Durkheim (the founder of functionalist theory) identified the latent role of education as one of socializing people into society's mainstream. Functionalists first see education in its manifest role: conveying basic knowledge and skills to the next generation. The functionalist theory focuses on the ways that universal education serves the needs of society. Three main theories represent their views: the functionalist theory, the conflict theory, and the symbolic interactionist theory. Today, sociologists and educators debate the function of education. Historically, American education served both political and economic needs, which dictated the function of education. Managed Care as a Means of Cost Control.Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.Marriage, Family, Alternative Lifestyles.

Universal Education: Growth and Function.Social Stratification and Homosexuality.Prevalence of Homosexuality, Bisexuality.Social and Personality Growth: Age 12–19.Social and Personality Growth: Age 7–11.Piaget's Model of Cognitive Development.Culture's Roots: Biological or Societal?.Sociological Research: Designs, Methods.Complementary Perspectives in Sociology.She works towards reframing a study of society that can reflect the realities and experiences of people beyond the confines of traditional constructs or concepts of gender, race, or economic status. For information, check out Wikipedia.ĭorothy Smith is one Canadian feminist theorist who has focused on how women have been marginalized in society. Current focuses for feminist theorists also includes the discrimination, the rights, and equal status of the LGBTQ community.

At the micro level, feminist theorists study communication, attitudes, and values of men and women.At the macro level, feminist theorists study the economic systems and societal ideologies (beliefs) that give rise to inequality.Focuses on women’s experiences, gender roles, and socio-economic inequalities between men and women.They constructed society to keep themselves in power and to minimize the influence of the masses, creating class conflict.įeminist Theory examines social issues from both macro and micro perspectives, and focuses on the experience of gender. He saw the distribution of power as being top heavy that is, power was tightly controlled by the few individuals at the top who had money and influence. Marx observed power structures in society. For more information, check out Wikipedia. Because they did not have wealth nor power, the proletariat were really at the mercy of the bourgeoisie who were maintaining their own position of power. The working class were known as the proletariat. Society is constantly experiencing change due to competition over resources, as observed during the Industrial Revolution, where the small number of wealthy factory and business owners were referred to as the bourgeoisie.Conflict theorists ask for whom is society functioning? For whom is it not? There is constant tension between the classes of society.Those with the most power have the most wealth, prestige, and privileges, and therefore are able to limit the less powerful.Society is organized into two groups: those with and those without power.Because he looked at the ways in which social institutions or structures function, this theory became known as structural functionalism.Ĭonflict Theory is a macro approach that examines the role that power plays in society and how it can be used to have control over others. He did this through systematic examination of the ways in which social institutions and human beings interact with each other and influence each other. It can help to think of it this way: functionalists compare society to the human body each part of society serves a function, just like our organs do.Īs a researcher and a theorist, Emile Durkheim is credited as the one who made studying sociology a science.Institutions and people are interconnected when something shifts, either in the institutions or in the people, the other has to change or compensate to restore the equilibrium.This theory focuses on the roles people perform and the idea that behaviour follows established norms, which helps to maintain social order.

Every structure in society works together to play a vital function to maintain stability and the well-being of its members.

Society is seen as an integrated whole, where all parts are interconnected.

Examples of structures or institutions of society include: education, health care, family, legal system, economy, and religion. Structural Functionalism is a macro theory that looks at how all structures or institutions in society work together.

Structural functional theory focuses on