Sociological Perspectives: Functional Analysis, Conflict Theory And Symbolic Interactionism

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An abstract This article looks at social exclusion from three major sociological perspectives: functional analysis, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism. In doing so, it aims to examine with empirical cases and past practice from different scholars to observe which sociological perspectives can provide the clearest vantage to better understand the origins of the concept of social exclusion. Introduction In the twenty-first century, the world which actively advocating social harmony, everyone makes concerted efforts to build up a harmonious, stable and equal community. However, Social exclusion, how hard we are trying to deny it, as viewed as the features of all hierarchies (Pocock, 1957, P.19), has been part of us to tackle. As Mathieson …show more content…

It looks at which groups have benefit and power from an exclusive social order and then use their power to control the institutions of society for their advantage. However, they assumed that society divided into two main classes of people: the haves and have-nots. Symbolic Interactionism Symbolic Interactionist Perspective emphasizes that human behavior is influenced by meanings created via symbolic interaction with others. Thomas (1966) asserted that human would more focus on the definition of a situation rather than the objective of situation. So, he inferred that what we define as real will become real as a result. However, it also believes that self-identity and sense are shaped by social interaction self-concept is developed by how others interact with us and label us. The scope of Social Exclusion In fact, there are broad scope of social exclusion. Nevertheless, some scholars tried to make clear for those. Silver (1994) emphasized that people could be excluded from a livelihood, consumption level education, skills, citizenship participation in the democratic process, the dominant race, ethnicity, class, sociability etc. …show more content…

However, Parker (2012) argued that discrimination and prejudice, share important relations with the production of dominants (p.166). Hook & Vrdoljak (2002) pointed out that one of examples of racial exclusion is a gated community (p.208). Flusty (2004) stated that gates can safeguard those insider by excluding those outsider such as fences across Israel and fences between the United States and Mexico. Eisenberger and Lieberman (2004) raised up a pain overlap theory (P.297). Yet, MacDonald and Leary (2005) reflected that social pain of exclusion are functional in responding to danger and guiding social groups from threats (p.223). Symbolic Interactionism by other scholars Blumer (1986) alleged that racial and ethnic exclusion is formed via interactions between the dominant groups. However, dominants would not hold racial and ethnic views without interactions. So, these interactions conduce to an imagery of the subordinates which allows the dominants to support its view of the subordinates, thus maintain the status quo.

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