Running Head: SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES TO THE BLIND SIDE (2009) 1

Applying Sociological Perspectives to Film: The Blind Side (2009)

Ian Nathaniel A. Balana

John Paul II Catholic Secondary School

March 22, 2022

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES TO THE BLIND SIDE (2009) 2

1. Using Functionalism, describe how Michael Oher fits into the Tuohy family and how the

Tuohy family serves certain functions in society.

According to Functionalism, the society is made up of different pieces that work together to

fulfill the needs of the individuals in the society. By this definition, one can analyze Michael

Oher’s purpose to fulfill the Tuohy family’s needs.

Firstly, to Leigh Anne Tuohy, Michael serves as another son to whom she can express her

love towards. Michael also functions as a mature example, which the Tuohy couple can rely on,

for the Tuohy children as he is committed to his goals and persistent. In a way, Michael Oher

provides a sense of physical security to the family not only because of his physical attributes, but

also because of his high ranking in self-defence or in defending his loved ones. For Mr. Sean

Tuohy, adopting Michael Oher is not really his original intention so much as it is his wife’s

initiative; however, Michael functions to him as a grown-up son who he can treat like a mature

child and rely upon in setting an example for his other children.

Secondly, to S.J. or Sean Tuohy Jr., Michael functions or serves as his companion and

emotional securer. During the early days of the Tuohy family fostering Michael, it is evident that

S. J. craves for a companion and for attention. Michael provides companionship with S. J. by

being his “playmate” and “training buddy,” and attention by always being with him and

entertaining his requests. For Collins Tuohy, at first, it seems quite weird for her to have a new

brother that is almost the same age as her and almost graduating to college already. However, as

with Mr. Sean Tuohy, Michael Oher is the individual in the family that is willing to protect the

whole family from harm. During the time when Michael was invited by the gang leader into their

party, Michael was teased that he should have made a move on Collins or that he should
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES TO THE BLIND SIDE (2009) 3

introduce her to the leader’s friends. Michael knew their bad intentions and thoughts which

propels him to attack the leader and defend the dignity of the Tuohy family.

To Michael Oher, the Tuohy family serves as his foundation in family life. They become his

providers for food, shelter, clothing, and leisure activities. They also become his support system.

But ultimately, they provided affection and the sense of being part of a family to Michael.

The Tuohy family serves a much greater purpose in the society than just being a rich varsity-

driven family. As a family which adopted a homeless teen and provided him with all he needed

and wanted, they become the model of society’s Christian morals. They serve as the role models

of charity in the society. In a much baser sense, the Tuohy family serves as providers of care that

gave a boost to Michael Oher as one of the children who was not able to live with the societal

privilege that the Tuohy’s have. The Tuohy family serves as the “lifter” or those in need and are

wanting to change.

2. Using Symbolic Interactionism, explain Sandra Bullock’s character, Leigh Anne Tuohy, and

her thought processes on why she decided to take in a stranger into her home. Comment on

her interactions with Michael, her family, and her friends.

The first interaction of the Tuohy family with Michael was with S. J. when he greeted

Michael before he was fetched by Leigh Anne Tuohy. The “gentle giant” charisma of Michael

Oher, who was called Big Mike before, interested Leigh Anne and kept Michael in her thoughts

for days. The deciding moment when she took him into her house was during the rainy night

after S. J.’s performance. Seeing Michael walking alone in the rain without proper clothes to

keep him dry and warm pushed Leigh Anne Tuohy to be compassionate towards him and bring

him into the Tuohy’s residence.

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES TO THE BLIND SIDE (2009) 4

At first, Leigh Anne considers Michael Oher only as S. J.’s acquaintance who seemed to

need help. Before taking Michael in, Mr. Tuohy actually sees Michael picking up the popcorn

boxes left in the gym and takes notice of him. Seeing Michael being a helpless teenager outside,

in the rain have caused Leigh Anne to pity him and to take him in. Being a devout Christian,

Leigh Anne sees it as an act of piety and living up the Christian values.

