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Nonlinear systems theory | Feminist theory | Postprocessualism |
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Critiques universal laws as ideal Context-specific cultural rules | 3rd wave critique 2nd wave essentialism Historical variation in gender systems | VS ahistorical cross-cultural laws, determinism Context-specific cultural norms, rules |
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Incompleteness of reduction to parts Retains scientific determinism | VS science claim of neutral male objectivity Stronger objectivity through bias awareness | VS positivistic belief in neutral objectivity VS dichotomy between subject and object |
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Critiques order versus chaos dichotomy Chaos is stochastic variation in a deterministic system-dehumanized VS constructing structural dichotomies | Critiques gendered dichotomy between chaotic nature versus scientific order VS constructing structural dichotomies VS belief in innate gender dichotomy | Structuralism in cultural context Belief in deep cultural binary structures Belief binary thinking is innate Culturally structured gender dichotomy |
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Inclusive both/and thinking Spectrum interrelating order and chaos | Inclusive and/and theory of diversity Continuum of gender/sexual identities | Either/or thinking constructing differences Individual agency can change structures |
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VS only large-scale causes of large effects Small random variations have large effects Models of individual decisions in groups | VS only large scale causes of change Individuals cause major cultural change Individual free will with cultural limits | Research on cultural structures, large scales Only theorization of individual variability Individual variation within cultural structures |
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VS only external causes of change Internal small changes have large effects | VS only external causes of change Internal small groups cause major change | Research on cultural structuring of agency Neglect of nonlinear small group dynamics |
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VS ignoring random variation as noise VS linear patterns and processes Random variation leads to major change | VS deviant individuals as “exceptions” VS reduction of gender to social subsystem Inclusion of diversity in actions, viewpoints | VS ignoring random variation as noise VS systems theory adaptationism Pro variability, plural views, meanings |
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VS macroscale determining microscale Small differences in initial conditions Lead to major divergence in evolution Chaotic systems evolve irreversibly | VS macroscale determining microscale Development from small to large scale feminist organizations It is possible to lose gains in rights | VS macroscale determining microscale Research on cultural processes No evolutionary scale research Variation contingent on historical situation |
Unmeasurable initial conditions So cannot predict nonlinear processes | VS generalizations overlooking diversity Legal and cultural processes of change | Static conceptions of social agency Individual and group processes change norms |
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