Choose the option(s) that correctly interpret(s) Gilman’s metaphor of the corset as expressed in the excerpt below: “But the person habitually wearing a corset does not feel these evils. They exist, assuredly, the facts are there, the body is not deceived; but the nerves have become accustomed to these disagreeable sensations, and no longer respond to them. The person does not feel it.” Gilman, C.P., Women and Economics, NY: Dover (1998 [1898]).
Interpreting Gilman's Corset Metaphor
The excerpt describes how habitual corset wear leads to a lack of perceived discomfort, even though the physical harm exists. The body adapts, and the nerves stop responding to the "disagreeable sensations." This illustrates how ingrained practices can alter perception.
Analyzing Key Concepts
- Habitus: This concept refers to deeply ingrained habits, skills, and dispositions that structure our perception, thought, and action. The constant wearing of the corset becomes a part of the individual's habitus, making the discomfort feel normal or unnoticeable. The excerpt states the "nerves have become accustomed," aligning with the idea of habitus shaping bodily responses.
- Internalization: This is the process by which external standards, rules, or norms become part of an individual's own identity or behavior. In this case, the societal pressure or habit of wearing a corset leads to the internalization of its discomfort. The body's natural signals are suppressed or ignored, effectively becoming internalized as non-issues because the person "does not feel it."
Evaluating Other Options
- Kinaesthetics: This relates to the sense of body position and movement. While related to physical sensations, it doesn't explain the *learned non-response* to discomfort described in the metaphor.
- Triangulation: This term typically refers to a strategy in psychology or international relations involving three parties and is irrelevant to understanding the personal adaptation described in Gilman's metaphor.
Therefore, Habitus and Internalization accurately capture the meaning of Gilman’s corset metaphor as presented in the excerpt, explaining how prolonged exposure and adaptation lead to a lack of perceived negative sensation.
Important Questions from Classical Sociological Theory
- Fill in the blank with the CORRECT option.
The term ________ was coined by Francis Galton in 1883. It promotes positive selection of people with particular genes who are thought to be intelligent and negative selection of people considered to be inferior or defective. - In the book Suicide: A Study in Sociology, Durkheim states, “Those experiencing either downswing or uplift in their material circumstances are placed in a situation in which their habitual expectations come under strain." This could lead to ________
Match Talcott Parsons' functional pre-requisites in Column I with the associated social institutions in Column II.
Column I Column II Functional Pre-requisites Institution M Adaptation 1 Religion N Goal attainment 2 Law O Integration 3 Government P Latency 4 Economy - This founder of the Lucknow Department of Economics and Sociology called upon the discipline of Sociology “to combat the tyranny of Economics”. He argued, ‘No choice in the economic field can be appropriate or “rational” which is inconsistent with human norms and values in political, familial and other fields of man's institutional life.' Identify this sociologist from the following options:
In Das Kapital, Volume 1, Marx states that exchange value of three different commodities such as corn, iron and linen ________________
