Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 7 – DISS Subject Teacher:

INSTITUTIONALISM
OBJECTIVES:
The learners shall be able to:
identify key concepts and approaches in the social sciences,
interpret personal and social experiences using relevant approaches in the Social Sciences,
evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the approach, and;
examine the constitutive nature of informal and formal institutions and their actors and how
this nature constrains social behavior.

Institutions
- patterns, norms, rules and schemes that govern and direct social thought and action
Institutionalism
- an approach that highlights the role of institutions, both formal and informal, in affecting social
behavior
- draws insights from previous work in a wide array of disciplines, including economics, political
science, sociology, and anthropology.
- a reaction to prevailing strands of thought in the late 19th century that ignored institutions, historical
context, and practice that gave way to wide-ranging hypothesizing
- a theory that views institutions as humanly devised constraints that structure political, economic,
and social interactions.

Social Institution - a group of people assigned to perform a definite task and function in a social
system
- social structures that have attained a high degree of resilience
- composed of cultural-cognitive, normative, and regulative elements that together with
associated activities and resources, provide stability and meaning to social life

Two Kinds of Institutions

Formal Institutions Informal Institutions

- officially established in one way or another, - not officially established, but are practices
often by governments commonly accepted throughout society
- laws, constitutions, government - beliefs, norms, values
- Other examples (school, religion) - (folkways, peer groups)

Two Dominant Perspective in Institutionalism

1. Old Institutionalism – studies formal institutions that are supported by the government, on how its
various laws and practices are implemented to the citizens
- more studied in the field of Political Science
2. New Institutionalism – refers to studying institutions and how it affects the society or social behavior
- refers to an interaction of various institutions within the society, and how their dynamics, rules,
and norms determine the behavior and actions of individuals

Sub-fields of New Institutionalism

1. Normative Institutionalism – defines institutions much more broadly than political scientist or
economist and it includes also the symbol systems, cognitive scripts and moral templates,
hence it breaks down the divide between institutions and culture
- argues that institutions influence actor’s behavior by shaping their values, norms, interest,
identities and beliefs
2. Rational Choice Institutionalism – it draws heavily from rational choice theory, but is not
identical to it
- argues that political actor’s rational choices are constrained (bounded rationality)
- argues that political institutions are systems of rules and inducements within which
individuals attempt to maximize their utilities
- argues that institutions are rules that govern the behavior between individuals and that
actions are made in interest of the self
 Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 7 – DISS Subject Teacher:

3. Historical Institutionalism – a social science method that uses institutions to find sequences of
social, political and economic behavior and changes across time
- a comparative approach to the study of all aspects of human organizations and does so
by relying heavily on case studies
- looks at how choices are made about the institutional design of the government system
and how it influences the future decision making of individuals
4. Feminist Institutionalism – looks at how gender norms operate within the institutions and how
institutional processes construct and maintain gender power dynamics
5. Sociological Institutionalism - concerns in the way in which institutions create meaning for
individuals providing important theoretical building blocks for normative institutionalism within
political science

Criticisms and Limitations

1. While it can describe and analyze differences between institutions, it lacks the ability to analyze
changes happening in a certain institution.
 lacks the ability to examine how certain behaviors, norms and rules acquire their status as
institutions
2. Assessment of institutions
 since there are many approaches to institutions, there are also variety of ways to by which
institutions can be identified
 how to judge an institution is an institution? By persistence, value, compliance, or outcome

Lesson 9: FEMINISM
OBJECTIVES
The learners should be able to:
identify key concepts and approaches in the social sciences,
interpret social and social experiences using relevant approaches in the social sciences,
determine the relationship between gender ideology and gender inequality, and;
evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the approach.

Feminism
- way of looking at the world which women occupy from the perspective of women
- critique of patriarchy
 Patriarchy - system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are
largely excluded from it
- ideology committed to women’s emancipations

Feminism ideology can take many different forms:

1970 – Women started developing a theory which helped explain their oppression
1980 – Feminists started disagreeing on particular issues linked to feminism
Today – there are as many definitions of feminism as there are feminists

Different Types of Feminist Theories

1. Radical Feminism
- domination of men is the oldest and worst kind of oppression in the world
- sex-gender system that has created oppression
- mission: to overthrow the system by any possible means
- women must rage a war against men, patriarchy, and the gender system
- completely reject all aspects of patriarchy
- reject men as well
2. Liberal Feminism
- all people are created equal by God and deserve equal rights
- women have the same mental capacity as their male counterparts and should be given the
same opportunities
 Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 7 – DISS Subject Teacher:

