SUBVERSION AND THE SOCIOLOGICAL CANON Author(s): Jennifer S. Boyers Reviewed work(s): Source: Michigan Sociological Review, Vol.

14 (Fall 2000), pp. 83-93 Published by: Michigan Sociological Association Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40969049 . Accessed: 29/11/2011 05:42
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

Michigan Sociological Association is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Michigan Sociological Review.

http://www.jstor.org

SUBVERSION AND THE SOCIOLOGICAL CANON

Jennifer Boyers S. StateUniversity GrandValley ABSTRACT worksof three Thispaper is a review thesuppressed of early and It social theorists activists. is based on theresearch women who havestriven uncover to and sociologists ofcontemporary the The to of foremothers. aubring light work oursociological we on howtheinstitutionalthor takestheviewthat must focus and ization sociology other social sciences of actively suppressed theworks thesewomen. we also reBut,it is stressed, must of that member theseclassicalwomen social scientists wereactive able to subvert very the agentswhowere,at times, process of canonization. author The thedescriptive workof incorporates - including others and who Rynbrandt Richardson, arealsofea- tocallfortheinclusion thework tured this in Symposium of of these earlier women theexisting into canonandfor sociological thediscipline light these in silenced subversive, restructuring of - namely voices.Other theorists Jo contemporary Mary Deegan, - arepioneers Patricia andJill Lengermann, Niebrugge-Brantley indoingthis kind work. itis worth But their of reiterating observations this in forum, we continue recover hopefully as to and to thelostworks classical women social theorists. integrate of Itseemsthat old adage,"A woman's the work never is done/'is provit Whether be thesocial reform workofCaroline Bartlett ingto be true. Crane(as discussed LindaRynbrandt thisSymposium), theDoin or by mesticScience experiments Ellen Swallow Richards of (presented by Barbara theme that Richardson, below),it seemsa common contemposocial scientists continue needto be reintroduced theclassical to to rary women socialtheorists. current ofreflexive The use stories personal and accounts howtoday'ssocial scientists of havehappened uponthework of their foremothers abound.However, keep uncovering same, we the sad truth: important the works classicalwomensocial theorists of have
Volume14,Fall 2000, 83-93. Review, Michigan Sociological 2000bytheMichigan Association. Copyright Sociological

AND THE SOCIOLOGICAL CANON BOYERS:SUVERSION

into and beensuppressed deniedinclusion thecanonsoftheir respective of the of Hencethenecessity a constant process rediscovery, disciplines. theproverof to need forgenerations social scientists keepreinventing to we bial wheel.Today, continue do "women'swork" theprocessof into canonicaltraditions. This is the and recovery integration existing unites thispaperwiththeworkof Rynbrandt and that common thread Richardson. title this was and My original for article "Suppression theSociologia focuson how theoperation of whichindicated primary cal Canon," and has to as profession discipline served sociology an institutionalized to oppresssome earlywomencontributors thefield.But,upon further I decidedto alter title bit, a the which modified focusconreflection, my wordofthetitle from siderably. changing thefirst just "Suppression" By to"Subversion," subject the matter mypapershifted. of it Originally had of beenon theefforts sociology's tosilence early the women gatekeepers contributors. itfeatured active, Now the subversive efforts thosewho of havecometobe calledthe"lostwomen"ofthesocial sciences.SpecifiI to of Jane Martineau, Addams, cally, want talkabouttheworks Harriet and Charlotte Perkins Gilmanand how theysubverted "canonized the discourses" was considered be acceptable or to is, (that what sociological of their times.My explorations thispaperare in legitimate sociology) of an attempt shed light how thesubversive to on voices of early part in women beenignored suppressed and emerged thefield, despite having thosewho controlled decisionmaking by key processesin and forthe of canons. discipline sociology!quotefrom Sapiro(1992:297)regarding
Totake or tradition toinherit is authorpossession an intellectual religious of the Thoseinposwhich, abused,coulddestroy canonicaltradition ity if itself reach sessionofcanonicalauthority seemtoimagine themselves within often " " are and the' ''perennial "universal truths,at leastaboutwhat of questions shouldbe. Thosewhoare notthe possessorsofthecanonhavebeenregarded as more Womenreasoning s and powers parochial, self-interested, mundane. as and speechhavelongbeendismissed unworthy.

