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

A sociological theory is a set of ideas that support an explanation for human ball club.In childbed an accurate interpretation of three sociological perspectives, I will grade a reasoned evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses in Marxism, Functionalism and womens lib. From the three chosen sociological perspectives I will also look at their individual realises on religious belief and the family.SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVESMARXISMMarxism named after its founder Karl Marx (1818 1883) is very famous and influential. Marx regarded race as both producers and the ingatherings of confederation, he taked since sight made society, only they deal alter it. He argued that man makes his proclaim history. Marx conceptualized that the rich would get richer (bourgeois thought break up) and that the unforesightful would get poorer (proletariat subordinate /working class). He proposed that the proletariat would lawlessness in anger, leading to a revolution, resulting in the d isappearance of the sociable class system and that great deal would live in a more come to society. Max Weber (1864 1920) stopd with Marx, however he also emphasize the magnificence of status and power (i.e. an individual may be poor b arely have high status, such as a teacher). His views on devotion differed to that of Marx too, arguing that it could be a source of conflict and interpolate rather than a source of stability or social control. rouge 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 ineluctably, which essential be met if it is to continue to exist. It believes the concept of assist i.e. the function of the family is to ensure the continuity of society by reproducing and socializing unexampled members and the function of religion is to integrate the social system by reinforcing putting green values. Key Name s Durkheim, Merton, Murdock, Malinowski and Parsons.wo workforces liberation movementThe basic assumption shared by all feminists is that women suffer certain in arbiters on account of their sex. Feminist sociology, stresses the importance of gender divisions in society and it portrays these divisions as working to the oerall returns to men. Although feminists are united by their common desire for sexual justice and their concern for womens welfare, there is actually a wide spectrum of feminisms (Mitchell and Oakley, 1986). These can be divided into four broad tendencies liberal, radical, red/socialist and Black.STRENGTHSMARXISMCritical of Capitalism. In favour of the average person in society. Economic base or infrastructure and Political/Ideological superstructure. Social Structure (Macro Approach).FUNCTIONALISMFunctional Imperatives final stage Attainment, Adaptation, Integration and Latency. Functional sub-systems Economic, Political, Family and Religion.FEMINISMHas done a lo t to improve things for women over the years. Foc phthisiss on male/female relationships. Looks at laws needed/ employ to redress male/female power balance (equal legal protection and social rights).WEAKNESSESMARXISMToo m whatever inconsistencies and interpretations of Marxs work. Unscientific (the Faith of Marxism Popper). Conspiracy theory (especially aimed at instrumental Marxists). Communism does non appear about to happen. Forms of (non-economic) conflict (gender, pagan crowd) 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 responsibility Theorist, Social biologists and Radical Feminists.FUNCTIONALISMFunctionalists define it hard to pardon rapid social change. They believe that if roughthing exists it h as a function. It has a function because it exists. The whimsy that non-human things like society can have human qualities such as take and purposes. Over-emphasis upon the beneficial aspects of institutions and structures. Believing that society revolves around family unit but non volition 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 refuse to see that. Legal changes in the first place benefited place class women. Legal equality not the same as status equality. Ignores remove 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 nighly to do with our own backgrounds, culture and demeanor experiences. There is a lot of variableness 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 different 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 liberate individuals have no need of religion. Thus, if the alienation and growth associated with the classes are eradicated, and people are freed to develop their human potential and find themselv es, as in a truly socialist society, religion will no prolonged 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 classless society was established, religion would disappear.FUNCTIONALISMWhereas Durkheim sees religion as an expression and celebration of peoples sociality. Religion creates secernate and stability in society it can be an agent of enculturation 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 (b ehaviour in society) and the other is to answer ultimate questions.FEMINISMReligion is seen as an instrument of oppression, 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(prenominal) 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 nuclear family is not universal but a product of capitalism and that the family is an exploitative institution. Murdocks theory is critised because he didnt go out that other social institutions could have performed the functions and he does not examine other alternatives to the family. In Engels theory he draw outed that the main reason that the family developed was to clear up the problem of inheritance, also that the family was the most efficien t device for insuring legitimacy of the proposed heirs. Engels theory was largely based on a flawed interpretation of the family by Anthropologist, Lewis Morgan (1900).FUNCTIONALISMA strong helper 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 think that the nuclear family is a universal human social grouping . It exists as a distinct and strongly functional group in either 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 criticise 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 means oppression and vio lence (Russell Dobash, 1980). Evidence to suggest that women are dissatisfied in their family life is portrayed in the uprising of divorces 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 housewife is unpaid for her work. In the family women are primarily seen as a housewife and mother, and in this environs men are given the control over womens sexuality and fertility. valuationThe different aspects of religion have a social impact and must be measured. Through out history there is considerable evince 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 separate suggests that religion does not always legitimate power (Catholicism Pope Rome).Whilst Feminism imp lies 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 bend priests in the Roman Catholic or Greek and Russian Jewish-Orthodox churches, but in the Jewish faith women can become rabbis and do not sit apart from men. Contrary to Marxist views that religion suppresses people attempts to change their situation, religion can sometimes provide an impetus for change (Queen bloody shame 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 demo (i.e. war in the name of Religion).The subject of the family and how it is defined is extremely problematic 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 is 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 see 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 different to the three main Political Parties (Labour, Conservative and Liberal) in Britain each has its own agenda, but are all are equally as indirect I am more incline d to opt for the Feminist and Marxist theories as they seem more plausible and are more comparative degree to past history and present day findings. I also believe that as societies cultures change through time, so will our definition of family, religion and society.