Sociology Report: Conflict vs. Functionalist Theories in Society

This report provides a comparative analysis of conflict and functionalist theories within the context of Australian society, focusing on education and gender inequality. The introduction establishes the importance of understanding societal dynamics and introduces the three main sociological perspectives. The main body delves into the core tenets of both conflict and functionalist theories, contrasting their viewpoints on education and gender roles. Conflict theory, as presented, emphasizes power imbalances and inequalities, particularly in access to education and the perpetuation of gender disparities. Conversely, functionalist theory highlights the importance of social equilibrium and the roles of institutions in maintaining societal stability, including the equal rights of men and women, and the significance of education in skill development and social harmony. The report concludes by summarizing the differing perspectives and their implications for understanding societal structures and challenges.

Understanding Society

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Conflict theorist...........................................................................................................................1
Functionalist theorist...................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Society is the place where number of people reside and conduct operations related to
their daily operations. There is requirement of different resources such as natural resources for
satisfaction of daily activities. There is difference in perception of individuals while they are
serving in society. Being part of society, it is essential for individual to understand changes
taking place in external market (Baiman, 2018). There are three theories of sociological
perspectives i.e. functionalist, conflict and symbolic interactionist. This report discusses about
difference in functionalist and conflict theorist about education and gender inequality in
Australian society.
MAIN BODY
Conflict and functionalist theory are part of sociological perceptive. Difference between
conflict and functionalist theory are discussed as under-
Functionalist theory focus on activities of which motto is social development, while
conflict theory on individual's own motto. Functionalist theorist avoids changes in society, while
conflict theorist does not do so. Functionalist theory considers social arrangements, while
conflict theorist does not focus on it.
Conflict theorist
Conflict theory is given by Karl Marx. As per this theory, it is identified that there is
situation of perpetual issue among individuals residing in society for use of resources. As per this
theory, there is difference in behaviour of people for using resources. People with more money
has more power to use resources as compared to people of low power. This theory, says that
people make strategies for maximising their own benefits. This affects society resources in
negative manner. There are some assumptions which has to be understood for proper
understanding of conflict theory. Assumptions includes: revolution, war, competition, structural
inequality. For instance: industrialisation in Australia is result of people's comfortable,
economic growth of country, but it harms natural environment in society. So people are working
for satisfaction of their personal goals, such as good wealth, high living standard, etc. Conflict
theorist consider change in values to make difference in culture of people (Barron, 2015).
In Context of Education, as per conflict theorist, purpose of education gives social
imbalance in society. Conflict theory have view that due to education, there is mis- balance
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between poor and educated individuals. As per this theory, it is identified that schools sorts
individuals on the basis of ethical lines and class to which they belong in society. Conflict
theorist have view that good education is provided to individuals who have capability to achieve
good position in society. Hence they called this education program as “Hidden Curriculum”.
Under this theory, education is not for social benefit and development, but it is for
maintaining aura in society. As per view of conflict theorist that schools are funded through
property tax so schools in urban area has more developed infrastructure. These school provides
better services to students, so fees is high and people who can afford high fees avail services
from them. While large number of population represents minority population in UK, who are not
able to educate students in big institutions. There are different tests organised by American
educational institution for testing education, but these texts are based on cultural aspects. So they
are not able to get training with professional manner (Erickson, 2016). IQ test in schools are
conducting to create cultural bianess among students. As per view of conflict theorist, cultural
imbalance in schools, colleges and other educational institutions can not reduced.
In context of gender inequality, there is more powers to men as compared to women, so
they dominate them. There are some issues at work place of Australia, that dominant group
dominate subordinates. This affects their working style. This creates mis-balance at workplace
and employees coordination is tough. Men thinks that they are important than others, so they
starting dominating others for completing their task. They have view that operations may get halt
if they do not assist them. As per this view, it is identified that women are dependent for the
purpose of their livelihood because men earn money for family. Men has power to take decision
and control actions of society. As per this theorist, men has power to hold property and wealth
while Australian women in Western culture does not enjoy right to vote (Prout, 2016).
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Functionalist theorist
This theory was result of joint efforts of Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, Talcott
Parsons, and Robert Merton. As per functionalist theory, it emphasise on making equilibrium in
