A new work ethic: comparison and contrast between structural functionalism and conflict theory assignment

This is because the cultural experiences they learn from school are contrary to cultural experiences they receive at home. They usually get difficulties in coping with these experiences in their different learning institutions. They thus remain as working class because they get least desirable jobs since they are nit so much qualified. The weakness of this perspective raises questions like, why is the working class, remains a working class? Functionalism addresses society as a whole interms of the function of its constituent elements such as norms, customs, traditions and institutions.

Structural functionalism helps to answer the question, why certain societies are stable and survive for years. “ Durkheim. ” Proposes that such societies tend to be segmented, with equivalent parts held together by shared values and common symbols and that complicated societies are held together by organic solidarity. Society is seen as coherent, bounded and fundamentally, a relational constructs that function like organism with their various parts (social institutions) working together in an unconscious, quasi-automatic fashion towards achieving an overall social goal.

Conflict theory is especially useful in understanding variables like war, wealth and poverty, the haves and the have not’s, revolution and political strife. Therefore it also explains that a society is in state of perpetual conflict and usually competes for limited resources. It is a theory which can be used to explain the current unprecedented bail by the US government which has proven to be rich- to- rich wealth transfer. It assumes that the haves have perpetually increase their wealth at the expense and sufferings of the have not’s.

It is the power struggle that is commonly worn by those who have and lost by those the have not’s- common persons of common means. Certain conflict theory discusses ideological aspects inherent in traditional thoughts. It is important to note that conflict theory doesn’t refer to a unified school of thought and should not be confused with theories of social conflicts like peace and conflict studies or any other theory of social conflict.