Functionalist View on Same-Sex Families Essay - 1162 Words

Functionalist View on Same-Sex Families What is Functionalism? Functionalism is the belief that members of society form relationships with each other through rules and regulations i.e. the law. They also believe society is based on a consensus and there is no time for conflict, although it is acknowledged but is seen as only a temporary disturbance, which can be resolved. They believe it is the basis of social life without it there would be conflict and disorder. Society is seen like the human body, institutions within society playing a significant role to ensure its upkeep like schools. These institutions are what influence societies members on social behaviour. They see the family as how†¦show more content†¦according to the beliefs of the New Right. So therefore from a functionalists point of view same-sex relationships are what theyd call a temporary disturbance. So their solution is to have it challenged through the legal system. What is the traditional family then? The traditional family is seen as the basis of a nuclear unit, mum, dad and kids! So how do we define a family in the 21st Century? There are still a lot of families all over the world that conforms to what society expects. But there is a rise in alternative families. So, in what we call the real world a family can be defined as a range of social, cultural, economic and symbolic meanings. There are several variations on what a family could be; it doesnt always follow the basic nuclear family. I think the definition a 21st Century family would be: A household in which 1 or 2 adults who have a loving and committed relationship raise their children. How does society treat the underclass? In todays society same-sex couples are becoming more and more common, and they contribute just as much to society as the average heterosexual couple. So why is it so hard for same-sex families to live like everyone else? Because society disapproves. During my research on theShow MoreRelatedAssess the Functionalist View of the Family.1031 Words   |  5 Pages‘Assess the functionalist view of the family?’ Functionalist looks at society on a macro level. It is a consensus theory and structuralists prefer to use functionalism as it agrees with their ideals and models and they prefer to look at society as a whole. Functionalists are interested in studying what family is most functional. This essay will assess how functionalists view point of the family by exploring Murdock, Comte, Parsons and Durkheim, the founder of functionalism, ideas and evaluatingRead MoreFunctionalist Perspective On Society As A Macro Institution1056 Words   |  5 PagesThe functionalist perspective In this essay I will outline and evaluate the functionalist perspective. This will include exploring the origins of the perspective, while explaining and evaluating how functionalists see society as a macro institution, rather than its many constituent parts. 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