Sociological paradigms and their theoretical frameworks

Sociology -- Theoretical Paradigms

The Structural-Functionality of the Poor and Poverty

In the study of sociology, three classical paradigms dominate the process of sociological analysis: structural-functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist theories. The structural-functionalist paradigm posits that individuals and groups in the society play specific roles in society that creates equilibrium to society's dysfunctions. The conflict theory, meanwhile, states that there exists, inevitably, oppression in the society, which results to a struggle by the oppressed group and social revolution that shall create reforms or changes in the society. Lastly, symbolic interactionism theorizes that symbols are the basis of life, and it is through interaction of these symbols that people reach an understanding of what s/he is and how society perceives him/her.

Given this set of paradigms in the study of sociology, this paper utilizes the structural-functionalist paradigm to discuss and analyze the role that the poor and poverty play in societies today. In discussing this issue, the researcher uses as primary reference Herbert Gans' (1971) article entitled, "The Uses of Poverty: the Poor Pay All." Using the various functions that Gans enumerates in his article, this paper posits that the poor and poverty play a vital role in stabilizing the social norms and structure of contemporary society.

As primary units of analysis, three articles derived from major online newspapers, which are the following: New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. Each online article discusses, in one way or other, issues concerning poverty, as well as the dysfunctions that the media presents as the result of the existence of the poor sector and poverty in society.

The New York Times article entitled, "Free care for the poor varies widely in Nassau," discusses the study conducted in Nassau County, which identifies 12 local hospitals "showing a wide range in the amount of free treatment given to poor patients." The article reports further that Nassau University Medical Center, the only public hospital in Nassau, has a "historic mission of caring for persons regardless of ability to pay." This fact supports Nassau's law that mandates hospitals to offer free care and availability of application for individuals who need to avail of the hospital's free services.

This facet of the existence of the poor sector and poverty in the society, the provision of free health services for the poor, is a function of poverty, according to Gans. He elucidates that "the poor help to keep the aristocracy busy ... thus justifying its continued existence. "Society" uses the poor as clients of settlement houses and beneficiaries of charity affairs; indeed, the aristocracy must have the poor to demonstrate its superiority..." Thus, the New York Times article reflects how the poor, in the context of health services, are used to create a positive image of hospitals, particularly public hospitals, and how the act of giving ("charity") becomes positive and admirable.

In the second article, from USA Today, the report talks about the prevalence of poppy farming in Afghanistan, an industry that promotes drug production in the country. Poppy cultivation in Afghanistan flourishes because society benefits from it, poor people who have no means to earn an income or to support their everyday living. Furthermore, Afghanistan's economy has already gained $2.5 billion from the said industry, which, according to the report, is already equivalent to "a third of its economy." Escape from poverty, apparently, made poppy cultivation and drug production develop in Afghanistan.

Looking at the said report on a structural-functionalist view, it can be said that Afghanistan, as a poor country, functions for the world as a model of a society that should not be admired at. This is because, Gans explicates, the poor is the sector of the society that is able to conduct "uninhibited sexual, alcoholic, and narcotic behavior," characteristics that serve to reiterate the goodness of conforming to the norms set/imposed by society -- which, in particular, includes non-participation in the drug trade because of its adverse results to the health of the individual.

Lastly, the LA Times article about Africa's poor communities in Congo, wherein people earn 65 cents a day -- an income amount that is way below World Bank's lowest projected income amount, $2/day. Because of poverty, Congo residents have barely enough food to eat in a day, and even suffer in health because of lack of proper diet.