Racial And Gender Inequality: Functionalist Theory

Racial and Gender Inequality
Functionalist Theory Racial inequality evaluated through the functionalist theory would be looked at to provide a function to the working system of a society. One function for racial inequality could be that the inferior race, prefers or needs direction by the dominant race. This was a common view in the enslavement of blacks in the south before the civil war. Another functionalist view might try to explain that the inferior race is in fact dangerous to mix with the dealing of the dominant race. This is an excuse for redlining, a process in which mortgage companies and banks outline neighborhoods that are black dominant. These red outlines were areas that were denied mortgages and loans, although most protagonist of redlining view it as a way to keep the black from owning homes. Gender inequality through the functionalist theory is seen as important to society because it has stood
The conflict within the inequality keeps order in society.

Interactionist Theory Interaction theory looks at topics of society through the small interactions between individual people. Race through the lens of interactionism provides a label of identity and relationships. People tend to find safety with individuals of their same race, and they also tend to follow those of their own race. Without the interactions of people within their race, there would be no racism and thus no racial inequalities. Gender inequality through the interactionist theory analyzes interactions between same gender and opposing genders. The same sort of interactions within races, happen within genders. Women complain to women about men and men complain to men about women. Stereotypes are made and with men being the dominant group from the beginning of time, they stayed there through suppression of the inferior group, women.