Sexuality and Gender

andYou have just learned how single mothers in poverty and the school uniform debate would be analyzed using the three sociological perspectives. Drawing upon the responses of the students in the activity, identify the broad themes presented by the conflict, interactionist and functionalist theories.

The symbolic interactionist perspective
People thinking from the interactionist perspective consider the symbols and details of everyday life, what these symbols mean, and how people interact with each other.
The symbolic interactionist perspective
The interactionist perspective directs people to consider the symbols and details of everyday life, what these symbols mean, and how people interact with each other.
From the interactionist perspective, people attach meanings to symbols, and then they act according to their subjective interpretation of these symbols. For instance, Frank in the case of single mother's poverty, focus on the how perceptions of employer on employees' clothes, speech, ability and mannerism impact single mom's situation. For instance, Shannon focuses on human interaction, pointing out that uniforms may lead to a richer social life a schools as kids are less likely to be labeled and grouped according to what they wear.
The functionalist perspective
From functionalist perspective, each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society's functioning as a whole.
For instance, Ken focused on the function that low-wage earners serve in our society. If single moms are not getting paid enough to support their children, then the minimum wage should be raised.
This scenario is similar to another which also illustrates this perspective.The government, or state, provides education for the children of the family, which in turn pays taxes on which the state depends to keep itself running. That is, the family is dependent upon the school to help children grow up to have good jobs so that they can raise and support their own