to that As sociologists, wouldthink we wouldbe inkeypositions one thoseof theacademicdisciplines understand histories, how particularly this constructed. within are which navigate, socially we However, doesn't and at seemto be thecase. In classrooms boththeundergraduate graduthe of are ate levels,budding sociologists stilltaught social theory the the Fathers" namely, worksof Karl Marx,Max We"GreatFounding
84

MICHIGAN SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW 14 FALL, 2000

and false Hence,thedisappointing typically ber,and Emil Durkheim. are "Where thewomen?" to answer Rynbrandt's question: profound the canonfor discipline of the One canreconstruct classictheoretical and in light theworkof severalwomensociologists social of sociology out This workwas deniedentry theorists. into,or was written of,the to canonin thestruggle establish sociologyas a scientific, discipline's and academicfield(Lengermann Niebrugge-Brantley, 1998:14)As two authors haveobserved: contemporary leading
One could notlook to Martineau, Addams,Gilman, Cooper,Wells-Barnett, and Webb theChicago Women one'sfounders exemor MarianneWeber, for thatemphasizes social and remain securein a definition sociology of plars overactivist oversocial inequality, detached consensus analysis engagement, and over andabstraction critique 1998:18). (Lengermann Niebrugge-Brantley,

LOST WOMEN (RE)COVERED on Here I focusspecifically theworksof Harriet Jane Martineau, Perkins Gilman three the earlier of classical and Charlotte Addams, womensociologists. saythat To thesewomenwereactively written out ofithecanon, rather beinginvisible than and/or to ignored, points a very distinction. For as Lengermann and Niebrugge-Brantley important womenwerenotinvisible, wereconsciously but ex(1998:1) suggest, cludedbecause of the"politicsof gender and a politicsof knowledge within discipline." the There strong is evidence women make, that do and contributionsthefield sociology, to of alwayshavemade,important speto (for example,see Deegan, 1991; cifically sociologicaltheorizing and Lengermann Niebrugge-Brantley, And,as Sapiro(1992:2931998). wereassigned specialand subordinate a out,i[Women] 94) points place on gendered as mengainedtheir inpart their grounds, just place through These places werenot coincidental peripheral thelarger or to gender. and within terms. its theory; werereasoned justified they Harriet Martineau (1802-1876) Harriet Martineau born Norwich, was in and beEngland, eventually cameknown "Britain's as foremost womanofletters" and (Lengermann writer 1998:23).Shewas a prolific Niebrugge-Brantley, cross-disciplinary andis perhaps bestknown her1853 translation interpretation for and of Comte's six-volume Positive her work, Auguste Philosophy. Writing most socialtheory the1830s,shewas doing in a popular sociology full generationbefore AddamsandGilman, well as CraneandRichards. light as In
85

AND THE SOCIOLOGICAL BOYERS:SUVERSION CANON

of the Martineau nowknown is ofdiscussions rewriting sociological canon, modern in manycirclesas the"first the sociologist," replacing official and Father" Comte (Lengermann Niebrugge-Brantley, "Founding Auguste 1998:37). well within modernist the Martineau of tradition herconoperated in progress human and She believedin believing equality. temporaries, to that for to andcontributed thediscourse advocated sociology be a science. However,unlike the canonized men of the classical period, did a 's of Martineau viewofobjectivity notinclude notion value-neutralwith her and concerned making socialtheory accessible ity, shewas very and to thegeneral public(Lengermann Niebrugge-Brantley, 1998:26). that and claim viewedsociMartineau Lengermann Niebrugge-Brantley as a "science of society"groundedin empiricalobservation ology than as outsiders, (1998:27,31). And,rather seeingsociologists objective to as shelikedtorefer them impartial notvalue-neutral) "travelers" (but or"observers." we can see amongthefirst So of generation sociologists that evenas Comtewas taking of sociologyin thedirection positivistic Martineau's worksuggested slightly a science, different, stillscienyet viewofthefield. is exemplified thisexcerpt As from article her tific, by - likehercanonized entitled "TheWoman Question" (1879), Martineau - seemed embrace malecontemporaries to the focus fully Enlightenment on rationality:
It seemedto me, the time whenI could think thesubjectof on from earliest 's Woman Rights condition, the and that first to is requisite advancement the whichresults Women who wouldimprove self-reliance from self-discipline. thecondition chancesoftheir must, am certain, notonlyaffecI and sex be tionate devoted, rational dispassionate (81) and but and ....

