Sociology Final Paper

Sociology 201 Final

1. Page 66, #2 How social structure supports poverty Social and cultural

Social class in Canada is structured in a way that makes inequality a social problem. There are two main theories that try to discuss the social causes of inequality, both the structural functionalism and the conflict theory. Inequality is a social problem, one that seems to not have an end.

The Structural Functionalist is actually not that torn over inequality. They argue that, if poverty serves a function in society, they it is good, so long as it contributes to a functioning society. They argue that some of the tougher positions in the working world wouldn’t have been filled if there wasn’t incentive (not being poor) to work. (Fleras, 2005, p. 61) This, in turn makes me think of the rich benefiting off the poor, and that is something that seems to be staying as long as there is a big social gap between the bourgeois and the proletarian.

Conflict theorists seem to be advocating the opposite of the functionalists. Their idea of poverty is strictly negative, and they wish to get rid of it entirely. They believe that, as long as there are bodies in power that support the private sector, the rich will always be exploiting the poor. They also believe that poverty is socially perpetuated, as our society operates in a way (capitalism) that will never allow us to break the poverty problem. (Fleras, 2005, p. 63)

Both theories like to think of it as a never-ending problem, and it’s looking that way too. Poverty is perpetuated by the bourgeois in attempt to keep a hold onto their dominant power over the proletarian, and it seems that, despite the intentions, both theories agree. Wouldn’t it be nice if poverty wasn’t self-perpetuating?

4. Page 382-385, 3 Environmental Problems and the social causes

Contrary to what many believe, Canada is actually not doing too well environmentally. First, we have one of the most lax carbon emission regulations of the...