Education within the institutions created the division of labour. A person with educational qualifications in the approach of Functionalism help maintained the social order; careers are seemed as the norm. The effects of individuals who didn’t achieve values of achievement, competition preparing them for the working world were unable to relate with cultural values and the norm and were failure in their role in society.
A strong family support and kinship help with the survival of functionalism theory. As it maintains the social order, contributes to economy, adapting towards industrial society that supported in socialization.
Health and illness during the Functionalism approach from a medical, perspective sociology, created consensus structuring, the human behaviour which evolved “sick note” that has link the theory to dysfunctional illness behaviour. Ill health from individuals within the social group was seen as almost lazy, underachievers abnormal and generally frowned upon as they weren’t contributing to the system like the other norms. The formations, of doctors were advocates in creating sick notes concept to uphold the social order as individual would comply with the advises given from the doctor in order to return back to work. 'The state of optimum capacity of an individual for the effective performance of the roles and tasks for which s/he has been socialised.' Parsons, 1951
Life expectancy during this era for individual with no family support would have not been institutionalised, with their education; the labour division would place them in a job with very minimal skills increase health issues. The period of Pre industrial society contributed to low expectancy. Housing damp conditions and poor environment effected health and well- being in this period.
Material resources within this approaches will be define along with the behaviour. Marxism is a structural theory like functionalism the social structure is form from Karl Marx (1818 -83) ideology of Capitalism influenced specialised division labour of two main classes within society. Proletariat known as the working class and Bourgeoisie the ruling class of society; benefiting from the means of production whiles the other class known as working class, behave in a controlled society characterizing economic life’s , working class were reliant on investment by Capitalism, working class have no means of production only to use the system for wages as a survival Ruling class are ruler of the lower class and through a hierarchy lifestyle they benefited in every aspect of the working class. .This system created a legitimate illusion of acceptances, by the ruling class where exploration of labour and unequalise treatment and income, was initiated to became part of the working, class or false class consciousness.
Marxism is strikingly different to functionalist theory as it is dominated by hidden curriculum from the actions of Cultural Capital this views was argued by Althusseer (1997) The ruling class had such an elitist ideology that they encourage educational institution to exclude subjects: sociology, economics and politics in 1988, as these subject were seen as threats resulting in capitalist inequality if pupils were allowed to study in these subjects. Marxism is the root of uneducated it stemmed from action of capitalism. A part, of the educational institution is controlled by middle class who are mainly white people. These parents persuaded schools of their choice securing a placement for their child using cultural capital to play the system. Research conducted by Alice Sullivan Bull et al (1994).
With houses they made it private or option to buy a council property that you never own. A trap situation, individuals will always contribute to society economics system.
Marxist perspective main approach is through Capitalism employment and lifestyle experiences such as manual labour is linked to ill health such as heart attacks as this job has tendency for physical labour, some of these health issues could be related to an accident during work also the development of an illness in later years. Some of those factors could instigate underlining mental health problems with the stresses of labour or unemployment.
The health approach in Marxism used institution like the NHS encourages working class back to work it was seen as victory once you returned back into the system. Socialized health serviced eliminated public sector and the use of Doctors promoted health and diagnose individual as long as they wanted to be cured and return back into the workforce.
Marxism set poverty by creating super structural using Higher social class to conformed society as it manipulated their position the relationship formed business wise only gain from economics, production and exploiting people to do mass work, society encouraged deferred gratification so means of production could continue . Low income placed the working class in deprivation poor housing included damp and cramped condition, broken community and environment overcrowded inner city, with the exposure of pollution.
“In this evidence I will weight up the cultural and structural social patterns. How they compare with one and another also .One comparison’s in the black report issued in 1980 it has four issues which are in comparison with Donald Acheson report issued in 1998. As well as the Marmot report healthy life issued in 2010. Social class is linked to health. Inequalities have spread into healthcare, education and occupation. Social class contribute to the type of lifestyle you live, all factors are linked to poor life expectancy between the poor and the rich. “
Both theories of Marxism and Functionalism are structural the use of social institutions influences social order and structure for individuals. The theories that shape society do not consider age, gender, disability inherited diseases and sexuality. Within the cultural groups of ethnic minorities social views are formed from unconscious stereotypes and discriminatory practices in some Caribbean they experience sickle cell and diabetes. With Indian Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Sri Lankan descent background they experience risk of high blood cholesterol this is because they cook with geet a form of cooking oil.
Health is a fundamental aspect of life the fact we are born in to a society which defines social class literally mapping out an individual’s life expectancy, your status of health compare to an individual from a group with cultural capital continue to divide social group and what is contributes in to the type of live a person can live. Being unhealthy in any sociological approach barriers still remain in the society. There is evidence of inequality with the division of class and preferred lifestyle.
Superstructure created by Bourgeoisie exploiting Proletariat to maintain economic production within society, transmitting common values through the myth of mentocracy capitalist social order. Eduardo Bonilla Silva (2011) refers to racilized social system. As racial inequality from the dominant group systemic compliances where often resources are denied housing, education, employment, income and health: because of the Cultural attributes associated with a system designed to the middle class to succeed by default. Cultural Capital assets were seen to have a greater valve in society compared, to working class, cultural attributes, that were associated with limited social mobility and experiences of social exclusions justified personal acceptance of failure. Bourdieus (1977). Institutions are in ways still compliant with sociological theories effecting peoples lives of different races, disability or experiencing the border line of poverty.