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Structural Functionalism In The Film A Class Divided

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In Symbolic interactionism, it is believed that race and ethnicity are socially constructed through interactions between individuals, where individuals give meaning to symbols, language and signs through daily social interactions. From the documentary “A Class Divided”, the symbolic interactionist theory can be seen through the blue-eyed and brown-eyed experiment conducted by Jane Elliott. Her experiment divided her class according to their eye color and treated them differently based on this physical characteristic. This experiment showed how easily individuals are able to make judgments based on physical characteristics and how these judgments can shape how we interact with others. The blue-eyed children felt inferior and discriminated against, while the brown-eyed children felt superior, demonstrating the power of these labels in shaping social interactions.

The Conflict theory argues that race and ethnicity are the result of unequal distribution of power, wealth, and resources. It asserts that racial and ethnic inequality is not a natural but a socially constructed concept that is maintained through laws, policies, and social institutions that reinforce the status quo. In the film “A Class Divided”, the conflict theory is evident in the racial and ethnic discrimination …show more content…

It views society as a system of interrelated parts such as the family, the government, the economy, and religion. In the film, “A Class Divided”, structural functionalism is seen through the function of schools in perpetuating racial discrimination. Schools are intended to provide students with equal opportunities for education and advancement. However, in the film, the schools function to help maintain white supremacy by teaching racial stereotypes and excluding non-white students from equal opportunities. This reinforces social inequality and perpetuates the status

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The example from the movie would be the courtroom if anything. The court in the town, which they never had until people started changing colors, is basically one big interrelated system. The final theoretical perspective from the movie would be the biggest one, which is Conflict Theory. According to the textbook, Conflict Theory is theoretical framework that sees society as divided by inequality and conflict. There are plenty of examples of this from the movie.

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Moreover, according to Cohen, society is basically a “pyramid structure…so 90 percent of the world's population is (a) potential ally, (and) therefore it’s very important to think in a coalitional way and look at how these things intersect” (5). It is also essential to recognize that “social identities are not fixed” and that science’s “reliance on the null hypothesis” can be misleading (8,9). Thus, the author urges psychologists and sociologists to “develop a more sophisticated and interdisciplinary understanding of historical and sociological aspects of the social construction of race, gender, class and other categories of identity, difference and disadvantage” (10). By employing this intersectional methodolgy, society will be able to broaden these coalitions and begin to address the most marginalized of

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846 Words | 4 Pages

Tatum uses the conflict theory to look at racism, economic and social inequalities. The power structure of the white dominant society in the United States, does not often recognize white privilege, while others do not believe this is a privilege at all. They believe that the power structure in the United States is one that if you work hard, everyone will have the same opportunity for success. This is an example of how white privilege helps racism to continue to exist. The inability to recognize white privilege helps to creates perception and ideals that racism in our society is a thing of the past.

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In society, people would usually associate with others who are the most similar to them since they tend to feel more comfortable around them. For instance, in the book “To Kill a Mockingbird”, is a story of Mayella Ewell who is a poor, white woman living in a racist environment during the 1930s. Some people will say that Mayella isn’t sincerely powerful and others might disagree. On the contrary, Mayella doesn’t have much capability when it comes down to her low financial status and her gender; however, her race is what makes her highly powerful. Mayella lives in a tremendously poor neighborhood since she “lived behind the town garbage dump”.

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This simple nine word quotation from Matshona Dhliwayo summarizes much of what Jane Elliot has spent her entire career trying to get people to understand. Watching the film, The Essential Blue Eyed, gave me an entirely new perspective on racism and in truth, showed how ignorant I had been. Jane Elliot is able to give study participants and viewers a completely new perspective on the social construction of race. According to the University of Minnesota, race refers to a category of people that share physical characteristics such as facial features and skin color (UMN 1).

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The author's emphasis on the effects of race and racial identity on people and their lives is perceptive and thought-provoking, and it offers a helpful framework for more investigation and studies in this field. In addition to highlighting the significance of power and inequality in influencing our experiences and perspectives, the author's use of the symbolic interactionist perspective offers insightful information about how race and racial identity contribute to ongoing injustices and inequalities. Anyone who wants to learn more about the complexity of race and racism should read this book. Tatum also skillfully shows the realities of racial tension and prejudice in America through personal tales and instances. This serves as a potent reminder of the need for ongoing work to create a more just and equitable society.

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The social structural perspective is a theory that takes an in-depth look as to how these subsystems can affect an individual or a group. It is important to view how certain structures can empower or disempower the persons within the community. In short, the individuals and the structures within it work in conjunction with one another and

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Throughout history, race has been an ongoing theme. Race was used to define a person as well as the rights that they held. People of races other than white were given little to none respect and were not treated as human beings but instead property. It was a constant battle between races, therefore forming a them versus us society. Through history there were many people who were treated based off their race, there were many different government made laws and documents that defined and laid out the rights of those certain races.

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The documentary stated that racism is still very much prevalent today, but that it has become something that isn’t always spoken about, and events such as the race riot of May 31, 1921 have been swept under the rug. I believe that unlike other social problems that can be explained by the functionalist theory, and social interactionism, conflict theory best helps us understand racism. Conflict theory is a sociological theory that was Karl Marx theorized and published in 1848. Conflict theory states that the reason

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The Blind Side is explored and defined through several different messages. Views on race are examined and thoroughly described through the sociological concepts; Minority group, racial minority group, prejudice, stereotypes and differential in power. Throughout the entire movie an example that was presented in a sociological perspective is minority group; Experiences systematic advantages and has visible identifying trait. The group is self- conscious, and membership is usually determined at birth (Healey, Pg.9).

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Struggle is human. Sometimes the universe gives out more than people think they can handle. However, if they keep fighting, a break will come. In the 1920s, prejudice was a significant problem in America. People of color had to work twice as hard just to receive less opportunities than the average white man.

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Social Construction of Race Race shapes individuals identity whether consciously or not. It determines the way others perceive us and how we perceive others based on skin color, characteristics, and stereotypes that are created by society. However, race is not an objective truths, but rather a subjective illusion created by society. Haney Lopez dives deeper into socially constructed race and determines that biological races are false, and social race exist as a social phenomenon.

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103 Words | 1 Pages

Conflict theory has been used to describe the discrepancies in power and distribution of resources among the dominate group and the subordinate groups. Racial inequalities and racism among the groups has played a big role in the concept of conflict theory. Conflict theory examines the rising conflict between the dominate group, or white ruling class, and racial minorities, such as African Americans. This conflict and inequality among the races may be a reason why 20.2 percent of African American males die by homicide. In fact, African Americans are six times as likely as whites to be killed by homicide.

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As in Marx’s analysis of capitalist society, in the film we can clearly see how the bourgeois classes maintain their lifestyle by exploiting and mistreating the workers. The workers cannot be distinguished, they don't have an identity and a individuality, they are identified only by numbers. The capitalists live in luxurious spaces above ground, while the workers live beneath the surface of the ground, in miserable houses. Those factors point out the dissimilarities of the two classes, which bring us to the conclusion that there will always be an inevitable conflict between them.

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Throughout history social scientists have been trying to examine the different parameters of race in terms of phenotypic characteristics, and cultural behaviors regarding the different groups that society construct’s. legally judges have had different rulings regarding the categorization of different ethnicities and groups within the United States. Many philosophers such as Kwame Appiah, and Scientists such as Dr. James Watson have had opposing arguments on the topic of race and whether it exists or not. In order to do so we need to examine the different definitions of race, and analyze them in order to see how race is a social construct, where people’s notions of race and their interactions with different races determine the way they perceive

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