Chelsey Becker 12/8/14
Sociological Theory 1 – SOC 368
Gilman and Simmel Essay
Individuality in Modern Societies
The development of individuality in modern society is expressed through the work of both Charlotte Gilman and Georg Simmel. Both theorists take on different approaches and introduce different concepts that express the development of an individual’s individuality. While Gilman takes on an approach mainly from a biological standpoint Simmel takes on an approach by introducing the concept of interaction between individuals.
Drawing from the theoretical tradition of social Darwinism, Charlotte Gilman discussed the idea that we as individuals have constructed the idea that women are inferior to men in biological terms. This …show more content…
This concept “refers to the drives, purposes, interests, or inclinations that individuals have for interacting with one another” (271). Since Simmel focused predominately on the idea of interaction between individuals he had continued studying and analyzing the forms in which interaction takes place. The significance that the idea of interaction has is that in every society interaction takes place between individuals. These interactions have the power to lead to friendships, enemies, business partners, and so on. This idea is important because through the form of interaction an individual can express their individuality by their way of communicating. Simmel claims that every interaction that we as individuals have with another is a form of exchange where each individual gives the other more than he/she has possessed. Interactions often lead to conflicts between individuals. Conflicts deal mainly with disagreements that occur during an interaction. A conflict is designed to resolve the dualities between individuals. Without conflict in a relationship it is said that individuals are not growing because they are not willing to speak about or confront an idea other than their own with another individual. There are times where conflicts can be seen as good or bad. The outcome of the conflict may end in a better understanding of an individual and their ideas or it may lead to dysfunction and hatred. The overall …show more content…
It is important to understand that there are broad ranges of ways you can express your individuality. In today’s society it is easier for a woman to establish her own identity and express her own individuality because they are not viewed as those who are economically dependent on the man. There are times where there are women who are economically dependent on a man but more and more we see women rising to the top in businesses or just simply doing what makes them
Sociological Theory 1 – SOC 368
Gilman and Simmel Essay
Individuality in Modern Societies
The development of individuality in modern society is expressed through the work of both Charlotte Gilman and Georg Simmel. Both theorists take on different approaches and introduce different concepts that express the development of an individual’s individuality. While Gilman takes on an approach mainly from a biological standpoint Simmel takes on an approach by introducing the concept of interaction between individuals.
Drawing from the theoretical tradition of social Darwinism, Charlotte Gilman discussed the idea that we as individuals have constructed the idea that women are inferior to men in biological terms. This …show more content…
This concept “refers to the drives, purposes, interests, or inclinations that individuals have for interacting with one another” (271). Since Simmel focused predominately on the idea of interaction between individuals he had continued studying and analyzing the forms in which interaction takes place. The significance that the idea of interaction has is that in every society interaction takes place between individuals. These interactions have the power to lead to friendships, enemies, business partners, and so on. This idea is important because through the form of interaction an individual can express their individuality by their way of communicating. Simmel claims that every interaction that we as individuals have with another is a form of exchange where each individual gives the other more than he/she has possessed. Interactions often lead to conflicts between individuals. Conflicts deal mainly with disagreements that occur during an interaction. A conflict is designed to resolve the dualities between individuals. Without conflict in a relationship it is said that individuals are not growing because they are not willing to speak about or confront an idea other than their own with another individual. There are times where conflicts can be seen as good or bad. The outcome of the conflict may end in a better understanding of an individual and their ideas or it may lead to dysfunction and hatred. The overall …show more content…
It is important to understand that there are broad ranges of ways you can express your individuality. In today’s society it is easier for a woman to establish her own identity and express her own individuality because they are not viewed as those who are economically dependent on the man. There are times where there are women who are economically dependent on a man but more and more we see women rising to the top in businesses or just simply doing what makes them