3.2.1. General Social Theories

According to Wodak and Meyer, general social theories are grand theories that aim to explain the relationship between structure and the individual [6]. A noteworthy example of this type of theory is Anthony Giddens' theory of structuration. Giddens' theory integrates macro and micro sociological theories, or theories of structure and theories of agency, to explain societal processes and the formation of systems. Giddens posits that there is a "duality of structure" ([10] p. 16) in which structures and agents of society function as two inseparable sides of the same coin. As social acts are produced and reproduced throughout space and time within structures, they transform into systems. On one side of the coin, structures facilitate and restrict individual social action, thus legitimizing some social interactions and behaviors while delegitimizing others [10]. These theories are relevant for examining systemic barriers and facilitators to populations achieving optimal health and wellness in the setting of PPH.
