FUNCTIONALISM THEORY

FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE
-Sees society as a complex system whose parts
work together to promote solidarity and stability.
 FUNCTIONALISM
- this approach looks at society
through a macro-level orientation.
- a broad focus on the social
structures that shape society as a
whole
- looks at both social structure
and social functions
 FUNCTIONALISM
Elements
SOCIETY -----Function----- -norms
Parts of society as -customs
“organs”- work toward the -traditions
proper functioning of the
“body” as a whole. -institutions
(Herbert Spencer)
Herbert Spencer
 FUNCTIONALISM
Viewing the family as the most integral component of
society, assumptions about gender roles within marriage
assume a prominent place in this perspective.
 FUNCTIONALISTS
-argue that gender roles were
established well before the pre-
industrial era:
• men typically took care of
responsibilities outside of the
home such as hunting.
• women typically took care of the
domestic responsibilities in or
around the home.
 These roles were considered functional because women
were often limited by the physical restraints of pregnancy and
nursing and unable to leave the home for long periods of time.
 Once established, these roles were passed on to
subsequent generations since they served as an effective means
of keeping the family system functioning properly.
 In US during WWII, changes in the family
structure occurred.
Many women assume the role of
breadwinner along side their domestic role in
order to stabilize a rapidly changing society.
When the men returned from war and
wanted to reclaim their jobs, society fell back
into a state of imbalance, as many women did
not want to forfeit their wage-earning positions.
(Hawke 2007)
 Functionalist perspective
of gender inequality
- Articulated in the 1940s and 1950s
- Talcott Parson’s model of the NUCLEAR
Family
This theory suggests that gender
inequalities exist as an efficient way to create
a division of labor (particular segments are
clearly responsible for certain, respective acts
of labor)
- to maximize resources and efficiency
 Division of labor
GENDER ROLES as complimentary
Women Men
take care of the home provider of the family

This role became institutionalized.

Thus gender, like other social institutions contributes to the stability of society
as a whole.
 How they socialize to compliment each other make easier to
maintain stable and productive family.
INSTRUMENTAL QUALITIES
men - confident and leader ----- prepared to labor force
EXPRESSIVE QUALITIES
women - empathy and sensitivity --- prepared to provide care to
family
 Having complimentary skills , society encourages gender to fulfill their
role to be desirable and teach people to reject those against to their
gender norm.
FUNCTIONAL PREREQUESITES
- the basic needs
That an individual
requires to live above the
poverty line.
STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISTS
- gender serves to
maintain social order by
providing and ensuring the
stability of functional
prerequisites
 This view has been criticized for reifying, rather than reflecting
gender roles.
 Many argue that gender roles are discriminatory.
 Feminist movement, takes the position that functionalism
neglects the suppression of women within the family structure.
 References
 https;//courses.lumenlearning.com/cochise-sociology-
os/chapter/the-functionalist-perspective/#: :text=The%20
functionalist%20perspective%sees%20society,shape%20society
%as%20a%20whole.
 Thoughtco.com/sociology-research-and-statistics-s2-3026650
 youtube.com/watch?v=LciWAfvBZhA