Martineau's How to ObserveMorals and Manners(1838a). In it, she how a sociologist whatshe called outlined shouldgo aboutcomparing - "a society's collective ideasofprescribed proscribed and morals society's in of behavior" to itsmanners "thepatterns actionand association a it and 1998:31).Specifically, society" (Lengermann Niebrugge-Brantley used in herfamous the Martineau described methodology study, Society anomalies beMartineau focuses theproblematic on inAmerica (1836). in suchas America'sstated morals indicated formal tween records, (as exhibited theAmerican and theConstitution) themanners people. by which of as well as thediscourse persons, studied Martineau things, or the mind" the"voiceofthe embodies "collective people"(Lengermann
86

the coherent statement sociological on method is Perhaps first

MICHIGAN SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW 14 FALL, 2000

writes: "... thegrand seandNiebrugge-Brantley 1998:35).Martineau into is with study the of of cret wiseinquiry MoralsandManners tobegin of as the (1 upon using discourse persons a commentary them" 838a: things, wrote famous this How to 63, emphasis added).Martineau passagefrom before Durkheim his Morals and Mannerssixty Observe years penned "... and rule statement: thefirst mostfundamental is: Conwell-known as sidersocialfacts things" (1896:14). in themes Martineau's included conand Powerful subversive writing an on rights about cerns specifically emphasis the disempowered peoples, of She and ofwomen theemancipation slavesinAmerica. was a staunch forBritish American and women advocateforeducation, specifically she (1859). She was appalledwiththegreateconomicinequalities obin where women's was served, specifically American society, wagework evenattacked popular Martineau the British fashions examined (1838b). womenofherday,claiming they that causedbodily harm illness and for forthe wearer(1861). And, unlike most of her male counterparts, in advocated voiceandtheuse ofnarrative, Martineau writing a reflexive in first person language hersociological writings. Jane Addams(1860-1935) Jane has in Addams beencalled"the most woman America" prominent and Niebrugge-Brantley, Charlotte Perkins (Lengermann 1998:65). GilmanlivedwithAddamsat Hull-Houseforone year,and was most also with work Crane Richards. of and Gilman quoted is likely familiar the as saying, reference Jane in to Addams: "Hermind more'floor had space' in it thanany otherI have known"(in Lengermann Niebruggeand I informa1998:65).Although did nothave difficulty Brantley, finding tion written andabout Martineau Gilman, must that abunand I the by say danceofinformation Jane is short phenomof involving Addams nothing enal.NotonlydidshewintheNobel Peace Prizein 1931,butshewas an in and writer, amazingly prolific particularly theareasofsociology social of theory. Among the first generation college educated women in America as wereCraneandRichards, Addams was a middle classMidwesterner came from Protestant who a In withreferbackground. fact, enceto Rynbrandt's one can see manysimilarities thebiograin paper, ofAddamsandCrane. phies UnlikeMartineau, Addamscalledherself, was widely and known as, a sociologist. Addamsis perhaps bestknown herpartin thecreation for in 1888 oftheaforementioned settlement for home Chicago's poorpeople,

