Answer to Question #258879 in Sociology for Potso

Question

compare and contrast from the two perspective being the conflict theory and functionalist theoretical perspective and use examples from south Africa during the current covid-19 pandemic to support the argument NB: can it please be in an essay form

Answer 1

Functionalist Perspective

The functionalist perspective is based largely on the works of Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, and Robert Merton. According to functionalism, society is a system of

interconnected parts that work together in harmony to maintain a state of balance and social

equilibrium for the whole. For example, each of the social institutions contributes important

functions for society: Family provides a context for reproducing, nurturing, and socializing

children; education offers a way to transmit a society’s skills, knowledge, and culture to its youth; politics provides a means of governing members of society; economics provides for the

production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services; and religion provides moral

guidance and an outlet for worship of a higher power.

The functionalist perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness of society by focusing

on how each part influences and is influenced by other parts.Functionalists use the terms functional and dysfunctional to describe the effects of social

elements on society. Elements of society are functional if they contribute to social stability and

dysfunctional if they disrupt social stability. Some aspects of society can be both functional and

dysfunctional. For example, covid-19 is dysfunctional in that it is associated with loss of property, and fear. But according to Durkheim and other functionalists, covid-19 is has been functional for society because it leads to heightened awareness of shared moral bonds and

increased social cohesion.

Conflict Perspective

The functionalist perspective views society as composed of different parts working together. In

contrast, the conflict perspective views society as composed of different groups and interest

competing for power and resources. The conflict perspective explains various aspects of our

social world by looking at which groups have power and benefit from a particular social

arrangement. For example, feminist theory argues that we live in a patriarchal society a

hierarchical system of organization controlled by men. Although there are many varieties of

feminist theory, most would hold that feminism “demands that existing economic, political, and

social structures be changed.