society. For instance: if something went wrong in society, then it bis important to maintain flow
of activates for stabilising situation. Functionalist theorist sharing values of various culture. This
assist in making collaboration among people from various culture. According to Durkheim,
society is framework which will work by correlating different factors of society. So if there is
issue in one factor, then whole society will get affected. Each component plays crucial role in
maintaining harmony in society. This lights the effect of one perspective over other by using
functional and dysfunctional effect. Functionalist theory works for creating harmony in society
by settling different societal factors (Furnham, 2015).
With this theory, it is easy to understand what is influenced and how is it influencing
others. For instance: due to increment in trend of single parents, divorce cases, etc. in Australia,
education of children is affecting because of lack of parents attention.
In Context of Education, as per functionalist theory, education is the prime factors which
has to be considered for improving skills and knowledge of coming generations. With educating
individuals, it is easy to improve working style of people and social aspects are considered.
Under this theory, moral education to children and people are important. This reduces
possibilities of social issues such as theft, robbery, spams, etc. in Australian society. When core
values are clear to people, then they act nicely. They do not think about themselves but they
consider other aspects as well.
For instance: people are aware about moral and social values, they have consider, then
they will work for social development of people who are backward. This assist in sustainable
development of society. Functionalist theorist have view that with providing them education
about core values, it is easy to maintain ethical environment at Australia. There is proper
education to children regarding core values, so they will respects other values, religion, etc.
Immigrants from different countries have good view about their Americans. Rewards are
provided to children for their punctuality, obeying authority, etc. There is more liberty for using
different rights and achieve liberty in their life (Furth, 2017). Apart from this individualism in
operations are also considered. For instance: an individual score least mark in exam, but it is
taught that his/ her role is important. This makes them live their life with self- esteem.
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Knowledge about competition is also provided to children, hence this assist them to
understand to work hard and achieve victory. Some gifts, rewards are provided to children to
motivate them. Sorting of the children on the basis if merit is considered by functionalist theorist.
This makes children to learn best and score good in their class room performance. After sorting
social placement is done of best candidates. When out of crowd, best candidates are placed, then
they works for development of society. So overall growth and development of society is
possible. After social placement, next benefit of education as per functionalist theorist is
networking. This relationship can be personal and professional. With personal relations, there are
possibilities of converting relations in matchmaking. As per view of functionalist theory, when
generation is educated, they are able to make proper take of their successor in context of their
learning. So functionalist theorist thinks that education is important, so they are making facilities
through which Australian people people educate their children. Educated individuals are liberal,
while less educated or uneducated individuals are conservatism.
In context of gender prospects, functionalist theory, there is equal rights to men and
women and they considered equally important for smooth running of operations. Social structure
of society does not get affected change in plans and policies. There is equal division of work and
here is no difference in pay scale on the basis of gender difference. This assist in conducting
operations without politics in country (Gandini, 2016). Functionalist theorist neglects
suppression of female to maintain proper functioning of family. As per this theory, women take
care of family, while men goes out for earning. So there is equal responsibilities of men and
women in smooth running of families. For Instance: Women takes care of children and other
members, while men are employed for earning and hand over earning to female for proper
household management.
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CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, knowledge about views of functionalist theorist and conflict
theorist about gender and education inequality is studied. It is identified that there is gender
inequality in conflict theory of sociological, while in case of functionalist theory, equal role of
men and women. Education is provided to creamy candidates and rich people can afford good
and technical knowledge under conflict theorist and vice versa.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Baiman, R., 2018. Economics: A tool for critically understanding society. Palgrave.
Barron, A.B., 2015. Death of the bee hive: understanding the failure of an insect society. Current
Opinion in Insect Science.10. pp.45-50.
Erickson, M., 2016. Science, culture and society: understanding science in the 21st century. John
Wiley & Sons.
Furnham, A., 2015. Young People's Understanding of Society (Routledge Revivals). Routledge.
Furth, H.G., 2017. Young children’s understanding of society. In Issues in childhood social
development (pp. 228-256). Routledge.
Gandini, A., 2016. The reputation economy: Understanding knowledge work in digital society.
Springer.
Prout, A. ed., 2016. The body, childhood and society. Springer.
Online
Theories of Education. 2016. [Online]. Available through: <https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-
guides/sociology/education/theories-of-education>.
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