BOYERS: SUVERSION AND THE SOCIOLOGICAL CANON

her A lesser She Hull-House. calledHull-House "sociological experiment." is Addams useditas a base from which fact Hull-House that known about and with women menfrom ChicagoSchoolof the tonetwork prominent Era for social movements. Sociologyand to agitate Progressive reform withother her womensocial theorists This,inpart, explains connection and ofthetime(Lengermann Niebrugge-Brantley, 1998:69). work was moregrounded observation in than Addams sociological 's and of werethestudies Martineau Gilman.Herultimate goal,of which was aboutameliorative social change.Her lostsight, to bring shenever was and method what (1998) Lengermann Niebrugge-Brantley preferred termed observation" - a mixof have retrospectively (75) "sympathetic and interactionist observation. Weberian Verstehen symbolic participant in her in She grounded sociology thehistoric of experiences individuals and interaction each other presented findings a "narrative with her as of & Niebrugge-Brantley 1998:76). multiple vantage points" (Lengermann Addams favorite 's themes included emphasis whatshecalled"muan on citizens actcollectively make to to nicipal housekeeping" encouraging surethat State the actedintheir interests best & Niebrugge(Lengermann She a of 1998:82-83). alsoprovided chronicle lifeatHull-House Brantley, of as in (1895) anda critique thecapitalist system itexisted theAmerica ofhertime(1895). Herfocuswas notonlyon class andgender, also but socialethics America in (1895). She explored (1902), andhada ethnicity in keeninterest theproblems womenandaging(1916). of Addamswas notonlyknownas a sociologist, Duringherlifetime, advocateforwomen'srights. and she was also a strong Lengermann that 's on Addams subversive focus gen(1998) Niebrugge-Brantley argue derprovided strong a for foundation a feminist sociologicalparadigm, "al's Addams reference Addams explicit to standpoint. making gendered thereader she that locates herself a womaninhertheory, as ways alerting a is actively in accountand that brings woman'sconshe present their is as Addams nowwellknown a cultural sciousness heranalyses" to (85). a ethicaland in "she believesthat womenbring different feminist, that and to orientation lifesituations that publiclifein theUnited practical & needsthisorientation" in States herlifetime (Lengermann particularly 1998:86). Niebrugge-Brantley, Addams was notcanonized of that Indeeditis amazing thework Jane Whereas in textsof thediscipline. and is notwidelypresented current and womensocial theorists sociologists stories how other of prominent havebeenlostor of from history ourdiscipline the cametobe excluded

MICHIGAN SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW 14 FALL, 2000

there a very is clearrecord howJane of cameto never eventold, Addams and out be written of thesociologicalcanon.Lengermann Niebruggein that was included Talcott Parsons 's (1998) indicate Addams not Brantley of of accountof the founders the discipline The Structure definitive two was after Addams death 's SocialAction (1937),which published years (72).
s withered achieveHull-House slowly away,andAddams considerable itself and werewritten ofthe out as ments both a social reformer a social theorist in not to she record; becamea nametobe learned school, a mind be reckoned & with 1998:72). (Lengermann Niebrugge-Brantley,

Gilman Perkins Charlotte (1860-1935) Gilman was widelyknown a professional as LikeAddams, socioloandwas later was a highly labeleda cultural feminist writer, prolific gist, because she elevated"feminine" ones. She qualitiesover"masculine" culture so shown havebeen,andstill be, is "Ourandrocentric to to wrote, in a masculine culture excess, and therefore undesirable" (1911:146). Gilmanwas heavilyinfluenced the suffrage and the educatinal by mevements women. for between ofthepredominant two Caught images - the "cult of truewomanhood" availableto womenof her time and the"cult domesticity," of likeCraneand Richards, in Gilman, struggled her lifewith ofmarriage motherhood. and Nowhere is personal questions thismorefamously tragically chronicled thanin herfictional yet (and short YellowWallpaper"1892). This entitled/The autobiogaphical) story ( worktellsthestory a married, of middleclass woman'splunge white, into"insanity." Gilman with and struggled theseissuesin hersociology in herprivate untilshe committed in 1935,supposedly suicide belife, cause of herconcern aboutbreastcancerwithwhichshe was stricken and (Lengermann Niebrugge-Brantley, 1998:105).. Gilman known writing majorstatements social theory is for five of and (Lengermann Niebrugge-Brantley, 1998:105).Buthermost popular Women Economics(1898). Here and piece was thesociologicalstudy, sheprovidedvery a of the complex analysis theinteractions among "sexuoeconomicrelation" (work),"excessive sex-distinction" (gender)and "androcentric culture" She wrote, "We aretheonlyanimal (patriarchy). in which female the on the species depends themaleforfood, onlyanimalspecies which sex-relationalso aneconomic in the is relation" (quoted inLengermann Niebrugge-Brantley, 117). ForGilman, and 1998: gender was seenas socialstructure, "thesocial structure as anddisdetermining
89

