Social Paper

Data Workshop Assignment
Throughout this paper I will show the three different sociological perspectives on the U.S. Military. I will address the structural functionalism, conflict theory and the symbolic interactionism within the military. By applying the three sociological perspectives to the military it will show how the military plays a big role in our society.
The main functions of the US military are to protect and serve the American people. Society depends on the military to provide safety amongst the American people as well as be a defending symbolic icon. These functions display a major role in society to ensure justice and maintain stability and order. All U.S. Military work as deterrent against any group or country from doing harm to U.S citizens. A manifest function of the military is to protect the nation. An example of latent function would be the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. I believe this represents a latent function because we still have troops on the ground but with no resolution or end to the conflict. With no end in sight our troops are then coming back from wars or also known as “hot zones” and significantly being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder which is a crippling disorder for any person coming back from the military. The U.S. Military works around a complex set of rules and system. Some inequalities that are displayed through mass media and other types of social network are the issues of an individual’s sexuality and gender. Men who identify themselves as homosexuals have been targeted and socially ranked lower in class. A personal example of sexual inequality within the military would be my friend who is in the military and is a open homosexual and is viewed and looked upon not as socially accepted. Due to this major inequality within the military he has not been viewed for any type of promotions and not even a candidate for a higher rank. It’s a frustrating situation to watch a close friend go through especially when he