By giving him clothes, food, and a room, Michael bonds with Leigh Anne more and becomes

more open to her. He shares to her that he dislikes being called “Big Mike” and thus, she

becomes the first person to always call him Michael and insist that other people do so. Calling

him Michael was very symbolic to Leigh Anne and Michael’s relationship. For them, as for most

people, calling people by their name and recognizing their original name would be a sign of a

close relationship. By insisting that Michael must be called by his name, she also provides

security to Michael that his decisions and wants would be fulfilled with her care and support.

The only opposing force would be Leigh Anne’s friends. They see Michael as unfamiliar and

as a symbol of Leigh Anne’s “white guilt.” They think that because Leigh Anne is a woman of

privilege, when she saw Michael, a teenager who is disadvantaged in wealth, education, and

society, she felt guilty of her standing in the society and not using it to help anyone really. They

also think that it might be inappropriate to have Michael and Collins in one house being

approximately the same age. Later on, Leigh Anne cleared this with her own daughter who said

that she is not bothered; rather, she is much more relieved S. J. now has a companion and that the

family is becoming much closer.

It seems like she cannot particularly state why she wanted to adopt Michael and not other

teenagers like Michael’s brother. It could be that Michael also possesses athletic prowess and so

much potential that she would like to take care of him and make sure she does not lose that.
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES TO THE BLIND SIDE (2009) 5

According to the Symbolic Interactionism theory, it will be her given meaning to her interactions

with Michael, her family, and friends. As she sees Michael in a more positive light through her

family and Michael himself, and she sees her friends with more negativity for having judged

Michael and her father, adopting Michael seemed to be a good action for her.

3. Using Conflict Theory, to describe why Michael struggled in school before getting the

assistance that he needed.

Michael’s struggles in school are not only because of his poor academic experience and

background since a child’s excellence is school is based on a lot of factors, including the issues

that they deal with outside of school. Michael did not have a good foundation to begin with. His

parents were separated, and he dealt with trauma throughout his life because of his forced

separation from his mother. Although his biological mother tries to set a good example and

shielding him from the unpleasant happenings in the neighbourhood, he still knows and feels the

need to secure the safety of himself and his family. He lives in a neighbourhood which is not

really education driven. With his mother having addiction problems, he must not have had a

good childhood filled with innocence, play, and learnings. School must have been not

encouraging to Michael from a young age seeing how his own mind is filled with thoughts of his

own mother. He is pre-occupied with those thoughts which prevented him from studying. One

must not blame his mother’s problems to alcoholism or addiction, but ultimately, according to

Conflict Theory, it is their poverty brought by being stuck in their situation socially and

psychologically.

Michael Oher’s poverty brought a lot of problems to their family. It is the unfair and unjust

discrimination, although unspoken of, that is known by everyone. People in the posh, white
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES TO THE BLIND SIDE (2009) 6

households talk of the “other side” of the town as if it is different from them. This discrimination

breeds the culture of poverty and keeps the mindset of the disadvantaged as thus. They cannot

rise from poverty because no one allows them to work, go to school, or even mingle with the

other side of the town where mostly white families live. This difference in race and its

correlation with wealth caused Michael’s problems to deprive him of enjoying school. There are

no good schools in their neighbourhood, and he cannot transfer to another school or

neighbourhood since the communities set invisible boundaries. Aside from not having a good

family to be with, he did not have a home to stay in for some time which adds to his problems.

Michael would rather find some shelter or food or a place to wash his clothes than bothering with

his homework and readings. These differences and conflicts inside the society, according to

Conflict Theory, is the reason why Michael Oher struggled in school.

4. Using Exchange theory, explain what the NCAA’s accusations were against the Tuohy

family and Michael. What did they think was the real reason behind the Tuohy family’s

decision to take Michael into their home?

