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Functionalist Perspective To Racism

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Priscilla Nina Dr. Nottingham Intro to Sociology 4/15/2017 Functionalism debates that every aspect of a society takes part in keeping that society stable and functioning properly. If this is accurate, racism must benefit our society in some way because it has endured for as long as our American society has existed. We can focus this argument on the way racism is functional for the dominant group, for example, we can apply the functionalist perspective to racism when “we discuss the way racism can contribute positively to the functioning of society by strengthening bonds between in-group members through the ostracism of out-group members. The community might increase its solidarity by refusing to allow outsiders access” (Nash). Another function …show more content…

Folkway allows for social interactions and through repetition over time becomes routine. Folkways allow us to distinguish between rude and polite behavior, they apply social pressure on us to act and interact in certain ways, but they do not have moral significance. Raising your hand to ask a question when taking turns in a group or saying please and thank you after someone does you a favor are great examples of Folkways, it is kind of expected but not that big of an issue if you forget or chose not to do it. Mores are stricter than folkways, it embodies what is considered moral and ethical behavior; they create what we consider the differences between right and wrong. When people violate Mores, it makes a very strong impression on others and typically results in disapproval or ostracizing. As such, mores hold greater weight in shaping our values, beliefs, behavior, and interactions than do folkways. Cheating on your spouse or “the belief that forms of discrimination and oppression, like racism and sexism, are unethical is a great example of mores today in our society” (Crossman). Then there is law the only one that is considered a formal norm because it is written into law at the state or federal level and is enforced by police or the FBI. These laws are put into place to protect society from harm or injury by holding people accountable for violating these norms which has been accept to keep us safe. “Those who enforce laws have been given legal right by a government to control behavior for the good of society at large” (Crossman). When someone violates a law, it can be something as light as paying a fine or as severe as imprisonment. So, anything from speeding to killing someone depending on the severity of the action. Now it is not always easy to

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The major thesis in this book, are broken down into two components. The first is how we define racism, and the impact that definition has on how we see and understand racism. Dr. Beverly Tatum chooses to use the definition given by “David Wellman that defines racism as a system of advantages based on race” (1470). This definition of racism helps to establish Dr. Tatum’s theories of racial injustice and the advantages either willingly or unwillingly that white privilege plays in our society today. The second major thesis in this book is the significant role that a racial identity has in our society.

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All individuals have certain social roles that when working together, form society, this allows for there to be inequality amongst individuals. Functionalism also says that social order is maintained through public consensus. So, the adjustments that the public makes in response to deviant behavior, allow for change within this theory. About Mean Girls, functionalist would view all the different groups in this movie as necessary to the functionality of high school. There are many different groups in the movie, for example the lunchroom scene shows us these separate groups.

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Breaking norms not only affect the person doing it, but everyone around us and the reaction of the victims might be harmful to us. It is difficult to break them because of what others are going to think and do about it. Folkways may be easier to violate then others because if people do not follow them there is no big deal about it. For example me standing and facing everyone in the elevator is violating a folkway it is easier to violate because there is no formal punishment for it. On the other hand, I had violated a more I could have a serious problem with the law.

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