Contemporary Theoretical Perspectives Contemporary sociologists view society from a variety of perspectives, each of which uses a theory

Contemporary Contemporary Theoretical PerspectivesTheoretical Perspectives

Contemporary sociologists view society from a Contemporary sociologists view society from a variety of perspectives, each of which uses a theoryvariety of perspectives, each of which uses a theory

Contemporary Contemporary Theoretical PerspectivesTheoretical Perspectives

TheoryTheory – A set of logically interrelated statements – A set of logically interrelated statements that attempt to describe, explain and occasionally that attempt to describe, explain and occasionally predict social eventspredict social events

–Theories provide a framework or perspective for examining Theories provide a framework or perspective for examining various aspects of social lifevarious aspects of social life

PerspectivePerspective – an overall approach or viewpoint – an overall approach or viewpoint toward a subjecttoward a subject

Functionalist PerspectiveFunctionalist Perspective

This perspective is based upon the assumption that This perspective is based upon the assumption that society is a stable, orderly system characterized by society is a stable, orderly system characterized by societal consensussocietal consensus

Societal ConsensusSocietal Consensus – a situation in which the – a situation in which the majority of members share a common set of values, majority of members share a common set of values, beliefs and behavioural expectationsbeliefs and behavioural expectations


According to Functionalism, society is composed of According to Functionalism, society is composed of interrelated parts, each of which serves a function and interrelated parts, each of which serves a function and contributes to the stability of societycontributes to the stability of society

–It compares society to a living organism (eg. the human It compares society to a living organism (eg. the human body) body) –It was influenced by Comte, Spencer and DurkheimIt was influenced by Comte, Spencer and Durkheim


Societies develop social structures, or institutions, Societies develop social structures, or institutions, because they help society survivebecause they help society survive

–eg. Family, education, government, religion, economy eg. Family, education, government, religion, economy –If anything happens to one of these institutions, all other If anything happens to one of these institutions, all other parts are affectedparts are affected


Talcott Parsons, a Harvard sociology professor, Talcott Parsons, a Harvard sociology professor, stressed that all societies must make provisions for stressed that all societies must make provisions for meeting social needs in order to survivemeeting social needs in order to survive


For exampleFor example, Parsons said that a division of labour between , Parsons said that a division of labour between husband and wife is essential for family stability and social orderhusband and wife is essential for family stability and social order

The husband/father performs the instrumental tasks that The husband/father performs the instrumental tasks that involve leadership and decision-making responsibilities in the involve leadership and decision-making responsibilities in the home, and employment outside the home to provide income for home, and employment outside the home to provide income for the familythe family

The wife/mother is responsible for the expressive tasks, The wife/mother is responsible for the expressive tasks, including housework, caring for the children and providing including housework, caring for the children and providing emotional support for the rest of the familyemotional support for the rest of the family


Parsons believed that other institutions such as Parsons believed that other institutions such as government, school and church must function to assist government, school and church must function to assist the familythe family

His work has been criticized for being too His work has been criticized for being too conservative (i.e. regarding gender roles, etc.), but it conservative (i.e. regarding gender roles, etc.), but it still has a great deal of influence on gender roles and still has a great deal of influence on gender roles and the familythe family

Functionalist PerspectiveFunctionalist PerspectiveTaking a look at suicideTaking a look at suicide

(p.23-24)(p.23-24)

What does Functionalism emphasize with regard to What does Functionalism emphasize with regard to morality?morality?What is social solidarity and what did Durkheim believe What is social solidarity and what did Durkheim believe about its link to suicide rates?about its link to suicide rates?What did Durkheim identify as the 4 distinct categories of What did Durkheim identify as the 4 distinct categories of suicide? Give an example of each. suicide? Give an example of each. Why do you think suicide rates have become so high in Why do you think suicide rates have become so high in many Aboriginal communities in Canada?many Aboriginal communities in Canada?

Why does prostitution continue to Why does prostitution continue to exist in Canadian societyexist in Canadian society??

Functionalist Perspective:Functionalist Perspective:

The functionalist perspective argues that the The functionalist perspective argues that the presence of a certain amount of deviance in society presence of a certain amount of deviance in society contributes to its overall stabilitycontributes to its overall stability

Institutions exist in society because they benefit Institutions exist in society because they benefit their participantstheir participants

Institutions contribute to the harmony of societyInstitutions contribute to the harmony of society Women become prostitutes because the profession Women become prostitutes because the profession

allows them to earn the money they need to meet allows them to earn the money they need to meet their daily needstheir daily needs

Many of them are unskilled and have limited earning Many of them are unskilled and have limited earning capacity; prostitution allows them to earn relatively capacity; prostitution allows them to earn relatively large sums of moneylarge sums of money

Con’t - Why does prostitutionCon’t - Why does prostitution…… Many of the women are unskilled and have Many of the women are unskilled and have

limited earning capacity; prostitution allows limited earning capacity; prostitution allows them to earn relatively large sums of moneythem to earn relatively large sums of money

Clients buy sex for a variety of reasonsClients buy sex for a variety of reasons Excess sexual energy, inability to maintain Excess sexual energy, inability to maintain

intimate relationships, excitement of buying intimate relationships, excitement of buying sex from a strangersex from a stranger

Society benefits from prostitution (as long Society benefits from prostitution (as long as it is safe)as it is safe)

Family units are not threatened because Family units are not threatened because there is no emotional bondthere is no emotional bond

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Contemporary Theoretical Perspectives Contemporary sociologists view society from a variety of perspectives, each of which uses a theory