A reasoned evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses in Marxism, Functionalism and Feminism

A sociological theory is a set of ideas that provide an explanation for adult male confederacy.In undertaking an accurate interpretation of trey sociological perspectives, I will make a reasoned evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses in Marxism, Functionalism and womens liberation movement. From the three elect sociological perspectives I will also look at their individual views on trust and the family.SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVESMARXISMMarxism named after its founder Karl Marx (1818 1883) is very famous and influential. Marx regarded great deal as both producers and the products of community, he believed since spate made society, only they can change it. He argued that man makes his own history. Marx believed that the rich would get richer (bourgeois ruling class) and that the myopic would get poorer (proletariat subordinate /working class). He proposed that the proletariat would revolt in anger, leading to a revolution, resulting in the disappearance of the social class system and that people would live in a more equal society. Max Weber (1864 1920) agreed with Marx, however he also aired the importance of status and big businessman (i.e. an individual may be poor but have high status, such as a teacher). His views on holiness differed to that of Marx too, arguing that it could be a source of encroach and change rather than a source of stability or social control. Key Names Mark, Engels, Young and Taylor.FUNCTIONALISMSociety is viewed as a system, that is, as a set of interconnected parts that together form a whole. Functionalists believe that society has basic chooses, which must be met if it is to continue to exist. It believes the pattern of sh atomic number 18 i.e. the function of the family is to ensure the continuity of society by reproducing and socializing new members and the function of piety is to integrate the social system by reinforcing rough-cut values. Key Names Durkheim, Merton, Murdock, Malinowski and Parsons.FEMINISMThe basic assumption sh ared by all feminists is that women suffer certain injustices on account of their sex. Feminist sociology, stresses the importance of sex activity divisions in society and it portrays these divisions as working to the overall advantage to men. Although feminists are united by their common desire for sexual justice and their concern for womens welfare, thither is actually a wide spectrum of feminisms (Mitchell and Oakley, 1986). These can be divided into four broad tendencies liberal, radical, Marxist/socialist and Black.STRENGTHSMARXISMCritical of Capitalism. In favour of the average individual in society. Economic base or infrastructure and Political/Ideological superstructure. Social Structure (Macro Approach).FUNCTIONALISMFunctional Imperatives Goal Attainment, Adaptation, Integration and Latency. Functional sub-systems Economic, Political, Family and Religion.FEMINISMHas do a lot to improve things for women over the years. Focuses on male/female relations hips. Looks at laws needed/ used to redress male/female power balance (equal jural protection and social rights).WEAKNESSESMARXISMToo many inconsistencies and interpretations of Marxs work. Unscientific (the Faith of Marxism Popper). Conspiracy theory (especially aimed at instrumental Marxists). Communism does non appear active to happen. Forms of (non-economic) conflict (gender, ethnic group) ignored in favour of economic conflicts. Left Functionalism (Marxism is little more than a form of Functionalism that replaces the interest of society with ruling class Jock Young). Modern society is more complex than Marx predicted. Comparatively dated theories.Critics Popper, Weber, Young (Left Idealism), any New Right Theorist, Social biologists and Radical Feminists.FUNCTIONALISMFunctionalists find it hard to explain rapid social change. They believe that if something exists it has a function. It has a function because it exists. The mental picture that non- charitable things like s ociety can have human qualities such as needs and purposes. Over-emphasis upon the beneficial aspects of institutions and structures. Believing that society revolves around family unit but not willing to recognise that not all people worldwide belong to a family unit yet function well. Critics Marxist Sociologists, Radical and Marxist Feminists.FEMINISMWomen like working class men are at a fundamental economic disadvantage although Feminists hold up to see that. Legal changes mainly benefited middle class women. Legal equality not the same as status equality. Ignores take away of social structural factors (e.g. class). Feminism geared towards middle class feminists (Bourgeois). Men are seen as the enemy (Marxist Feminism). Critics Radical Feminists and New Right of Liberal Feminists and New Right, Marxist/Socialist Feminists of Radical Feminists. structural VIEWS ON RELIGION AND THE FAMILYReligions, families and societies have been around for a very long time. Unsurprisingly, we find family units and religions present in all known societies, and consequently, families and religion have a social impact. Everyone has their own view of what religion and the family consists of. These pre conceived ides are mostly to do with our own backgrounds, culture and life experiences. There is a lot of disagreement among sociologists about the roles of religion and the family within society we will look at three sociological perspectivesRELIGIONMARXISMIn Marxs view, Man makes religion, religion does not make man. In other words, religion is the self-conscious and the self-feeling of man who has either not found himself or has already lost himself again. Truly liberated individuals have no need of religion. Thus, if the alienation and exploitation associated with the classes are eradicated, and people are freed to develop their human potential and find themselves, as in a truly socialist society, religion will no longer be needed and will cease to exist.Marx and Engels