Monday, February 21, 2011

Rewards, Worth, and Functionalism

By:  Jamie Gusrang

In any introductory sociology course, students are taught about the three main sociological perspectives: conflict theory, functionalism, and symbolic interactionism. These perspectives seek to make sense of our complex social world. Of the three, it seems that functionalism is the most outdated and does not adequately address the growing inequality in our society.

Functionalists believe that society is a system made-up of interworking parts, and that each part is needed to keep society functioning. We each fulfill necessary social roles and are rewarded for our work according to how much we contribute to society.  In other words, if we're "worth" more to society, we are given greater rewards (i.e. pay, status, etc) for our work.  This may have been true at one time, but how would functionalists explain things like like cast of "Jersey Shore?"


Recent reports claim that cast-members make $30,000 an episode, far more than many working and even middle class people make in an entire year.  It would be hard to argue that these reality TV stars are "worth" more to society than police officers, firefighters, nurses, and teachers, which begs the question, are we really rewarded based on our worth, and is functionalism really relevant in the age of reality television, YouTube, and instant celebrity? While I'm not proposing we do away with reality TV or pay everyone the same salary, I am suggesting that as a culture, we reevaluate our priorities from time to time and really think about what we value and how we reward those within our society.

21 comments:

  1. I totally agree with you. I believe as people we forget what is really important in life and that we are basically giving money away to people just for entertainment, and it's families out here that don't have money to eat and buy the basic's.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't watch a lot of Jersey Shore but some of their episodes are quite entertaining and funny. I never thought much about how they are getting paid for it. Now that I know and to relate the show with other people who work so much more harder and dangerous things for out society, it makes me feel sad. It seems unfair and very unfortunate for those families with no money like Latifa Durham said. Also, students like me who is living on their own paying all of their own bills.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I defiantly agree with you. I find it unfair that there are so many people who provide important services for our country but are severely underpaid, while the cast members of Jersey Shore are being paid
    30, 000 dollars an episode.

    Police offers, for instance protect citizens from crimes and help lower the crime rates.
    However, in Camden, the city with the second highest crime rate has recently fired a large part of their police forces due to budget cuts from the government. The government was force to fire police officers, because they could not afford to pay their salaries. So Camden offices are unemployed, and the city is unsafe, but it’s okay, because the Jersey Shore crew is being paid 30,000 dollars and episode to get drunk, have sex, and go tanning.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I kind of agree with Thu with watching it and how entertaining it is, but it's what the masses want. The country demands reality tv shows, and mtv fills that need. Mtv is own a supply and demand purpose olny. If 30,000 per episode is too much just think what the "Real World" cast recevied or other reality shows that ran for many years.
    Of course, there is better ways to give out money, but it's what we want as viewers. We can easily stop watching reality tv which then make them think of something else to come up with.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Carl, you make a great point. We, as consumers/viewers, do have a lot of power.

    I'm not discounting the "need for reality TV (I watch a bit of it myself), but rather want us to consider the utility of the functionalist perspective's notion that we are rewarded according to our societal worth. There are examples, especially within entertainment, that suggest that we've gotten away from rewarding based on worth. It could also be that our priorities have changed and that entertainment really is worth that much :o)

    ReplyDelete
  6. While I do not watch "Jersey Shore" I do watch other reality shows that I find entertaining. However, I wonder about the young and naive minds that may consider getting drunk every night and fighting for $30,000 an episode rather than being a college graduate and making maybe $30,000 a year. Many of societies views of entertainment are quite pathetic in my opinion, once hard working and respected professionals are turning to ridiculous public stunts for attention that will hopefully bring them more income. Soon becoming a doctor will not be enough you will have to be a doctor on tv.

