Question

Three Sociological Paradigms

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Let’s assume that a “welfare stigma” exists in American society. Many people have a perception that welfare recipients are “lazy” and that they “steal” the tax money. People also believe that welfare recipients make babies to stay on welfare instead of working. In fact, most welfare recipients are children, the elderly, the sick, the mentally and physically handicapped or young mothers with few skills. Explain why this “welfare stigma” exists by using TWO of the three sociological paradigms, structural functionalism, social conflict paradigm, and symbolic interactionism.

Answer 1

Conflict theory suggests that the society is in a perpetual conflict for the limited resources available where social order is maintained not through consensus but through domination. This would mean that people would think of others as stealing or taking away their own resources without any need to earn it. This would mean that the tax money is spent on those who do not deserve it since others work hard and pay for them. Structural functionalism suggests that the society is a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. This would mean that everyone in the society depend on each other and that when people could work and contribute to the welfare of others, they can expect the same when they have no means for survival due to unemployment or sickness. Thus, it’s the responsibility of those who can to help those who do not thus, creating synergy in the system.

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