As the issue of welfare is a very large one. I have decided to look at the education system, as it is a central cornerstone to society and see how it has undermined or supported the working classes. I will then look at policy and see how it’s tried to change the issue or whether it is still apparent in society today. Social policy is concerned with the study of the welfare state and the services provided. It is often described as an attempt to give social order.
Functionalism, Marxism and Feminism are common theories. Using the family and education system as examples, evaluate their effectiveness in explaining the social system. In this assignment, I am going to explain the theories of Functionalism, Marxism and Feminism. I will give examples that expand the definitions and show that such ideologies still have an impact on the society we live in. Functionalism is a macro theory, which looks at society as a whole rather than focuses on each individual.
Outline and Explain the Functionalist Perspective on the Family The meaning of family is usually a group of people that are related by marriage or blood. The founder of Functionalism was Emile Durkhiem. Functionalists share the same ontological view of Marxists, this view is the belief that man is weak, man is passive and society is strong. Functionalists believe that society is something that is based on value consensus (meaning a set of shared norms and values). Within the society, it socialises with its institutions and this gives the ability to meet the needs and goals of society.
Functionalists believe that society is based on a set of shared norms and values, which society socialises its members. Murdock argues that the family is a universal institution that provides 4 essential functions to meet the needs of society. These are sexual, reproductive, economic and educational. He believes that these needs can only be achieved inside a nuclear family. However, other sociologists would argue that these needs can be achieved in other ways rather than just in a nuclear family.
Assess the contribution of functionalism to our understanding of society. The functionalist theory is a based on consensual structuralism. This means that they way how society is view is on a top-down/macro scale which looks at the way how society's institutes shape how and who we are. Functionalisms main concepts consist of society having a value consensus, meritocracy, specialised roles and social cohesion. Emile Durkheim is one of the most influential sociologists in the early stages of functionalism.
Socio- biologists argue that biology, meaning our genetic make up; shapes the behavior of the individual and in turn also determines social in-equalities such as gender inequalities present in society. Socio- biologists believe that the sex a person is born, categorizes them into the way society will perceive and treat them, this theory is known as biological determinism(O’ Shaughnessy and Stadler, 2006). Socio- constructionists believe however that ‘gender is a social distinction between men and women (Germov & Poole, 2007) and you are not born a woman or a man but rather female or male and develop into either a woman or a man due to society and its structures .Social ideologies such as gender hierarchy, culture, order and institutions are said to contribute to gender inequality, not the sex of the person as thought by socio-biologists. Prior to the feminist movement in Australia in the 1970’s, the word ‘gender’ did not exist; there was very much a socio-biologists view present in society at this time. This meant there was great masses of gender inequality present in Australia, males and females role’s in society were given to them based on a whole range of other differences: ‘bodily strength and speed, physical skills (men have mechanical skills and women are good at homemaking work i.e.
Whether it be the family, education, religious, economic or political institutions. Functionalists use an organic analogy otherwise known as the human body analogy to compare society to the human body. They argue that all parts of society need to work together in order for society to maintain consensus. If one body part stops functioning correctly then the rest of the human body will be affected. An example in society would be if the education system was failing
They are both structuralist theories, the individual is viewed with less importance than the social structure or organisation of society. Functionalists see society as being made up of interdependent sections, which will work together to fulfil the functions necessary for the survival of society as a whole. They see shared norms and values as being fundamental to society. Functionalists believe that society can be compared to a living organism, in a way that all interdependent parts (organs) must function together in order for the greater society/body to function. Functionalists see society as a group of institutions.
Including social institutions, a system of behavioral and relationship patterns, having specific roles to perform to make society. I believe the Functionalist theory best describes society. Personally I believe society can only be stable through social order. Including that part is primarily institutions of society. Amongst family, community, religion, academia, business, media, and government are all equal but, when one gains predominance tyranny always emerges.
Structural Functionalism The functionalist theory focuses on society as a system of interrelated institutions and structures that are designed to address human needs. They view society as functioning best when there is agreement about the social values and norms. The functionalist theory asserts that our lives are guided by social structures, which are relatively stable patterns of social behavior in each society. Each social structure has social functions for the operation of society as a whole. Functionalists see social structure of society as more fundamental than the individuals themselves.