    ReplyDelete
  7. If functionalist is a way for society to keep functioning, why does social society watch reality shows like “Jersey Shore” or “Skins?” Younger and younger generations are watching reality shows, teaching society that it’s ok to go out drink and get drunk, party and get into fights. Young teens go out and duplicate the casts in the show so they can have the Jersey Shore life. I have younger cousins who throw up their fits and do the so called “fit pump” when there is some kind of techno music on or even do the “t-shirt time” which is the shirt before the shirt that you change to when it is time to go out. Even though it’s entertaining and funny, this show is expressing to viewers not to work harder. How do people in a show who party get drunk and work in a t-shirt store for a few hours a week making more than a doctor, police officers and teachers who help people have a better life. The show is giving viewers the wrong concept of life, which is partying, tanning, drinking equals happiness and money.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I also don't watch "Jersey Shore" and agree with Jessica's comment that television shows like the "Jersey Shore" beings mix signals to young veiwers. In a sense young viewers are learning bad behaviors and ideas from shows that changes their idea in life. Since the cast members on "Jersey Shore" makes $30,000 an epidsode for doing nothing but acting silly and drunk then why does anyone have to work so hard to make ends meat if all they have to do is get into the entertainment career rather then going to get a better education. Our society is changing so much because young people don't value hard work as much as they use too. For instance on the MTV show "Sweet Sixteen" young teens are given a huge and expensive sweet sixteen birthday party, brand new car, and expernsive jewelary etc. because they know their spoiled to the point where their parents give them anthing they want without any expectations.

    ReplyDelete
  9. wonderful issues altogether, you just gained a brand new reader.

    What may you suggest in regards to your publish that you just made a few days in the past?
    Any positive?

    Feel free to visit my blog post - ミュウミュウ靴

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's an amazing post in favor of all the online visitors; they will get advantage from it I am sure.

    Check out my page :: fake ray bans

    ReplyDelete
  11. What i do not realize is in truth how you are no longer really much more well-appreciated than you
    may be right now. You are very intelligent. You already know therefore considerably in the case of this subject, made
    me in my opinion consider it from a lot of various angles.

    Its like women and men don't seem to be fascinated until it is one thing to accomplish with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs nice. All the time maintain it up!

    My blog post; fake ray bans

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello, yup this article is really nice and I have learned lot of things from it
    regarding blogging. thanks.

    Feel free to surf to my blog post: http://bambel.ba.funpic.de/portal/index.php?option=com_akobook&Itemid=25

    ReplyDelete
  13. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as
    though you relied on the video to make your point. You obviously know what youre
    talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos
    to your site when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?


    Also visit my page - コーチ アウトレット

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on ppc coach. Regards

    Here is my web site ... コーチ

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi there Dear, are you genuinely visiting this web page daily, if so afterward
    you will without doubt get good experience.

    Here is my weblog: トリーバーチ

    ReplyDelete
  16. Excellent article. Keep posting such kind of information on your blog.
    Im really impressed by it.
    Hello there, You have performed an incredible job. I will certainly digg it and in my opinion recommend to my
    friends. I'm sure they will be benefited from this site.

    Also visit my web blog; クロエ バッグ 新作

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hello there! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog.
    Is it hard to set up your own blog? I'm not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I'm thinking about making my own but I'm not sure where to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Thanks

    My weblog :: トリーバーチ

    ReplyDelete
  18. I seriously love your site.. Great colors & theme. Did you develop
    this site yourself? Please reply back as I'm planning to create my very own site and would love to find out where you got this from or what the theme is named. Appreciate it!

    Here is my web blog - http://www.christianlouboutinoutletstorex2013.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. It's in reality a nice and useful piece of info. I'm happy that you shared this useful information with us.
    Please stay us informed like this. Thank you
    for sharing.

    Also visit my blog goji berry (robbreportkorea.com)

    ReplyDelete
  20. But there are some words that could be said in defense
    of this sport. ufc 174 live stream free For most followers,
    asking these type of issues is each challenging, and unnecessary.
    Muay Thai is trained to improve the striking aspect of the clinch.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hello, i think that i saw you visited my site thus i cme
    to �return the favor�.I am trying to find things
    to improve my website!I suppose its ok to use some of your
    ideas!!

    My web siteon Adf.ly Earnings Booster

    ReplyDelete