preview

Comparing Functionalism And Symbolic Interactionalism

Decent Essays

Deviance in sociology is defined as behaviour that violates or goes against the cultural norm –being non-normative (Henslin et al., 2013)
Using the Mainstream Australia’s view of Aboriginals and the significant disparity in their quality of education, health and socio-economic status compared to that of Non- Indigenous Australians; this essay will be unpacking how Functionalism and Symbolic interactionalism view and understand deviance and the difference in views between the two paradigms. Functionalists believing that deviance is present in all cultures and thus serves a crucial role in the interconnected machine that is society while Symbolic Interactionists argue that deviance is relative and created through the labels particular cultures place on certain behaviour.

Functionalism in sociology is a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as a complex system composed of various parts that …show more content…

A functionalist views deviance as a “failure to live up to norms that are institutionalised in a society” (Wright and Randall, 1978). French Sociologist Emile Durkheim spearheaded the development of this theory as well as argue that deviance plays a necessary role in society; to clarify norms and moral boundaries, strengthen connections between people reacting towards deviance as well as promote positive changes in society (Macionis and Gerber, 2011). Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders have faced an extensive history of discrimination and egregious treatment; from forced displacement, due to European Colonisation in 1788 to the systematic racial cleansing of 1951 via the Assimilation Act (Armitage Andrew, 1995). The significant disparity in

Get Access