The Exchange Theory discusses the idea wherein individuals in the family or the society

make choices based on costs and benefits. In short, every action in the society impacts an

individual by either costing them to do something or benefiting them with something. A balance

of the two, according to the Exchange theorists, would serve the society best. In Michael Oher

and the Tuohy family’s case, it is about Michael’s athletic ability. The NCAA’s accusations

against them were that they adopted Michael Oher as a bribe and assurance that their alma mater,

Ole Miss, would have a good football athlete to win their games. The Tuohy family, apparently,

are very loyal to their alma mater given that Sean Tuohy was a basketball player under the same

college team, and Leigh Anne Tuohy was a well-known cheerleader of Ole Miss. They also fund
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES TO THE BLIND SIDE (2009) 7

the Ole Miss athletes and varsity teams. Ensuring that their football team would win by putting

Michael in it would not only make the college more famous, but also cause their funds and

investments on the Ole Miss teams to increase. In the business and philanthropic side of things,

putting Michael would be very beneficial to them; however, it would cost Michael from going to

whichever college or university he wants to play for. The NCAA is concerned that in the future,

investors would adopt athletes or athletes-to-be and secure their spot in their supported teams.

This would be a valid Exchange Theory argument; however, this is not the truth for the Tuohy

family. They adopted Michael Oher because Leigh Anne Tuohy simply wanted to and loved

Michael as a son. They just wanted to legitimize their relationship by law, and they wanted

Michael to have legal guardians and parents who would always support him whenever he needs

them in any aspect, including legal matters. Their true intentions were not to bribe him and use

Michael, but to give him his family needs because they simply love him as a family member.

5. Using Ecological Theory, explain what impacted Michael’s decision to attend Ole Miss.

A lot of people in Michael’s life led him to deciding that Ole Miss would be his college.

Firstly, in his immediate circle, his family, Mr. and Mrs. Tuohy both went to Ole Miss and

always talk about Ole Miss as their ideal college. S. J. was also one of the influential people. He

was the one making deals with the coaches from different colleges. He is very close to Michael,

and Michael’s decision was probably directly impacted by S. J.’s suggestions.

In the mesosystem, a lot of people in Michael’s inner circle influenced him too. Michael’s

tutor and their parents were Ole Miss alumni. Their meeting influenced Michael to lean towards

Ole Miss. His tutor could be considered part of the microsystem because he constantly meets her.

Her story about the University of Tennessee working with the government to examine dead
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES TO THE BLIND SIDE (2009) 8

bodies and laying them on the football field creeped Michael out. She also talked about how Ole

Miss is not as morbid or brutal as Tennessee. This propelled Michael to deciding that Ole Miss is

his college of choice. Another person in the mesosystem would be the coach of the Ole Miss

football team. He was talked to by and given some information by Mrs. Tuohy about the other

coaches. This helped the Ole Miss coach to bargain better for Michael.

Michael’s football coach from high school is probably part of his exosystem, or they might

have impacted each other resulting to the coach’s new job at Ole Miss. Michael’s macrosystem

was affected through his values. Michael is very gentle and has respect for everyone. He does not

want to disturb nor disrespect the suspected dead bodies under the Tennessee football field by

playing on it constantly. Lastly, Michael’s chronosystem must have been another circle which

impacted him. The pressure of time coming to think about which college to choose probably

pushed him to lean onto where his parents went to. It could also be about the death of dead

people under the Tennessee football field which affected Michael.

6. Choose Systems Theory discussed in class to explain Leigh Anne Tuohy’s method of using

the family in getting Michael to play his best during football practice.

The Family Systems Theory looks at a family as an interacting complex system which

involve give and take, feedbacks, and maintaining the stability of the family. To get Michael to

play with his best abilities, Leigh Anne Tuohy talked to Michael about how he must see his

teammates as he sees his own family. Both groups must be protected. Leigh Anne told Michael

about how he stopped the airbag from destroying S. J.’s face and saving his life which he must

also do for his teammate. He must stop anyone from coming near the pushing teammate to

protect him until they reach their goal. For the other teammate, Leigh Anne compared herself to
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES TO THE BLIND SIDE (2009) 9

the teammate. She said, “How you had my back, how you have his,” meaning that Michael must

protect his teammate’s back just how he said he had Leigh Anne’s back. By comparing to team

to his own family, Leigh Anne introduced to him that he must maintain the stability of the team

just as how the family’s stability was maintained with Michael’s protection. Michael must give

his best to protect the blind side of his teammate and prevent the opposing team to get the ball or

trip them down before the goal. In return, their team would be protected and would score well on

the games to follow.