Sociology: A Down-To-Earth Approach: Core Concepts

Focusing its analysis on functional and dysfunctional aspects of the relationships seen throughout society, the theory of functional analysis holds a perspective that emphasizes the connections between groups in society, and how they influence one another (Henslin, James M. Sociology : A Down-to-Earth Approach : Core Concepts.). Being categorized as a woman throughout my life has affected my role in society most dramatically. The functionalist perspective embodies how my gender has influenced my identity, household, oppurtunities, religion, and how my role in these groups has influenced the society I live in.

My gender most drastically affects my self identification, from the way I dress, to the way I act. Seconds after being born, I was

Throughout elementary and middle school, all my teachers were women. When I entered high school, I noticed there were a lot more male teachers than in my middle school. Freshman year, three of my seven teachers we men. Not long ago, the majority of teachers in high school were men, however women have been balancing that statistic, in order to help achieve homeostasis in our society. Women make up 97.2% of preschool, and kindergarten teachers, 71.9% of elementary, and middle school teachers. And 53% of secondary school teachers (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Data about Men Teachers”). These statistics show that men are least to teach preschool, kindergarten. I never realized it then, but looking back on it now the reason there were less men teachers in lower grade levels is because the content of those classes are less difficult. Men used to be the only people to get an education, but today we have women giving an education, which proves the functionalist perspective. Things have changed a lot since the times when men were the only educated people, today both boys and girls go to school. However there are still aspects of school that are very male dominated, in my high school engineering class I was one of two girls in the class of thirty kids. This resulted in me feeling timid, and less likely to participate. I figured if I was didn 't know something, or did something wrong, the boys in the class would think it was because I was a girl. While this is not

In conclusion, being a female member of society leaves me with a completely different life experience than my male counterparts. My gender has heavily influenced everything from my identity, role in the family, opportunities, and views on religion. This belief is universal to women throughout the world, today’s women face a different struggle than the women of the 1960’s suffrage movement; access to education on social issues such as gender roles, identity, and stereotypes. Today’s women are choosing to defy the stereotypes surrounding appearance and body image. The body positivity movement is something that has impacted millions of women in an overwhelmingly positive way; allowing women to love themselves as they are instead of letting their insecurities tear them apart. The media has even begun to promote body positivity, self love, and more gender neutral representation of women. Television shows such as “Orange is the New Black” and “The Fosters” help defy the stereotype of heterosexuality that young women are exposed to, allowing LGBT women to feel less ostracized due to their lack of presence in the media. Functionalism is working to tear down the ideological walls that surround binary gender identity. Now more than ever women are rising up against the status quo and are establishing themselves as the head of their household, earning higher wages, and choosing not to have children. For the first time in history male homemakers are becoming prevalent, and