- women should have the right to choose

- women must be like men
- concentrate on the legislation aspect in the fight against patriarchy

3. Socialist Feminism
Although women are divided by class, race, ethnicity and religion, they all experience the
same oppression for simply being a WOMAN
women must work with men
there must be a coalition between the two and they must see each other as EQUALS
4. Ecofemism Feminism
patriarchy and male domination is harmful to women, as well as the environment
women have a central role in preserving nature because women understand and are one
with NATURE
there is a deep connection that men cannot understand between the earth and women
Mother Nature or Mother Earth?
5. Cultural Feminism
women are inherently more kind and gentle
if women ruled the world, there would be no more war and it would be a better place
females values the ideas such as interdependence, cooperation, relationships, community,
sharing, joy, trust, and peace
women’s way is the right and better way for everyone

Females before…
• history has portrayed women as inferior to men. The typical lifestyle among families was for
women to stay at home while men worked, and this way acknowledged as a WAY OF LIFE for
both parties
• the old way of life was very rigid in terms of gender roles and most people lived
• women would get married, have children and spend their lives looking after the children and
doing the housework

Feminism Today …
• women’s identities evolved and attained a newer role in the society
• women these days are more independent than they were in the past

Main Issue: Gender Inequality

Each society establishes a structure that, on the basis of sex and gender, permits or limits access to
power, property, and prestige; this structure is referred to as gender stratification.
Sex is the biological characteristics that distinguish males and females—primary sex organs
(organs related to reproduction) and secondary sex organs (physical distinctions not related
to reproduction).
Gender is a social characteristic that varies from one society to another and refers to what the
group considers proper for its males and females.
The sociological significance of gender is that it serves as a primary sorting device by which
society controls its members and thus is a structural feature of society

How Females Became a Minority Group?

A. Around the world, gender is the primary division between people because society sets up barriers
to deny women equal access, women are referred to as a minority even though they outnumber
men.
B. Although the origin of patriarchy (male dominance) is unknown, one theory points to the social
consequences of human reproduction.
As a result of pregnancy and breast-feeding, women were limited for much of their lives; they
assumed tasks associated with the home and child care.
Men took over tasks requiring greater speed and longer absences, such as hunting animals.
This enabled men to make contact with other tribes and to wage war; male prestige was the
result of their accumulation of possessions through trade and war with other groups. Little
 Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 7 – DISS Subject Teacher:

prestige was given to women’s routine tasks; women were not perceived as risking their lives
for the group.
Eventually, men took over society, using their weapons, their possessions, and their knowledge
to guarantee that they held more social power than women.

Gender Movements
Feminism - the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic
equality to men
Gender Equality - all human beings are free to develop personal abilities to make choices
without the limitations set by strict gender roles.
o Different behavior, aspirations and needs of men and women are considered, valued, and
favored equally
Gender Equity - fairness and justice in the distribution of benefits and responsibilities of men and
women
Gender Empowerment – Women gaining power and control over their lives. Freedom of their
own decisions and strategic choices over their lives which involves awareness raising, building
self-confidence, expansion of choices and access to and control over resources and
opportunities

Criticisms and Limitations

1. On the first wave of feminism, anti – feminism was already present, which opposed the granting of
women’s right to vote, hold public office, and attain higher education.
2. Anti – feminism argued that traditional values, beliefs and established religious norms be upheld,
and that divorce be considered taboo.
 Feminists argue that history has provided the roles by which society has come about and that
should be the way it is
3.Critics of feminism are feminists themselves
 They see feminism as an attempt to make women’s rights and power more than or in
suppression of men’s rights.
 They argue that feminism must advocate for equality and not create a new form of oppression

Activity:

1. During this pandemic, what do you think is the root of the so called ―Filipino Resilience‖?
Answer in not more than 5 sentences.
2. Do you think it’s time for us to rethink resilience especially in this pandemic? Support your
answer. Answer in not more than 5 sentences.
3. As soon as the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) will be lifted, how will this affect our
norms? Explain in not more than 8 sentences.
4. Would there be a difference on how a male leader or a female leader address the issue on this
pandemic? Explain in not more than 8 sentences.

Basis for Scoring:

Content- 10 points

Organization/ Quality- 10 points

Grammar and Punctuation 5 points

TOTAL: 25 POINTS

Reference:
 Disciplines and Ideas in the Social Sciences
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: email@uc-bcf.edu.ph; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 7 – DISS Subject Teacher:

Jison, J. and Ponsaran, J., 2018. Disciplines and Ideas In The Social Sciences For Senior High School. 1st
ed. 809 EDSA, South Triangle, Quezon City: C&E Publishing Inc.