Sociology

Sociology and Families

Introduction

Growing up in Chicago at a time when neighbourhoods were going through transitions in ethnic and racial composition, Richard T. His interest in social issues caused him to gravitate to sociology courses at Northwestern University, where he finally obtained a B.A. in sociologyThe First major editions of Sociology have been well recieved; the publication is actually used in more than 500 coleges and universities. But some instruction have sought a more concise outlook of the discipline that would allow them to assign added material or projects. the short introduction, Sixth version, Brings the research into the 21st 100 years and introduces several features designed to apply to today's students.

Discussion

Social inequality is the issue pertaining to the lack of housing, health care, education, employment opportunities, and status. It is the dismissal of people from participation in what we, the members of society distinguish as being valuable, important, socially desirable, and personally worthwhile. There are many different perspectives on social inequality within our society; the three areas I am going to focus on are those of the Functionalist, Conflict and Symbolic-Integrationist. According to the functionalist theory, society is kept intact by institutions, such as the family, performing their functions for the greater good. One such function performed by the family is the sexual function. Marriage is the key to socially acceptable sexual behavior. Schlafly's article, again, giving "power" to the woman, states that because a man's sex drive is stronger than that of a woman, it is easier for a woman to control her sexual appetite. Thus she gains some control over her husband(Schaefer, 2009).

Another function performed by the family is that of reproduction. Since marriage is the primary sexual relationship in society, reproduction goes hand in hand with marriage. While there are many children, especially in this generation, that are born outside of the marriage, the overall majority are still born within a family. The function of reproduction, is according to Schlafly, yet another way that a woman shows power over a man. Reproduction not only serves a purpose of repopulating the society, it also satisfies a woman's desire to be able to nurture.

A third component of functions performed by the family is socialization. Socialization of children in the family is one of the most important aspects of the functional theory. In order for children to be able to take their "place in society", so to speak, parents must not only provide the basic food and shelter for them , but also provide the emotional and spiritual support needed as well. This is where the well known functionalistic aspects of instrumental and expressive roles come into play. While the "daddy' can provide for the children's' physical needs, it is the woman who will be the provider of the emotional needs. Thus making the woman feel fulfilled by her job as a 'mommy'. Schlafly emphasizes this point many times throughout her article, by yet, again giving the woman a sense of power that can not be experienced by any other ...