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Society for the Study of Social Problems

A Conflict Theory of Sexual Stratification Author(s): Randall Collins Source: Social Problems, Vol. 19, No. 1 (Summer, 1971), pp. 3-21 Published by: University of California Press on behalf of the Society for the Study of Social Problems Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/799936 Accessed: 18/06/2010 18:48
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A CONFLICT THEORY OF SEXUAL STRATIFICATION1 RANDALL COLLINS University of California, San Diego
Employment discrimination against women is explained as the result of a distinctive system of stratification by sex. The fundamental bases of sexual stratification are human sexual drives in conjunction with male physical dominance.Variations in the social organization of violence and of economic markets determine the resources available to men and women in the struggle for control, and condition prevailing ideologies about sexuality. Historical changes in sexual roles are explained as results of shifts in these resources.

In recentyears,we have been sharply reminded that there is a system of stratification sex. Thispaperpresents by a sociologicaltheoryof sexual stratification, constructedfrom the perspectives of Freudand Weber. Freud'swork has been interpretedas a general theory of individual psychological functioning. Sociologicaland historicalperspectives have been introducedprimarilyin criticism of Freud's psychology,especially to argue that sexual repressionand its related family constellations are not universal,but only characteristicof Victorian Europe. But what may be a limitationon a psychologicaltheorycan prove fruitful in historical sociology. Freud'smajor discoveries-the biologically universaldrives of sexualityand aggression,and the historicallyspecific repressionof these drives through an idealized moralism-thus become the keys to unlock the history of sexual stratification. Weber provides asociological perspective in which to interpretthese insights. He presentsa conflict model of that persons struggle for stratification: as much dominanceas their resources permit; that changes in resourceslead to changes in the structureof domination; and that ideals are used as weapons in these struggles, both to unify statuscommunities to justify power and

interests.From a combinationof these weperspectives, may derive a theoryto both the general fact of sexual explain stratification the conditionsfor varand iations in it throughouthumanhistory.
SEXUALDISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT

Employment discriminationon the basis of sex is widespread.Women are concentrated in the lowest ranking positionsof the work force. Table 1 shows that for the United Statesin 1960, in white collar employment...