Functionalist Perspective

Functionalist Perspective

Theorists

Theorists

Functionalist

What is Structural Functionalism?

In 1950 Robert Merton had elaborated on the functionalist perspective by proposing the difference between manifest and latent functions. A manifest function is a behavior that is deliberated and conscious. A latent function is a behavior that is not recognized or intended.

A Functionalist is one that believes each part of society has an essential role in maintaining its stability and growth

Talcott Parsons was a Sociologist who played an essential role in the Functionalist perspective Development. Parsons simply saw society as a network of all connecting parts that each played a role in its survival.

Parsons saw society as a network, or a team, that had a variety of contributing factors. “Similar to the body, and how different body parts and organs with in the body contribute to human life and survival, they all work as one.

Example of manifest and latent is manifest function of the family meal is to feed the family. The latent functions is to reinforce the bonds within the family, the sense of 'belonging' to the family

Some influential functionalist are Auguste Comte,Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Robert Merton and Talcott Parson.

According to the functionalist perspective of sociology, each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society's stability and functioning as a whole

Functionalist Perspective

Examples

Criticism

Group 1:

• Miguel hall
• Letiate youn
• Marcus Mckoy
• Imani Mitchell

Richard Schaefer stated that Americans had a difficulty understanding why the Hindu didn't believe in slaughtering cows. They couldn't because that's where there resources were coming from like there milk,and the cows plowing the fields.

The bigger picture if they slaughtered the cow there would be no milk or resources from the cows. They take care of the cows in turn the cows provide milk and work for them.

Due to the fact that functionalists see everything as a system where every piece is dependent on the next like a team, functionalism has been attacked for not paying as much importance to individual actions. Where some may focus on the needs of the people in the society functionalists mainly focus on the needs of society. With this view some say that functionalists are unable to find the causes of social changes as they don’t pay much attention to individual works.

A manifest function of prison is to protect society from dangerous individuals. A latent function of prison would be to provide jobs to people in rural areas, who otherwise might be unemployed.

The Bigger picture is if it wasn't for crime there would be no prison no need for officers,lawyers, or judges therefore millions of people would lose jobs that pay taxes to the government which in turn keeps the jails running.

Another point seen as a negative is the lack of information on social institutions as they change over time. This is a problem because every social institute is supposed to have one task but over time this can be subject to change and social change is not seen as very good in functionalism.

Feminist Perspective

The feminist perspective or feminist theory

Feminists fight for equality,domination,and oppression. feminist have been around for decades and have made great strides to equality.

They wanted to understand things such as the interactions between men and women in private and public settings.

They made changes like women having the rights to vote to women not being discriminated against in workplace.

Feminist perspective

Besides the functionalist perspective there is a perspective in sociology focused more on women and their status. In a time frame from the start of this perspective to modern time there has been multiple changes to this perspective.

When this perspective was still new it was geared towards political inequalities. In the second coming of this perspective there was an increase in what was thought of as unfair towards women from the workplace to being just to the “mother” of the family. In the current change towards the perspective it is believed that there should have been more diversity in the leaders of the different phase changes.

Feminist theory is a conflict theory that studies gender, patriarchy, and the oppression of women.