural-functional theory is seen as less influential than when it was initially introduced fifty years ago (Macionis, 2018). This is partly due to the theories approach in reinforcing and rationalizing traditional gender roles, with some seeing complementary roles as a weakly disguised vail for male domination (Macionis, 2018). Additionally, the approach does not fully explain all roles that genders take and ignores those that do not fit into a clear cutting block. For instance, women and men do not need to see value in their gender differences to interact with one another. Moreover, their interactions may not fit into the traditional gender norm laid out by Parsons, as work roles (instrumental) are often not the same role one takes on in a relationship (expressive) (Macionis, 2018). Finally, the theory is said to ignore the issues caused by gender roles and norms, which falls heavily on the shoulders of those who stray from traditional roles in their lives. This faul t has been made apparent in recent years as transgender or non-binary individuals continue to suffer from the insensitivities of persons who see gender roles as unchanging. The social-conflict theory is another tool for analyzing gender in society. Rather than view genders as being complementary, the theory views the issue of gender inequality vertically (Macionis, 2018). The social-conflict theory asserts that gender is a divisive part of society, rather than a means of unification like the structural functional approach suggests. Friedrech Engels, who was born in 1820 and passed away in 1895, was a friend of Karl Marx and thus was very familiar with Marxs thinking (Macionis, 2018). Engels believed capitalism to lead to the dominant position men hold over women, and the basis of this assertion is laid out by examining the evolution of society from hunting and gathering, to capitalism (Macionis, 2018). Looking back at the time of hunters and gatherers, the social-conflict theory asserts that while men and women took on different roles, both roles were necessary and vital (Macionis, 2018). For instance, women played just as crucial a role by providing vegetation as men did when they were hunting (Macionis, 2018). Due to the necessity and importance of both roles, the social-conflict theory claims that simple societies such as those of the hunter-gatherers were close to achieving gender equality. However, as time passed and industrial advancements were made (such as raising livestock and gardening), the availability of goods rose and some individuals or families were able to obtain a surplus of goods (Macionis, 2018). This addition of surplus goods led to the rise of social classes, with those enjoying the majority of the surplus becoming wealthy (Macionis, 2018). With the formation of social classes came the idea of private property, which was used as a means of the wealthy retaining their surplus of goods (Macionis, 2018). The idea of private property then led to the dominance of men over women, as men wished to carry on their legacies through their sons, rather than their partners (Macionis, 2018). Again, women were soon seen as their beneficial role being that of the caretaker of their homes and children. As time passed on and technological advancements grew, capitalism came to rise and so did the male-dominated capitalist class (Macionis, 2018, p. 120). In order to continue the patriarchal society formed with capitalism, women were led to discover happiness in the form of male partnership, and domestic life and duties, while men were driven to factories to work long hours (Macionis, 2018). Women were taught to seek a man in order to prosper and survive, rather than forming their own financial independence by obtaining jobs. Both gender norms coincided to reinforce the ideal that women were responsible for the entirety of the housework, again reinforcing gender inequality. However, the social- conflict theory is not without its own critics. Critics assert that families, despite being patriarchal, are still a necessity as they provide a means of both having and raising children (Macionis, 2018). Additionally, the theory fails to account for the fact that not all differences between men and women are seen as unjust (Macionis, 2018). For example, even in todays society there are many people of both genders who are happy to take on the role of caregiver to their children while their partner provides economically. Finally, critics point out that Engels assertion of capitalism as the route of gender stratification does not hold true in the world today, as many socialist nations still have patriarchal societies (Macionis, 2018). As previously asserted, gender does in fact impact society and furthermore the lives that make up such a society. Gender typically is connected to varying levels of power, with men often enjoying more freedom to behave in different ways (Macionis, 2018). For example, men in Hollywood often still portray sexier roles on screen as they age and society accepts this, even if their counterpart in the illustrious relationship is far younger. However, as women age in Hollywood we do not see the same hold true for them. Furthermore, women are judged more harshly for traits like assertiveness, and more often take on softer traits that rely on politeness (Smith-Lovin Brody, 1989). The symbolic-interaction theory investigates gender roles in a smaller lens than that of the structural function approach, focusing on these daily interactions in everyday life (Macionis, 2018). The symbolic-interaction theory asserts that gender norms are engrained into our society by the means that we use it every day, and thus is a vital part of our society. For example, gender influences the relative freedom one may feel to make certain decisions, facial expressions, or clothing choices. Women are judged more heavily on their facial expressions, and the desire to be polite has led them to smile more (Macionis, 2018). Additionally, women typically are judged more harshly for taking up more space, as daintiness is seen as a feminine trait, while men are more likely to be seen as masculine for taking up more space (Macionis, 2018). It is also generally expected in society that a woman will take a mans last name when married (Macionis, 2018). While the symbolic-interaction theory allows insight into the daily ways in which gender influences society, it fails to account for a broader stance on how gender actually shapes society as a whole (Macionis, 2018). It is unlikely that the source of gender inequality will ever be agreed upon. However, it is abundantly clear the gender does perform a role in society. As society continues to advance, it is likely the world will continue to see gender roles redefined. With the emergence of new genders, and sexual orientations, gender roles will continue to change. In fact, there are already notable differences in gender traits (masculinity, femininity) in those of straight white women versus their counterparts of other sexual orientations (Kachel, Steffens, Niedlich, 2016). What is not apparent, is whether or not gender equality will be reached. Today, women are still viewed as being primarily responsible for routine housework, while men are expected to do non-routine chores (Geist, 2018). This is in part due to the fact that women can produce children, and the role of becoming a mother often leads to women falling behind men in their careers, contributing to the gender wage gap (Slaughter, 2012). What remains unclear is whether or not gender equality will be achieved, and if it is, will everyone agree on it? The social-conflict theory claims gender equality was close to being achieved at the time of hunter-gatherers, however, whether men and women felt that way at the time is debatable. The structural functional approach claims that gender roles are necessary for unification between men and women, and while this may hold some merit, in a broader sense this ideal is flawed for not recognizing the inequality in value held for both necessary roles (male and female). For society to unlearn the societal norms that have led to the clear division between men and women gender roles will take a notable effort from society as a whole, as well as vast amounts of time.