believed that religion represented a protest against a dehumanising social world and human alienation, it also leads people into false hopes and direction, along with the solutions it promises that are illusory. It obscures and distorts the true nature of reality in ways that benefit the ruling class. Marx anticipated that when a egalitarian society was established, religion would disappear.FUNCTIONALISMWhereas Durkheim sees religion as an expression and celebration of peoples sociality. Religion creates order and stability in society it can be an agent of acculturation and create a sense of social solidarity. Malinowski accepted like Durkheim that religion creates social solidarity but he believed that religion is a response to peoples needs during stress (e.g. birth and death). Parsons believed the role of religion served two functions, one to provide guidelines (behaviour in society) and the other is to answer ultimate questions.FEMINISMReligion is seen as an instrument of oppr ession, as a product of patriarchy rather than a product of capitalism. Religion is used by oppressors (men) to control the oppressed group (women), and it also serves as a way of compensating women for their second-class status. In most typical religions of the last millennium women are subservient and secondary to men (i.e. Catholic church and Muslims).THE FAMILYMARXISMThe Marxists position asserts that the atomic family is not universal but a product of capitalism and that the family is an exploitative institution. Murdocks theory is critised because he didnt consider that other social institutions could have performed the functions and he does not examine other alternatives to the family. In Engels theory he suggested that the main reason that the family developed was to solve the problem of inheritance, also that the family was the most efficient device for insuring authenticity of the proposed heirs. Engels theory was largely based on a flawed interpretation of the family by Anthropologist, Lewis Morgan (1900).FUNCTIONALISMA strong plugger of the family is the Functionalist. Their belief is that the family is the cornerstone of society. A study was conducted on the family, studying 250 societies by George Murdock (Social Structure 1949). In his study, he concluded that the nuclear family is a universal human social grouping . It exists as a distinct and strongly functional group in every known society. Murdock identifies four basic functions that the family performs sexual, reproductive, economic and educational. Fellow functionalist Talcott Parsons would largely agree with Murdocks theories of the family.FEMINISMFeminists rap the family as the focus on the exploitation of women by men, they argue that men dominate family relationships. Radical feminists argue that in its most extreme form this center oppression and violence (Russell Dobash, 1980). Evidence to suggest that women are dissatisfied in their family life is portrayed in the rise of divorc es filed by women. Parsons theory of the family being a safe haven is more myth than reality for families today. Feminist Margaret Benson focuses mainly only the point that women are a source of cheap labour, as the woman of the house is unpaid for her work. In the family women are primarily seen as a housewife and mother, and in this environment men are given the control over womens sexuality and fertility.EVALUATIONThe different aspects of religion have a social impact and must be measured. Through out history there is considerable leaven to support Marxs ideology, that religion maintains the existing system of exploitation and reinforces class relationship, thereby keeping people in their place (consider the Islamic world). However, conflicting evidence suggests that religion does not always legitimate power (Catholicism Pope Rome).Whilst Feminism implies that religion and belief systems are an instrument of manipulation for men to use on women although I believe this theory to be the case for some religions but not all. It can vary from religion to religion, for example women cannot become priests in the Roman Catholic or Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, but in the Jewish faith women can become rabbis and do not sit apart from men. verso to Marxist views that religion suppresses people attempts to change their situation, religion can sometimes provide an impetus for change (Queen Mary Catholicism and Queen Elizabeth I Protestant). The Functionalist perspective of belief systems and religion does not vindicate for the dysfunctional aspects that the unruly force of religion can manifest (i.e. war in the name of Religion).The subject of the family and how it is defined is super difficult to determine. Marxists position asserts that the nuclear family is not universal but a product of capitalism and that the family is an exploitive institution, and that it was the simplest solution for insuring legitimacy of proposed heirs. Whereby Functionalism i s a strong supporter of the family, believing it to be the cornerstone of society. Feminists criticise the family as the focus on the exploitation of women by men, they argue that men dominate family relationships.CONCLUSIONEveryone has their own view of what religion and the family consists of. These pre conceived ideas are mostly to do with our own backgrounds, culture and life experiences.I find it difficult to subscribe to one theory over another as Functionalist, Marxist and Feminist theories can be interpreted in many different ways. Consequently each theorys perspective will work for their interpretation of religion, the family and society. The three theories are not too dissimilar to the three main Political Parties (Labour, Conservative and Liberal) in Britain each has its own agenda, but are all are equally as devious I am more inclined to opt for the Feminist and Marxist theories as they seem more plausible and are more comparative to past history and present day findings . I also believe that as societies cultures change through time, so will our explanation of family, religion and society.