Sociology Take Home Exam Essay

Samanthar Chiriso
u6669749

Question: Who are, according to you, the three most relevant theorists to study the legalization of
same-sex marriage and the debates surrounding it? Compare these perspectives.

Marriage is defined as the union between two members of the opposite sex, although the meaning
of marriage, includes procreation and building a family (Arroyo, 2018; Jowett, 2013). As
homosexuality has become more accepted, the traditional definition and meaning of marriage has
become an issue because as same-sex couples believe they have the right to get married (Arroyo,
2018; Haddad, 2016; Jowett, 2013). Within this essay, I aim to compare the perspectives of three
theorists, Robert Merton, Gabriel Tarde and Talcott Parsons that discuss about the emergence and
integration of social change using the example of the legalisation of same-sex marriage. With
Merton’s theory of reference group and relative deprivation, he believes when individuals compare
themselves to others, they can foster feelings of dissatisfaction, initiating social change (lecture 4).
Similarly, Tarde’s theory of imitation, involving concepts such as imitation, invention, opposition and
diffusion also describes how social change can emerge as well as how social change is integrated into
society (lecture 2). Parson’s theory of AGIL system and how social change is integrated into society
builds on Tarde’s concept of diffusion (lecture 5). Despite that each theory has a limitation, what
ones fails to explain another provides an explanation for. It is important to understand social change
such as the legalisation of same-sex marriage from a sociological perspective, as it not only provides
an explanation to how and why social change occurs, but it may also provide a way manage social
change in a positive way.

In the context of legalisation of same-sex marriage, Merton’s theory of reference group and relative
deprivation suggests how social change can emerge. As previously stated, marriage is defined as the
union between two members of the opposite sex (Arroyo, 2018). This definition of marriage
presents marriage as an activity reserved for a particular of group, of which does not include same-
sex couples. In fact, this is often the argument of those who oppose the legalisation of same-sex
marriage; they believe marriage should remain strictly between members of the opposite sex
(Jowett, 2013). This particular view on who should have the right to get married have mainly been
influence by religion. As some religions believe homosexuality to be a sin, to allow same-sex couples
to participate in the act or marriage also appear to be a sin (Perry, 2015). This would explain why
some people of religious faith do not agree with same-sex marriage. Some believe that allowing
same-sex marriage to be legalised, it would be impeding on their right to religious freedom (Jowett,
2013). But those who are for same-sex marriage believe homosexual couples, like heterosexual
couples, should have the right to get married (Haddad, 2016). Here one can see that there are two
groups; those who can get married and those who cannot. Those who cannot participate in marriage
have compared themselves to those who can and have evaluated themselves using those who can
marry as a reference group, this is the reference group theory. Merton’s reference group theory
states that behaviour is not only influenced by our immediate groups, but also by the other groups
of which are outside of our immediate groups (lecture 4). Merton believed that as a result, we also
use these groups to evaluate ourselves resulting in what he calls relative deprivation (lecture 4). The
theory of relative deprivation describes the feeling of dissatisfaction due to the fact one does not
have enough of something because they are comparing themselves to another group or person
(lecture 4). In the case of same-sex marriage, the group who cannot get married have compared
themselves to those who can, as a result, feel as they have been deprived of marriage. Merton’s
reference group and relative deprivation theories can explain how and why social change, such as
legalisation of same-sex marriage can arise.

