Research Paper on "Sociological Perspective Related to Gender"

Research Paper 3 pages (1325 words) Sources: 2

[EXCERPT] . . . .

This is what is known as the functionalist view, which lays emphasis on how the society is structured for the sustenance of stability. One of the key figures in the development of this functionalist theory is Talcott Parsons (1902-1979), a sociologist with Harvard University. His approach was made more popular by the German Sociologist, NikiasLuhmann (1927-1998), who postulated that if one aspect of social life makes no meaningful contribution to the stability or survival of a society-if it serves no identifiable and useful function as a way of promoting value agreement among the members of the society-it won't be handed down from generation to generation (Schaefer, 2012). Bearing this in mind, we can now take a look at gender through a more functional viewpoint.

Preindustrial Society: According to the functionalists, in preindustrial societies, assigning different tasks to the men and another different set of tasks to the women was one way the social equilibrium was maintained. Going by the gathering, hunting, and subsistence farming activities of a number of preindustrial societies, specialization of roles based on gender was seen as a functional necessity. In the hunting responsibilities given to men, they spent long hours outside the home in their bid to gather food for the family. It was more suitable for women to be given responsibilities like engaging in subsistence farming, taking care of the kids, and other such roles that keep them at home, since their movements are restricted by natural phenomena like pregnancy, childbirth and nursing. Once this functional division of labor had been established, all societies in different parts of the world reproduced them. Women might have been subsistence farmers and gatherers of food in their own rights, but they still depended on men for both food and protection. This practice of women depending on their men for sustenance and security placed more values and importance on the roles of the men than those of the women in the society (Lindsey, 2010).

Contemporary Society: In contemporary societies, these same principles and other similar ones still apply to all families in conventional societies. There is minimization of disruptions, maximization of harmonies, and the entire family enjoys the benefits when couples assume balancing, specified, and no overlapping roles. When the father or husband takes the instrumental role, it is expected that he will preserve the physical prestige of the family by ensuring the availability of both food and shelter and providing a link between the family and the outer world.

When the wife and mother assumes the expressive responsibility, it is expected that she will cement the relationship among members of the family, and provide the needed emotional support as well as the nurturing activities that promotes the smooth running of the household. In a situation where there is much deviation from these laid down roles, or when much overlap occurs, the system of the family is forced to lose its balance, which can pose great threats to the family unit's survival.

Conclusion

Apparently, functionalism emphasizes on the contribution of social equilibrium, making useful contribution to the image as a conservatively theoretical viewpoint. This image is further reinforced by its complexity in giving accounts for the different family systems found today and in the inability to maintain the pace with swift social transformation that moves the families nearer to more egalitarian behaviors with regards to gender roles. Most times, much to the surprise of the scientists who invented them, both the scientific theories and the studies that formed them are employed routinely to lend support to a variety of ideologies. Functionalism has for long been used to justify both gender gratification and male dominance (Lindsey, 2010).

Reference

Lindsey, L.L. (2010). Gender Roles: A sociological perspective (5th ed.). Pearson.

Schaefer, R.T. (2012). Sociology: A Brief Introduction (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill

Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages.

Zevallos, Z. (2015, December 12). Sociology of Gender. Retrieved from… READ MORE

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