Different views on how society works.

DIFFERENT VIEWS ON HOW SOCIETY WORKS

This is the most difficult part of sociology, but if you have been studying sociology for some time now, you will at least be partly familiar with these two different views: Marxism and functionalism. They often see society in different ways because they start from different standpoints. For example, if you and I were both looking at, and discussing the same chair, you might see it as something you sit down on to do your schoolwork, whereas I see it as missile to throw at children. In the same way, Marxists and functionalists look at the same institutions in society (such as the education system) and come to different conclusions about its function for society.

FUNCTIONALISM

Functionalists are called functionalists because they always ask, "What function does (the education system or the family etc) perform for society?"

Functionalists share similar assumptions about how society works. For example,

They assume that for a social institution to exist it must perform some positive function for society, or otherwise it wouldn't exist. For example, schools exist to socialize us into a set of common core values, such as turning up on time for school (and later work); to value achievement (for example exam success and later success at work) and so on.

...

This is a preview of the whole essay

FUNCTIONALISM

Functionalists are called functionalists because they always ask, "What function does (the education system or the family etc) perform for society?"

Functionalists share similar assumptions about how society works. For example,

They also see the values promoted by these institutions as acting in all our interests. For example, it is in all our interests that we are socialized to obey authority and turn up on time for school, because if we did not learn these values, society would break down. Therefore there is consensus (agreement) in society about these values. Just think what society would be like if the bus driver turned up at school whenever they liked and ignored what the boss had to say at work? Society would be very inefficient and chaotic.

MARXISM

Marxists believe that a powerful group called the ruling class are able to dominate society and society's institutions like the education system. For Marxists', the ruling class are those that own industry and big business generally. They believe that they have the power to make sure that their interests are dominant. For example, Marxist believe that schools socialize children to be obedient workers for their industries by installing in children punctuality and obedience, so they will obey their bosses without question when they leave school. Unlike functionalists though, they see this as not being in our interests, but in the interests of the ruling class. They therefore believe that there is not consensus (agreement) but conflicting interests in society.

SUMMARY

In short

Functionalists see society working in a harmonious way, with everyone working towards common goals (we all want an abundance of goods such as mobile phones etc) and we are in general agreement about how to reach those goals (I give orders and you obey or we will never get anything done - you obey me because I did better at school than you and have earned my authority).

Marxists see conflicting interests in society. For example there is conflict at work with the boss wanting you to work more and more hours for less wages, while we want the opposite. The boss however has the power to impose their will on you (they will sack you if you do not toe the line).