As Merton’s theory of reference group and relative deprivation are able to explain how social change
around the idea of same-sex marriage can emerge, Tarde’s theory of imitation also explains how
ideas within a society can change and evolve, although in a different way. Tarde does not look at
how groups or individuals compare themselves to their non-immediate group, but rather looks at
individuals within society as inventors and imitators with belief and desires. Tarde’s theory starts
with the idea of imitations, of which is described as the unconscious inter-mental process that allows
us to formulate ideas through copying others (Moebius, 2011). He then goes on to say inventions are
a combination of imitation, thus creating new ideas (lecture 2). Tarde than represents the stage of
opposition, where a multitude of imitations compete in order to be adopted into society (lecture 2).
Within Tarde’s theory, he believes the beliefs and desires of people are what drives inventions and
imitations (lecture 2). When putting this in the context of marriage, one could say that the invention
is the idea of marriage. When looking at how marriage started specifically from the medieval times,
it was a way to insure the safety of woman, as it was believed that a woman should always be under
the protection of a male (Smith, 2012). It was also a way to insure the finances of families, as the
man would pay the bride’s family for her hand in marriage (Smith, 2012). In contrast to the twenty-
first century, more people are now marrying for love, thus, the meaning of marriage gas evolved
(Camarero, 2014; Girgis, George, & Anderson, 2011; Perry, 2015; Wilcox & Dew, 2010). Here we can
see Tarde’s theory of invention and imitation having applicability. As previously stated, within this
context the invention marriage and that through imitation – by adopting and adding new definitions
with the existing definitions– has evolved to the twenty-first century meaning of marriage; marriage
represents love. Not only has meaning of marriage changed, but also who can be involved in the act
of marriage is also changing. By applying Tarde’s theory, it can be said we are in the opposition
stage; where this new idea of marriage – or imitation that which widens the meaning of marriage –
challenges the previous meaning marriage. Thus, we can see that groups within society either agree
with this new idea, while some oppose it. And therefore, a debate among these two groups can be
seen through legal action: legalisation of same-sex marriage (Haddad, 2016). After the phase of
opposition, the prevailing imitation it said to diffuse through society and will become the new norm
and thus is integrated into society. Tarde’s theory has similarities to Merton’s theories in that they
both provide an explain to how social change in the legalisation of same-sex marriage has emerged
and the both conclude that it is the tension between two groups and ideas that give rise to this
social change. The different between these two theories is the way in which they explain the
emergence of social change such as the legalisation of same-sex marriage. Another difference is
Tarde provides an explanation to how new idea are adopted by society through what he calls a
diffusion process.

Unlike both Merton’s and Tarde’s theories, Parson’s theory of AGIL system and how social change
such as legalisation same-sex can be implanted into society. To understand Parson’s theory on social
change, one must first look the Parson’s AGIL system. As a structural functionalist, Parsons proposes
a model of the AGIL system that explain how society is structured and therefor functions. Parson
believed there are four main components that explain structure and function of society, which he
abbreviated to the AGIL system. ‘A’ for adaptation is about how societies must be able to cope with
environment they live in (lecture 5) This can be done by using the environment to make resources,
which can be tuned into goods. ‘G’ for goal attachment, is where the goals of society are identified
and integrated (lecture 5). This could be through institutions such as school, government or military.
‘I’ for integration, refers to maintaining interrelationships of individual within the society in order to
create solidarity (lecture 5). Again, this can be done through institution such as government and
church. ‘L’ for latency, refers to the social norms and patterns of which have to be maintained by the
existing social system within the society (lecture 5). Goal attachment is particularly important in the
context of the legalisation of same-sex marriage as one of the identified goals within societies is to
build a family (Arroyo, 2018). This ‘building of a family’ is officialised through marriage by church or
and government (Arroyo, 2018). This is another argument to why same-sex marriage should be not
legalised, as marriage is attached to building family, allowing those who cannot do this action
challenges the meaning and definition of marriage (Arroyo, 2018). Parson’s believed that when
social change occurs, the units of society, such as the ones mentioned above, must remain functional
(lecture 5). He used three concepts to explain this statement. The first being system maintenance,
which refers to how societies will re-build structures and institutions due to a disruption (lecture 5).
In this context same-sex marriage, in order for marriage to remain a functional unit within the
society, it must go through a modification process; such as changing the meaning of marriage or who
can be involved in it. The second concept being functional specialisation, which refers to how the
units within society become more specialised for their function (lecture 5). Essentially there are
more categories of a unit in order for it to remain functional. Once again, be widening the meaning
of marriage, marriage as a functional unit has become more specialised in that it has become more
inclusive. The last concept is refereed to as social integration, it states that due to the specialisation
of units, society much implement ways to integrate the new units (lecture 5). This final concept of
social change can be connected to the legalisation of same-sex marriage, as the government aims to
integrate same-sex marriage into legislation (Haddad, 2016). By understanding Parson’s theory of
AGIL system and how social change affects the systems in place, one can understand how social
change such as legalisation of same-sex marriage can be implemented through society.

