Sociology is a field of study that focuses on the systemic and scientific study of development, structure, and functioning of human society. Sociologists analyze issues such as health care depending on their theoretical perspectives. The structural functionalism theory is where sociologists believed that each part of the society had a specific task, much like the organs of the human body. The social-conflict theory is a Marxist theory that claims the society is in a state of perpetual conflict due to competition for limited resources. The symbolic-interactionism theory approaches social behavior in terms of how people interact with each other in the formation of meaning. Sociologists use these theories to explain social patterns, interactions, and events. We shall, in particular, view these theories’ approaches in their analyses of health, particularly disability.
The structural functionalism theory viewed illness and disability as a form of deviance that disturbs the normal functioning of society (Talcott Parsons). This is because sick or disabled people are not productive and may be considered a burden since they cannot do things on their own. Due to society’s perpetual competition for finite resources, it will always be in a state of conflict (Karl Marx). From the perspective of social-conflict theory, people with disabilities conflict with persons in powerful positions in the government. The positions of power reserved for people with disabilities, called ‘ill positions,’ have created artificial barriers and policies that keep the disabled in subservient positions of power.
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Symbolic interactionism deals with how we view ourselves and how others view us. A person with a disability may require formal or informal assistance to participate in society fully. Lack of such assistance renders them emotionally weak, thereby less productive.
Divorce refers to the legal dissolution of a marriage. Marital dissolution for reasons other than widowhood has increased dramatically over time in the United States. About 5% of marriages in the 19 th century ended in divorce, but in the 20 th century, the number increased to over 50%. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH), it is established that Hispanics and Whites have similar marital qualities that are higher than those of Black people (Broman, 1993; Trent and South, 2003). Black people, therefore, face higher odds of marital disruptions than their White and Hispanic counterparts.
Black people are said to have lower quality marriages due to financial dependence and instability (Wilson, 1987). Most of them do not make what is considered enough as a prerequisite for marriage, which may result in divorce. Whites, on the other hand, have a socioeconomic advantage as they have a higher income to sustain a marriage thus more solidified marriages.
Indeed, Hispanics have higher rates of union formation and express more pre-nuptial attitudes than Blacks do, despite both groups having similar levels of economic deprivation (Oropesa and Gorman, 2000). This is because unlike Blacks, the Hispanic culture stresses a collectivist orientation towards marriage, which may help to preserve marital quality and stability. Further, in the marriage market, Hispanics are not as marginalized as Blacks. This means that Hispanics are more likely to intermarry, exhibiting a classic assimilation pattern. On the other hand, Blacks tend to maintain a greater social distance from the Whites. (Qian and Cobas, 2003). This trend has led to more divorces amongst the black people in comparison to Hispanics and Whites.
Lastly, Black people are said to report more cases of socially unacceptable behaviors than the Whites, thus divorce being prevalent among Black people (Adelman et al., 1996). Bad social behaviors such as drug abuse and infidelity are associated with lower marital quality, which in most cases, leads to divorce amongst this subgroup.
References
Ashley D, Orenstein DM (2005). Sociological theory: Classical statements (6 th Ed) . Boston: Pearson Education.
Cherlin, AJ (1992). Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press
Emery, Robert (2013). Cultural Sociology of Divorce; an Encyclopedia . Sage Reference
Macionis, John; Gerber, Linda (2010). Sociology. (7 th Canadian Ed). Toronto: Pearson Canada
