Applying Functionalism Theory - Essay Example

Policy Paper [Pick the Problem Human beings living together, and sharing certain norms and values, form a society. Despite following these rules, these people belong to different backgrounds depending on their economic activities. Society is a system, which works through several instruments that allow its stratification. According to Radcliffe (1958) society is a system of relationships established via cybernetic response, while institutions are organised sets of relationships, which function to maintain social stratification. Every individual living in this system tends to conform along with the principles that are accepted by the majority. In this way a social order is produced, which assigns roles to the people living within that system. The stratification of a social order is only possible, if people continue to perform their function as a member of society. However, this does not mean that conformity of people to the assigned tasks would establish an ideal society, it only suggests the response of society towards functions that a particular activity performs, and how it does not change the social setup. On an individual scale a person may want to change his socio-economic condition, and he or she may strive to earn it, however, when it comes to a society or masses there are several strings attached to the idea of change, that majority prefers to stick to the already existing system. The reluctance on the part of society towards changing social order is induced by the social instruments it has to contain its members and monitor functioning of the systems implemented by it (Radcliffe, 1958). Just like any other system social systems also have hierarchal order of duties, there are people who make decisions generally influential ones, then there are people who administer these decisions and then there are minors who carry out these orders without having much option. The numbers of individuals performing each task differ with the importance or nature of work. Decision makers are few, while minors are in a large number. The hierarchal setup established by society generates a sense of inequality, but majority of people do not object it as they want to conform to masses. The persistence of inequality in a social order refers to its degree of functionality, and its role in maintaining social order. However, there are several problems that arise due to the occurrence of inequality within a social system (Radcliffe, 1958). Before going into the detail of problems that arise due to inequality, it is important to consider the nature of inequality. The two broadly discussed natures of inequality are inequality of opportunities and inequality of conditions. Condition precede opportunities, if the conditions are friendly to growth they offer opportunities to the people. The conditions prevailing in a society are determined by economy, social control, education and political organisation (Malinowski, 1944). Therefore, a health economy would enable people to earn sustenance; social control allows people the security of acceptance, while education equips individuals with greater professional skills, and political organisation brings stability to society. In the very same way opportunities available to people depend on economy, education, social control and political organisation. However, on the other hand there are basic human needs that are bound to be gratified before looking into available opportunities. Food, shelter and reproduction are the three major driving forces, so in this regard inequality of conditions has a deeper impact on society and its members (Malinowski, 1944). To gratify these needs one needs to earn food and shelter, and maintain social contact. For instance consider a child born in down trodden stratus of society, where he hardly gets one times meal, and compare him to a son of a feudal lord. Both are exposed to different conditions, former struggles all his life in trying to meet both the ends, while latter has the means and modes to spend a life of extravagance. In this manner inequality is not only performing its function in maintaining the social order, but it is also giving birth to some unwanted consequences. Apart from economic conditions, culture also has a deep influence in maintaining social order through implementing inequality (Malinowski, 1944). For example analyse the treatment and status offered to women in a male dominated society. Through cultural implications women are provided lesser exposure to the outside world, they are brought up in such a way that they rely on their dominant counterparts. Dependence of an individual on another person automatically generates inequality, because when one is dependent on others to obtain their basic needs, they have to compromise over some of their basic rights. 2. Cause Functionalism can be categorised into Bio- cultural functionalism and Structural Functionalism. The Bio-cultural approach suggests the importance of an individual in a society and the manner in which that individual functions towards obtaining social stratification (Comaroff & Comaroff, 1988). Meanwhile, the structuralism is more inclined towards studying society as a whole, and the modes through which social systems gain stability. While discussing problems like economic inequality and gender inequality it is important to look for the causes that effect not only society as a whole, but how do they affect the individual members of society. Economic activities of people living in a region are affected by geography, history and culture. To address to the causes of inequality related to economy, a better approach will be to compare and contrast to societies belonging to different economies of the world. For instance consider a third world country against a developed nation. Most of the under developed countries are producers of raw materials and they have a consumer based economy. More labour is required against minor wages, People are less educated, and they do not possess much skill, economy is controlled by fewer hands, and the transfer of wealth occurs via blood chain. Influential people in such societies have all the social instruments in their pockets. The monopoly of few generates problems for many. Corruptions within under developed countries also indicate how decisions are bought and sold. The elite class of these countries are also its policy makers, judges and priests. They devise such tools that allow them to attain maximum profit. This why the level and quality of education is poor in these countries, less money is spent on health and development. Masses are bound to serve their masters, for earning a livelihood. On the other hand developed nations are producer based economies, they have their tools of keeping their people under control. The concept of offering social security to unemployed individuals is their approach of maintaining a social order. Unlike, third world countries, people from developed countries do have the privilege of enjoying basic human rights, but there are other problems like racism and favouritism that allow society to maintain its order. By comparing the two types of