AND THE SOCIOLOGICAL BOYERS:SUVERSION CANON

and the torting shape of societyand individuallives" (Lengermann to humanlifewas 1998:106).According Gilman, Niebrugge-Brantley, far whatbiology necessitated. influenced gender beyond by
race inanynation, anytime, governed at is status thehuman Theeconomic of obtains sharein theracial her themale: the female of mainly theactivities by him. advanceonlythrough (GilmaninLemert, 1993:189).

to included: "women's economic themes importance Gilman of Other and and "theneed foreconomic justice"(Lengermann independence" the 1998: Niebrugge-Brantley, 110)andredesigning homeandredefining and and domestic (Lengermann spacetomakeitmoreefficient equitable in beShe was also engaged a struggle 1998:120). Niebrugge-Brantley, on for tweenadvocating egalitarian relations, one hand,and for gender her on women'smatriarchy, theother. an exclusively [See, forexample, all novel Herland( 19 15) inwhich themenarekilled Utopian questionably Talkaboutsubversion!] by farthemost But offforthegood of society. in workwas herconcern theoppression for element Gilman's important or In Culture ofwomen. TheMan-MadeWorld, OurAndrocentric (1911) "The manwas accepted theracetype as without disone Gilman wrote, diverse sentient voice;andthewoman a strange, creature, quitedishar- was excusedand explained in monious theacceptedschemeofthings (145). onlyas a female" Gilman'smethodology been labeleda form "critical has of praxis" andNiebrugge-Brantley, 116).She was fond mak1998: of (Lengermann in as and comparisons herwork, well as ingcross-species cross-cultural and events evidenceto prove for to popularculture everyday referring and clastheories sociallife. her And,likeMartineau theother concerning to Gilmanhad a deep commitment educasical womensocial theorists, her tion(especiallyforwomen),and to making workaccessibleto an "educated readingpublic" (Lengermannand Niebrugge-Brantley, 1998:117). CONCLUSION ON (RE)INCLUSION: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LOST WOMEN was out Wollstonecraft written of In an article how chronicling Mary science(butsociolthecanonofseveral political particularly disciplines, aboutthesostatement makesa wonderful as well),Virginia Sapiro ogy relevant mydiscusto is Thisstatement very of cial construction canons. "We sion of thesociologicalcanon,in particular: tendto developstan90

MICHIGAN SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW 14 FALL, 2000

develin the offered thehistorically of dards greatness through examples as already assigned 'greatworks'"(1992: oped setofbooksandauthors offered theinformation and of provided 280). So, inlight theobservations in in thispaper andbytheothers thispanel,we ask,Whatsignificance as and works Martineau, of do thesociological Addams, Gilman, well as in have forus as sociologists this,thenewmillenCraneand Richards, of backto a discussion thecanon. We nium? havecomefullcircle, and now provided both by Sociologists havetheobservations analyses as and thefirst thesecondwave ofthefeminist movements, wellas other arto movements drawupon.I wouldthus and liberationist leftist/critical could classicalwomen'ssociology our from current perspective, guethat, I thatthe and an form important cohesivebodyof knowledge. contend of andGilman as well as thework many of works Martineau, Addams, the Craneand Richards form womensocial theorists, other including of within whichmany us now a basis for feminist sociological paradigm the ongoingrecovery process (Deegan, 1991; also, operate,despite wereexcluded andNiebrugge-Brantley, Becausethey 1998). Lengermann womendid not their theseearlier from sociologicalcanon of the time, the In access to each other's work. contrast, canonhave fulland formal mutual access. did from and izedmalesociologists socialtheorists benefit social scientists do nothave fullaccess to still Alas, contemporary Thuswe find their foremothers' works. stumbling accidentally Rynbrandt not and upon Crane's archivalinformation, Richardson encountering It wellintoherdoctoral work. does seemclearthat Richards nameuntil 's for did in women socialtheorists operate close circles, someoftheearlier the enviand Gilman, Crane.However, contemporary Addams, example, and of is ofthecritique reconstructionthe ronment somewhat supportive canon now being undertaken marginalized peoples (homosexuals, by ofcolor, women).I wouldtherefore and people arguethat contemporary do havea cohesiveandgrowing of sociological body theory sociologists written classicalwomentheorists. longer we tellourstudents No can by that there werenowomen the and doingsociology during nineteenth early twentieth centuries. In myview, is important onlytorecover workfor classiit not the this cal sociological but it the of canon, also toincorporateinto reconstruction theexisting canon.Theseactsarerelated questions power, only to of not inthediscipline butalso inthelarger Ifthere anyspirit is of itself, society. - andI believethere activism in of is, remaining thediscipline sociology
91

