Name: Didintle Madidimalo

Student no. 36444588

Activity 2: study unit 1.2

Due 12 March 2021

Write in your own words in 300 words or less.

­Compare and contrast two theoretical approaches to social problems

In this learning activity, one will be contrasting and criticizing structural-functionalist theory and postmodernism theory. These two theories have contrasting definitions when it comes to theoretical approaches to social problems, essentially making a spectrum out of all these theories.

 Structuralism at its core strives for dynamic equilibrium and prioritizes the state and needs of society as a whole instead of looking out for an individuals’ needs and view. This system is governed by the notion that society is made up of absolute and we all know it and follow suit. Examples of this are in social structures like families, gender, and the law. When one is living under structuralism one is made to believe that a family is made up of a male, female, and children (one might back this view up with the scientific fact that only males and females should reproduce). Structuralism tends to present a binary (one or the other, no in-between) pattern when it comes to issues; like gender and the law. These binary patterns tend to have an influence on our way of thinking as a society and place limits on all our thoughts around these topics. For example, women are seen and accepted as feminine and those who are not are automatically condemned and views are deviants.

When it comes to postmodernism deviation is the main essence of this theory. Postmodernism, ambiguous as it may be, challenges structuralism by proposing the notion that there are no absolutes in life; that just because things are the way they are they should stay the way they are. This approach allows us to open our way of thinking and demolish institutionalized ways of thinking. Only then can we see that gender is fluid, family has no specific structure (e.g homosexual courtships and friends) and the law is not all black and white.