Sociology Theories: Analysis of Functionalism

Running head: SOCIOLOGY THEORIES
SOCIOLOGY THEORIES
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Author Note

1SOCIOLOGY THEORIES
The respective paper is a discussion, analysis and interpretation of a sociological theory
based on a sociological perspective. The theory chosen for the discourse is functionalism. In the
respective paper, the role of nuclear family and family consisting of single parent or same-sex
marriage has been discussed along with contribution of each family system in building up and
down of the society. The respective paper is an argument that argues about the legitimacy of
nuclear family and the role of single parent or same sex marriage in the ever evolving and
changing society.
According to the discipline of sociology, functionalism is a framework of theories that
view society as a complex being with a plethora of complicated social structures amalgamating
with each other to promote stability and integrity of every individual and collective being within
its domain (Parsons 2017). The approach of functionalism helps in viewing the society at a
macro level and gives an idea and a concept that societies have evolved just as organisms have
evolved with the passage of time. Such view of the society helps the sociologists, scholars and
sociology students to dissect and segregate various social structures and its complexities
associated with it to understand the process of evolution with the help of a clear understanding of
the customs, traditions, cultural dynamics and institutions of the society (Parsons 2017).
The question put up on which the paper is focusing is the statement by an eminent
functionalist sociologist Talcott Parsons which said that only nuclear family would bring stability
to the society rather than families with single parents and families of same-sex marriage. I am
against the statement. It has to be understood that homosexuality or being a single parent is not a
criminal or an obnoxious affair; rather, it is preference and a choice which is entitled to every
individuals. Every person, irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity and nationality, has the right to

2SOCIOLOGY THEORIES
choose his/her sexual orientation, conjugal partner or he/she can take decision to stay single and
become a single parent.
It has been often observed that the scholars of structural functionalism or functionalists
advocate for the importance of controlling and regulating sexual behavior to ensure marital
togetherness and stability of family. The functionalists believe that the family unit is the most
integral unit and part of the society. As they believe that family system is the most important
system in the society and it is the families that maintains peace and harmony in the society
strongly condemn any kind of act that hampers the dignity of society and also believes that
conservative attitude towards family system should be the ultimate for peace and harmony and
liberalism in families might bring discord and chaos in the society. Such concept can be broadly
and roughly defined as “Theory of Positivism” brought out by Comte, the father of “Positivism”
which stated that the society was needed to keep unified as many traditions and customs were
diminishing day by day with the advent or modernism throughout the world (Morgenthau 2017).
Comte had argued that society was an individual evolved figure and a product of development of
three stages, theological stage, from the ancient to the middle age of Europe when people
believed that society was an act of divine intervention; metaphysical stage when society was
viewed as a natural system and lastly, positive stage, where society was believed to be viewed by
scientific approach and application. Talcot Parsons, similar to Comte, advocated for traditional
solidarity and has always argued in favor of controlled sexuality and the traditional or
conventional marriage system (marriage between a man and a woman) and discouraged
homosexual marriages. According to Parsons, an individual can grow into an all-around
developed individual from childhood to adulthood only if he/she is subjected to parenting of both
of a mother as well as father in a traditionally coherent and conjugally competent family. Parsons