Help on my Sociology Final Exam Essay?

Question

This is the essay part of the exam. Can you help me out some?

Pick two of the following and analyze them from the three dominant sociological perspectives:

1. family

2. education

3. social stratification

4. medicine

I appreciate it thanks!

Answer 1

Sure, the four major sociological theories are: conflict (Marx), functional(Durkheim), Veber(Structural) and symbolic interactionism(Simmel) or perhaps three if you call it structural-functionalism.  

1) Family= best would be symbolic interactionism because this is micro level sociology.  Small interactions between groups are used in one's socialization.  Generally it is the family where one learns about culture, norms, mores, values, politics, opinions.  With respect to politcis the family is the major factor in determinig one's political ideology, although there are other factors, such as: media, education, etc.  

2) Education= easy the conflict theory, if a person has more natural resources they will have a better education while a poor person will have bad education.  With respect to property taxes, if an area is very wealth and can collect a l;ot of tax revenues the school will be good and will probably have better students.  In a poor area, less tax revenue means poorer schools and worse students.  You can also talk about the structure and the functions of everyone in the school district, such as superintendent, teachers and students, and taxpayers.  

3)Social Stratification= inequality, more resources the better one will be where as the poor person will be more isolated and depressed.  Most money will get best products.  There will always be conflicts due to unequal access to scarce resources and those who have the power will do whatever it takes to maintain that power.  Veber defined power as the ability to have influence over others.  The giant social structure fosters and legitinmizes the inequality.  

4)Medicine= same as education, those with the most money will receive the best medical care and those who are poor cannot.