Conflict Theory: Film Analysis

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Conflict Theory The relationship between Regina George and her upper echelon social group in contrast to Cady Heron and her inferior artistic friends bring to fruition the centrality of conflict in social life. As conflict theory supports that associates of privileged groups attempt to maintain their advantages while subordinate groups struggle to increase theirs (Brym, 16); this sociological notion is evident as Cady and her friends try to plot ways to restructure the social power at their high school by diminishing the advantages seized in the hands of Regina and the privileged group. Throughout the film conflict theory is increasing apparent with the exposure of Regina and the mass influence she has upon the rest of the school. Regina …show more content…
Caddy, being homeschooled her entire life and being raised in an exceptionally different social setting; she is subject to not only inadequate socialization but as well disjunctive socialization, which hindrances Caddy as she must develop her own interpretations of the administrations and situations she observes. Synonymous with The Civilization of Genie (Pines, 52), Caddy demonstrates a lack of knowledge of social norms and cultural universals; elements of cultures found in each society, due to her isolation from such institutions growing up. As Genie is an extreme case of inadequate socialization, Caddy faces many of the same challenges when entering an atmosphere governed by unfamiliar norms and culture. As Caddy faces new situations, her abstract socialization becomes evident. When a conflict in the cafeteria arises Caddy demonstrates her knowledge on how the situation would have been enacted in the “animal world”, due to her upbringing in Africa and lack of social institutions; established or consistent rule-governed behavior (Brym, 69). Evidently Caddy lacks the experience in such culture to inference a result of the dispute, thus relating back to disjunctive socialization, this leaves her to imagine the situation in the only way she knows. …show more content…
High school is similar to the macro-level world in the sense many different cultures are apparent and exert a major role in the development of adolescents. Within the movie many social groups are present each containing their own values and culture. The film demonstrates the vast absence of cultural integration in the school environment; which is the process of one culture gaining ideas from another while still remaining true to their own. This is exemplified tenaciously with the presence of many different social groups in the school and Caddy finding a difficult time trying to fit in to an individual crowd as they each comprise of unique values and roles; which are behavior expectations within a group (K. Luton, Personal communication, 2015). The film demonstrates how synonymous with conflict theory, a superior group is in power and that society is run by competition, power, and exploitation. In this circumstance, Regina George and her social elites can be exemplified as the bourgeoisie, the aristocracy in contrast to the rest of the school who expresses the proletarians; the lower class. This power imbalance evidently shapes the society and social problems that arise, leading to the desire for Caddy and her clique to take social action; meaningful, goal-directed
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