Social+Theory

Social Theory

Structural-Functional Approach- A framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

Example: The faculty at Olive's highschool works together to promote a stable enviorment for the students. The teachers help the students learn material to be used in the future, the guidance counselor takes care of the social issues the students are faced with, and the principal enforeces the rules and provides punishment when the rules are broken.

Example: Olive's family is a unit to help each other grow. Olive's parents keep a stable environment where all of Olive's and her brother's needs are met. At the same time her parents also help to encourage Olive to grow into her own person but keep her grounded on what is really important in life. While having rules that keep Olive in her place, so she doesn't take on too much responsibility as a teenager.

Example: The social structure of the high school functions to promote conformity to cultural norms. For example, when Olive engages in promiscuous behavior and wears revealing clothing, her peers shun her and punish her behavior. In the same way, the school's social structure rewards good behavior. When Brandon tries to act like a heterosexual, his peers reward him by accepting him. Therefore the school is a complex system with implied social rules that dictate acceptable behavior.

Social Conflict Approach- A framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change.

Example: In society homosexuals and specifically Brandon are looked down upon for being this way and in the movie he pretends to be straight by "having sex" with Olive so that other people will accept him as normal.

Example: In society Olive is seen as a slut because she has had "sex" with multiple guys. Whereas when Brandon is seen to have had "sex" with Olive he receives praise from his peers. The two different viewpoints show major conflict in which encourages us to change the way we view the definition of slut.

Example: In this movie, men are encouraged to engage in sexual activity. On the other hand, girls are looked down upon if they have multiple sex partners. These stereotypes reinforces the conflict theory because it views society as unfair and unequal for different genders.

Brandon and Olive at the party before they pretend to have sex. So Brandon is no longer picked on.

Symbolic-Interaction Approach- A framework for building theory that sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of indiviudals.

Example: When Olive dresses with the "A" attatched to her promiscuous clothing it attatches the meaning to individuals that she is sleeping around

Example: When Marianne wears her cross necklace it symbolizes to everyone else that she is a Christian.

Example: Todd, the school mascot, represents the high school and symbolizes school spirit. The cross that Marianne is wearing symbolizes her religion.