Sociology I · 10 marks · 150 words

Examine the contemporary relevance Durkheimian perspective on 'Division of labour'.

Answered by 3 toppers · CSE 2025

Syllabus: Sociological Thinkers: (a) Karl Marx- Historical materialism, mode of production, alienation, class struggle. (b) Emile Durkheim- Division of labour, social fact, suicide, religion and society. (c) Max Weber- Social action, ideal types, authority, bureaucracy, protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. (d) Talcolt Parsons- Social system, pattern variables. (e) Robert K. Merton- Latent and manifest functions, conformity and deviance, reference groups. (f) Mead - Self and identity.

How toppers approached it

From all 3 answers · about 170 words · 33% drew a diagram.

Opening

A definition2 of 3
No separate opening1 of 3

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The toppers’ answers

Agnes Meritta SteffyAIR 507 · CSE 2025 · 121 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Durkheim stated that Division of labour (DOL) or splitting up of task is not only an economic phenomenon but also a social phenomenon.

Body · points

Contemporary relevance

Increasing specialisation & interdependency in modern societies leading to solidarity eg., manufacturing industries assembly units depend on production units
Division of labour in family - men are predominautly bread winners & women take up household chores
Anomie DOL leading to conflicts and agitations eg., labor union strike
Increase in universalism and secularisation in cities as people come from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
DOL in bureaucracy to improve its efficiency.
Interdependent DOL in village communities contributing to solidarity.

Close · a summary

Durkheim's theory is relevant and helps in differentiating between primitive and modern societies.

More on Emile Durkheim

Division of labour, social fact, suicide, and religion and society.

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