Durkheim's Theory Of Collective Conscience

Durkheim described the framework of shared norms and beliefs as the collective conscience, and though he acknowledged that individuals actualize norms, he believed the collective conscience is an example of a social fact as it was a product of interactions between individuals and once established, it influences individual behaviour (Ritzer, 2008). The collective conscience creates a ‘normative order’ whereby certain behaviours come to be expected of people, and these behaviours or norms are then difficult to change (Best, 2003). Durkheim asserted that the collective conscience is a “determinate system” which performs as the primary “organ of society” as it binds individuals together and to society (as cited in Morrison, 1995, p.131) by constructing

Mills argued that “rationally organized social arrangements are not necessarily a means of increased freedom – for the individual or for the society” (Mills, 1959/2000, p.169); although it may appear rational for women to be responsible for housework as they have been historically, their lack of choice in the matter means they also lack freedom.

Mills (1959/2000) also acknowledged that many of our expectations and behaviours are rooted in history and are outside the control of individuals as they are influenced by external forces that strive to maintain a functioning society. Similarly, Marx wrote about how “the emancipation of the oppressed class” can only occur if society is transformed which infers that cannot be achieved by individuals alone (as cited in Morrison, 1995). The public issue or phenomenon of women being responsible for housework exhibits the characteristics of Durkheim’s social facts; it is a product of socialization, it is culturally the norm in most societies and those that do not conform are excluded or viewed as exceptions to the norm. Women continue to do more housework than men as the collective conscious created and maintains this arrangement as the

The structure of society and the course of history are changed through decisions and actions of those that have the power to do so, and historically those people have been men. A woman’s place in society in the mid twentieth century was relative to a man’s; man and wife, the male sex and the other sex, the stronger and the weaker, the dominant and the subordinate, the independent and the dependent, the essential and the inessential (de Beauvoir, 1949). Therefore historically it has not been easy for women to alter their position in society. In relation to the division of labour Durkheim’s theory of organic solidarity, whereby individuals have different skills and responsibilities and therefore are dependent on each other, (Ritzer, 2008) can be used to describe breadwinner / homemaker households where women are dependent on men to earn money to provide for the family, and men are dependent on women to do the housework as their function is to manage the home. This social arrangement has been an inherent element in society to the benefit of