Functionalist Perspective Society

Functionalist Perspective Everyone has a ‘function’ within society The pink arrows represent that everyone must put something into society, eg work, study etc The blue arrows show that if you put something into society then you will gain something back, eg education, health care, security etc Society

Functionalist Perspective The stick people represent different systems and subsystems within society, eg private industry, the police, schools, hospitals etc. Within each system and subsystem people must fulfil their function to sustain society. The reason the stick people all look the same is because the functionalist perspective does not take into account individuality. The views of the people are not important to a functionalist, as long as they fulfil their function in their particular area. Society What different views might people have? Regligious, political, spiritual, views on how to bring up their children, the food they eat, the clothes they wear, etc etc. All these are irrelevant to a fucntionalist as long as they do their job for the good of society.

Functionalist Perspective The functionalist perspective assumes that everyone has the same goal for society and a shared understanding of what they are trying to achieve. Is this true? Do we all want society to be the same thing? How would a functionalist explain crime or fox-hunting protests or anorexia? Society Alice is a student and has a part time job at Co-op. What is her function in society? She has to go to college and study. She has to go to work on time. She earns money which pays for her clothes, transport, going out and cigarettes. She lives with her parents who provide her with free accommodation and food.

Functionalist Perspective Alice has a part time job at the Co-op. She uses the money she earns to buy clothes, cigarettes and for nights out. This is Alice Society Alice is 18, she is on a BTEC course at college studying Public Services. She wants to be in the army when she leaves college Alice lives with her parents; she doesn’t pay for food or rent.