Structural Functionalism

The wage gap is a prevalent issue among women, especially women of color in the U.S. Wage gaps are a part of the structural oppression women of color have faced for centuries. Going back in time, women’s oppression has been relevant as early as this earth was created. Women are seen as the care-givers. They are supposed to clean the house, cook the food, and take care of the children. Women back in the day rarely had a job or an education. As young girls they were taught how to take care of household duties and perform as a wife. A lot of people say that this is a girls training when she’s young to become a housewife. My mother told me when she was younger, her and her sisters were taught to do all of the household chores while her brother …show more content…
Functionalist have a negative view of social change, if there should be change it should be evolutionary. They also stress values that separate people into groups. They believe that the acts of people in a society contributes to existence of a unity. Robert Merton addressed some of the weaknesses within structural functionalism by criticizing universal functionalism, the belief that all systems have a positive function. He also criticized the belief that indispensable institutions were necessary to society. He made functional alternatives, different ways to structure a society by adding important concepts to structural functionalism. These concepts consist of manifest and latent functions; they can either be positive functions or negative dysfunctions. Manifest functions are always the anticipated and intended consequence. Latent functions are always the unanticipated and unintended …show more content…
It can also possibly explain the positive side of the wage gap for women of color. A manifest dysfunction that the wage gap has caused for women of color is women are paid less than men. Its harder for women especially, women of color to attain high positions in high paying jobs such as a CEO. This manifest function is shown in the government, where white men are dominating and the women who hold seats are mainly white. A few women of color hold seats in the government but it is very rare and harder to attain compared to a white woman. A latent dysfunction for wage gaps for women of color is the increased instability for women of color and stereotypes. Its more common to see a woman of color compared to white women live in poverty so, being paid less adds to the stress of carrying out the 1st shift and 2nd shift. This can lead to mental illness such as depression. Women of color working in these low wage industries are more likely to be harassed and face discrimination, such as being called a “Welfare

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Essay on Structural Functionalism

Examples Of Structural Functionalism