Sociological theories provide different perspectives with which to view our social world. This includes our social institutions, such as governments, families, business organizations, health care organizations, legal systems, and religion. To understand these social institutions, sociologists take different theoretical approaches. Sociologists' three main sociological perspectives include the functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective, and the symbolic interactionist perspective (Ferris & Stein, 2018). This paper will delve into discussing how sociologists view the social institution of family through the three sociological lenses -structural functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interaction.
Structural Functionalism
Structural functionalist is a sociological framework that views society as a system of interconnected parts that function to enhance solidarity and stability. Thus, society is composed of different social institutions that work together to keep the social world functioning properly. Structural functionalism looks at society through a macro-level orientation, meaning that it mainly focuses on the social institutions that shape the society (Ferris & Stein, 2018). With regard to family, functionalists view the family as a social institution that satisfies vital functions.
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In particular, the family provides a context for reproduction, nurturing, and socialization. With regard to socialization, families are the main responsible for socializing children. In this way, the new members of society learn the norms, rules, and values of their society. In addition to creating well-integrated members of society, the family also instills culture into the new members (Mooney et al., 2007). The family is also responsible for social replacement, meaning that it replaces the society's dying members by reproducing new ones. Further, the family helps both the existing and new members of society shape their social identities. Other functions of the family from a functionalist perspective include giving members of society property rights, providing material and emotional support to family members, and providing care support to society's members.
Structural functionalism also looks at the various changes or forces that threaten families' stability, such as divorces (Ferris & Stein, 2018). This is because these changes or forces threaten not only the stability of families but also that of the society at large. Divorces pose a significant threat to social stability. However, it is important to note that divorce is not always dysfunctional. For example, the U.S.'s divorce rates have increased significantly following the significant social changes introduced by the women's rights movement of the 1960s (Homer, 2015). Following these social movements, women now have greater access to the workforce. In this regard, women can be financially independent as well as leave abusive relationships. Thus, rather than seeing it as a social threat, divorce can also be seen as an increasing social order. This is because divorce can contribute to better stability for some people.
Conflict Theory/Perspective
The conflict perspective is a sociological framework that views the family as a social institution that maintains patriarchy and social inequality. According to conflict theory, society comprises various social classes that compete for power and resources (Mooney et al., 2007). For example, the feminist theory holds that the social world is characterized by patriarchy, meaning men largely control that. Every society is plagued with economic, political, and social inequality. For these reasons, conflict theory looks at social structures and ways in which these structure economic, political, and social inequality in society (Ferris & Stein, 2018).
With regard to the family, conflict theorists hold that the family is one of the social units that work towards the continuance of social inequality in society. This is because it maintains and reinforces patriarchy and social inequality (Mooney et al., 2007). Since wealth can be transmitted from one family member to another, wealthy families have the ability to maintain their social status in society (Mooney et al., 2007). On the contrary, individuals who come from economically disadvantaged families are denied similar status.
According to the conflict perspective, a family is a social unit that benefits men more than women. In particular, conflict theorists hold that the family allows men to maintain a position of power. In this regard, the family maintains patriarchy and social inequality between sexes. This is because society values the traditional roles done by men more than women's traditional roles (i.e., housekeeping, childrearing). In addition, conflict theorists argue that women are more economically disadvantaged in society than men. This includes gender pay inequalities. Also, despite spending much (or more) time at paid jobs as their husbands, women do more of the traditional roles (Mooney et al., 2007). Thus, the family structure contributes to social inequality as it maintains and reinforces patriarchal values by supporting economic, political, and social inequality.
Symbolic Interaction Perspective
While the functionalist and the conflict perspectives focus on social institutions, such as the family, influence the social world, the symbolic interaction perspective explores the changing meanings attached to the family's social unit. This sociological approach emphasizes the symbols, negotiated meaning, and the construction of the family (Mooney et al., 2007). In this way, symbolic interactionists focus on the roles that family members play in society. In particular, the symbolic interaction perspective scrutinizes the scripts that society expects from a family. As such, families are expected to operate based on the scripts outlined by their societies. For instance, a working father is someone who obeys that social script about families. In some societies, women are also allowed to work full time. Generally, this sociological approach explores what society understands as "a traditional family." In addition, it explores what it means for society to follow the social script.
To sum up, the three main sociological perspectives discussed in this paper can be used to analyze the family's social unit. For example, with regard to the issue of doing traditional house roles, a functionalist scrutiny would emphasize on the need of the traditional role. A conflict theorist would focus his or her analysis on how the traditional roles are disproportionately shouldered on women. A symbolic interactionist would focus on the meaning attached to the roles and how these meanings evolve.
Graphic Representation: Summary of the Three Theoretical Perspectives
|
Theories |
Perspective |
|
Functionalism |
The family provides a context for reproduction, nurturing, and socialization Families socialize children Families create a well-integrated member of society. Families instill culture into the new members Families contribute to social stability |
|
Conflict Theory |
Families work towards the continuance of social inequality in society. Families maintain and reinforce economic, political, and social inequalities. Family conflict impacts members of the society and the society at large. |
|
Symbolic Interactionism |
Families have attached changing meanings. Societies have scripts that outline the traditional roles for each family member. |
References
Ferris, K., & Stein, J. (2018). The real world: An introduction to sociology . WW Norton, Incorporated.
Homer, A. (2015). The Divorce Revolution: The Macro and Micro-Level Factors in the Risk of Divorce. Honors Theses, Union College, Digital Works.
Mooney, L. A., Knox, D., & Schacht, C. (2007). The three main sociological perspectives. Understanding Social Problems , 1-2.