When bringing these 3 theorists together to understand social change, within the context the
legalisation of same-sex marriage, the create a comprehensive story on how social emerges and how
it can be integrated into society, although as separate theories they each present limitation.
Merton’s theories of reference group and relative deprivation provide an explanation of how social
change can emerge. Merton concludes that when comparing oneself to their non-immediate group,
it results in the individual evaluating themselves against their non-immediate group and this can
result in relative deprivation (lecture 4) Here, as one compares themselves against their non-
immediate group, they feel dissatisfaction; they feel as though they are missing something the other
groups has, creating tension with the non-immediate group (lecture 4). Although this theory is
applicable in the context of legalisation of same-sex marriage; through comparing themselves (those
you cannot get married) to the other group that can marry, those who cannot marry now believe
should have also have the right to marry. Merton’s theory reference group and relative deprivation
also does not provide a solution to reduce or stop the conflict between the two groups. When
comparing Merton’s theory to Tarde’s theory of imitation and invention, one can see they both
explain how social change can emerge, although from completely different viewpoints. Through
Tarde theory one can see invention as marriage and imitation as the evolving meaning of marriage.
Through the stage of opposition, the new imitation of marriage will enter a debate (lecture 2).
Society is currently within this stage as there are various debates on whether same-sex marriage
should be legalised. Tarde’s theory, unlike Merton’s theory also explains how this a new imitation is
integrated to society, through a process he calls diffusion. Although this concept of diffusion is too
simplistic and vague to explain how new norms are integrated into society. Parson’s theory, in
contrast provides an in-depth explanation on how new norms are integrated into society through its
AGIL system. By defining the four aspects of the AGIL system, Parson presents society as a structured
unit that serves particular functions (lecture 5 Parson’s believed under the event of social change,
the units of society must remain functional (lecture 5). Thus, society must go through a remodelling
phase, where institutions are rebuilds, units become more specialised and these specialised units
become further integrated through institutions such as the government (lecture 5). This integration
process can be seen in the legal actions taken to legalise same-sex marriage. Similarly, to Merton’s
and Tarde’s theory, Parson’s theory also has a limitation. Parson’s theory considers social change as
a process society really to accept. It fails recognise and explain that social change can face
opposition. Although, Tarde’s theory is able to explain this uneasy process of social change within
the concept of opposition. Separately, each theorist is able to explain social change and what
aspects of it are involved in the emergence of and integration of social change. Although together,
they are able to make a comprehensive story on how, why and when social change occurs.

In conclusion, each theory is able to explain different aspects of how social change emerges and is
integrated into society. In the context of the legalisation same-sex marriage, Merton’s theory of
reference group and relative deprivation provides an explanation of how same-sex marriage become
an issue initially. Tarde’s theory of imitation explains that the legalisation of same-sex marriage
involves changing the meaning of marriage to include same-sex couples. Parson’s theory involving
AGIL system and social change provides a more in-depth explanation to how social change is
integrated into society. Despite that all three theories have their own limitations, what one theory
lacks to explain or and acknowledge, another theory is able to provide an explanation. Such as how
Merton’s theory does not provide a solution to combat the dissatisfaction individuals may feel, nor
does it explain how social change is integrated into society. Although Tarde and Parson’s theories
prove an explanation to the integration of society. Tarde’s concept of diffusion is too simplistic to
explain how new idea such as the new meaning of marriage are integrated into society, but Parson’s
provides an in-depth explanation for integration. Parson’s theory fails to acknowledge social change
as a slippery process, although Tarde’s theory of opposition explains this aspect of social change.
Together, all three theories construct an idea of how social change such as the legalisation of same-
sex marriage emerges as well as how it is integrated into society.
References

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