economies, one can use the approach of the two schools of functionalism to identify the causes. In third world countries, masses are made to struggle to earn their bread. Economy is dominated by few because; the mode of production and other economic activities are limited. Therefore, to maintain the existing system, the elite class formulates policies that stabilise their position and force masses to follow their order (Giddens, Duneier & Appelbaum, 2012). As a unit occupations and wealth are transferred through blood chain, for example a landlord would pass on his wealth to his son, while a farmer would train his son to take his place after his death. In this manner individuals replace their predecessors without replacing the existing social order (Radcliffe, 1958). While analysing gender inequality one must compare a male dominated society with a matriarchal society. Societies that are dominated by men in most of the cases promote large family units, where men are to act as providers and caretakers, while women are to look after domestic affairs. In this perspective, women are bound to work as subordinate to men, and depend on them to fulfil their needs. Therefore, education of women is most of the time compromised. Lack of education hinders their path towards independence. Moreover, as women become a burden on men they are exposed to severe atrocities on the part of men like domestic violence, minimum inheriting right etc. Meanwhile, societies that deal women on equal footing to men provide equal opportunities to women in almost every field of life. This not only allows them to become independent in making their own decisions, but it also give them their rights as a human being. The fate of women in societies dominated by men can be understood by observing the cultural and religious elements of such a society. Mothers teach their daughters how to grow up and follow their footsteps; fathers do not want to spend money on their daughters’ education, but they are ready to give her a handsome dowry. Malala Yusufzai, who was nominated for Peace prize last year, raised the voice for female education in the troubled hills of Swat, Pakistan. The world acknowledged her courage, but her own people criticised her for her acts and there were death threats to her as well, because in Swat people want their daughters to be just household managers and nothing else. The reason why people are bent at doing this is because they want to conform to society, and, moreover, they do not want go against the religious traditions, which promote the role of women as wives and mothers, rather than as doctors or pilots. Another, important psychological element that prevails in such societies is gender role assignment, where children at a very early age are told to set their ideal roles in a society. Therefore, when society respects women as household managers, and they do not have the access to education, women remain a subject to men. This is one reason that even in twenty first century majority of societies are dominated by men. 3. Consequences When people are deprived of their basic needs they tend to behave in an abnormal manner. This is why the countries that have hunger and unemployment spread among masses have greater crime rates (Giddens, Duneier & Appelbaum, 2012). People are ready to beg, borrow and steal, and even ready to take lives. People living in such circumstances consider these criminal activities as part of their environment, and rather than fighting against them, they adjust themselves to existing conditions. When people do not have the access to basic requirements by legal manner, they get involved in illegal activities. This is not only applied to people who are poor, but there are businessmen who run several illegal businesses such as they get involved in establishing black market, smuggling goods and running drugs businesses. These people do not do all these activities by themselves but they involve law enforcing bodies along with them. By sharing profits these people tend to fortify their economic standing within society. When source of earning is shrinks the burden keeps on building on the head of the family who is to act as a provider, while women do not possess any professional skills, they have to face the worst. Several of domestic violence incidences that occur all around the globe, most of the time are by economic pressures. Sometimes, women are abandoned by their husbands, and not knowing the world they get themselves caught up in illegal activities like prostitution (Giddens, Duneier & Appelbaum, 2012). Apart from involving in trade of flesh, women are also subjected to unintentional sexual activities. The increasing rate of rape cases in India is an example of how women are sexually abused. Since, there is no one to listen to them and they do not get security of their rights by law in practice, they become the worst victim of such social inequalities that are bound maintain a social order. Conclusion Education and professional training are the two key elements that deal with most of the problems related to economic and gender inequality. Education provides an individual with ability to handle tough situations in a better manner. It provides the ability to understand the world around them and make them aware of their rights. It further enhances the knowhow of social responsibilities. While, professional training equips an individual with skills, which allow him or her to become economically independent. However, people know the solutions but the main problem lies with their application. To resolve such social evils like inequality for the sake of social stratification, it is important that members of that society should be aware of the causes that lead to this problem (Giddens, Duneier & Appelbaum, 2012). Once they are aware of the existing problems and their causes only then they can move forward to get rid of them. Therefore spreading awareness should be the first step. This must involve social instruments that at first place strengthened the previous believes. Non- government organisations along with the help of government should work in spreading this awareness. After giving people the insight of existing social evils, they must be taught how to deal with them. Adult learning centres providing education to illiterate adults irrespective of the gender, and further enhancing their skills by professional training. Schools should be developed for children in proportion to their population. Microfinance initiatives could also be used to help people in starting their small businesses. Furthermore, taboos and archetypes should be eliminated from society to avoid social stratification based on inequality. References Comaroff, J., & Comaroff, J. L. (1988). on the founding fathers, fieldwork and functionalism: a conversation with Isaac Schapera. American ethnologist, 15(3), 554-565. Giddens, A., Duneier, M., & Appelbaum, R. P. (2012). Introduction to sociology. WW Norton & Company. Malinowski, B. (1944). A Scientific Theory of Culture, and Other Essays. Radcliffe-Brown, A. R. (1958). Method in social anthropology. M. N. Srinivas (Ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Read More