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Structural Functionalism

This document discusses the structural-functionalism theory in sociology. [1] It views society as a complex system with interdependent parts that work together to promote stability and solidarity. [2] It examines social structures and their functions, both manifest and latent. [3] The document applies this theory to analyze culture, gender, sexuality, family, and modern mass society. It also reviews criticisms of structural-functionalism's focus on stability over conflict.

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Francis Mallari Martinez
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346 views

Structural Functionalism

This document discusses the structural-functionalism theory in sociology. [1] It views society as a complex system with interdependent parts that work together to promote stability and solidarity. [2] It examines social structures and their functions, both manifest and latent. [3] The document applies this theory to analyze culture, gender, sexuality, family, and modern mass society. It also reviews criticisms of structural-functionalism's focus on stability over conflict.

Uploaded by

Francis Mallari Martinez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Social Change and Development Perspectives:

Reporter: Sasi, Christine Joy


BSSW AS2-3
Structural-functionalism Theory

• Is a framework for building theory that


sees society as a complex system whose
parts work together to promote solidarity
and stability.

• As its name suggests, this approach


points to social structure, any relatively
stable pattern of social behavior.
Social structure gives our lives
shape in families, the workplace, or the
college classroom. This approach also
looks for each structure’s social
functions –the consequence of a
social pattern for the operation of
society as a whole.
- Macionis John, 2007

The structural-functionalist approach


leads sociologist to identify various
structures of society and investigate
their functions.
US Sociologist Robert K. Merton(1910 -2003)
pointed out that any social structure probably has
many functions, some more obvious than others. He
distinguished between manifest functions and
latent functions.

• Manifest function –the recognized


and intended consequences of any
social pattern.
• Latent function –unrecognized and
unintended consequence of any social
pattern.
Applying the THEORY
STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF:

2. Gender
1. Culture 3. Sexuality

4. Family 5. Modernity as Mass Society


Structural-functional Analysis of CULTURE

The strength of the structural-


functional approach is that it shows how
culture operates to meet human needs. Yet
by emphasizing a society’s dominant culture
patterns this approach largely ignores
cultural diversity.
Structural-functional Analysis of SEXUALITY
- Society depends on sexuality for
reproduction. But culture and social
institutions regulate with whom and
when people reproduce.

Structural-functinal Analysis of GENDER


- Gender serves as a means to
organize social life.
Structural-functional Analysis of Family
- The family operates as the backbone of
society. It performs vital tasks, including
socializing the young and providing emotional
and financial support for members. the family
helps regulate sexual activity.
Structural-functinal Analysis of
Modernity as Mass Society
- A mass society is a society in which
prosperity and bureaucracy have
weakened traditional social ties.
- Sociology, 2007
CRITICAL REVIEW OF
STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONALISM THEORY
- The main idea of structural-functional approach is its
vision of society as stable and orderly. And by
focusing on social stability and unity, critics point
out, social-functional theory ignores inequalities of
social class, race, ethnicity, and gender which cause
tension and conflict.
- In general, its focus on stability at the expense of
conflict makes this approach somewhat
conservative.

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