BOYERS: SUVERSION AND THE SOCIOLOGICAL CANON

alternative it is crucialthatwe recognize and validatethesubversive, reviseand exworkdone by marginalized peoples,and in theprocess, or thesociological canon.If sociologyas a discipline cannot will pand of the notrecognize contributions a W. E. B. DuBois, ora Jane Addams, then how can we hopeto address Bartlett ora Caroline Crane, problems in North American or in theworld? The ofstructural inequality society, in I haveprovided this and research has that observations paper, theother the and our uncovered rediscovered "lost"founders, represent similarly needto focuson in order ridthediscito kindofreworking sociologists and elements. of itsnarrow, sexist, ethnocentric pline turn the it Evenwith current postmodern insocialtheorizing,remains of to the of and difficult reconstruct canoninlight thework women other forcesare reluctant surrender to to marginalized peoples. Traditional As change. Sapirowrites:
Butevenwhen clearly it tradition thinking, women 's speakstoan important of on tendsnotto be reincorporated thebroader into debatein writing women thesewomenhave done something anyseriousway,as though essentially with canon(1992:300). the objectionable

We cannotknowhow the sociologicalcanonmight have been affected theworks theselostwomen had of beenincluded thetime at they werewritten. we surely reconstruct canonnow,in light But can the of theircontributions those of othermarginalized, and and/or silenced workcontinues on. peoples.Women's
in Jane.1895."The Settlement a Factor theLaborMovement." 183as Addams, Pp. 204 inHull-House and Papers.Boston:Crowell. Maps Jane.1902.Democracy Social Ethics.New York:Macmillan. and Addams, New York:Macmillan. Jane.1916.TheLongRoad of WomenMemory. 's Addams, A in Sourcebook. Deegan,MaryJo,ed. 1991. Women Sociology: Bio-Bibliographical Press. New York:Greenwood and SelectedTexts Method Emile.[1896] 1982. TheRulesofSociological Durkheim, New York:The FreePress. on Sociology and itsMethod. New York:Smalland and Perkins. 1898. Women Economics. Charlotte Gilman, Maynard. 92

REFERENCES

MICHIGAN SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW 14 FALL, 2000 1911.TheMan-Made World, OurAndrocentric or Culture. Perkins. Charlotte Gilman, New York:Charlton Company. Perkins. Charlotte Gilman, [1915] 1980.Herland.New York:Pantheon. The and Charles Lemert, (Ed.). 1993.Social Theory: Multicultural ClassicReadings. Westview Press. Boulder: 1998. Patricia Madoo andJill Niebrugge-Brantley. The Women Lengermann, and Social Theory 1830-1930. Boston:McGrawHill. Founders:Sociology in Harriet. New York:Anchor Books. Martineau, [1836] 1962.Society America. Moral andManners. Harriet 1838a.How to Observe London:Charles Martineau, and Knight Company. Harriet 1838b."DomesticService." Londonand Westminster Review Martineau, 7, 29: 405-432. Harriet. 1859."Independent of Martineau, Industry Women." Daily News 17:4. Harriet. 1861."DressanditsVictims." 49-60 inHealth, Martineau, Pp. Husbandry andHandicraft. London:Bradbury Evans. and Harriet. 1879."The Woman Martineau, Question." 399-403inAutobiography Pp. Boston:Houghton, andCo. Osgood 1992.A Vindication Political Virtue: PoliticalTheory Mary The Sapiro, Virginia. of of The University ChicagoPress. of Wollstonecraft. Chicago:

93