ICT AND SOCIETY (CS-449)

ASSIGNMENT# 01

SUBMITTED BY: FIZZA JAVED

SUBMITTED TO: MAM NAZOORA

BSCS-8TH SEMESTER

01/05/2023
Question No 1: Choose a current social issue, such as income inequality, and analyze it from the
perspective of each of the three major sociological perspectives (functionalist, conflict, and
interactionism). What key insights does each perspective offer, and what are some limitations or critiques
of each perspective?

Answer:

Income inequality refers to a considerable gap in the way that people, groups, communities, social
classes, or nations distribute their income. A significant aspect of social class and stratification is income
inequality. Let’s analyze it from three sociological perspectives.

Functionalism perspective:
Functionalism sees community as an intricate system made up of interconnected pieces that cooperate to
keep social balance. Income inequality might be viewed as a necessary and useful element of society from
a functionalist standpoint. It implies that inequality occurs because it fulfills particular needs for the social
structure. Income inequality, according to functionalist thinkers, drives people to work harder and pursue
achievement, which promotes economic growth and advancement. They think that for innovation to
flourish and to motivate people to pursue advanced degrees and specialized training, there must be some
degree of inequity.

Key insights of functionalism:

 Social Stratification: according to functionalists, contributes to the maintenance of social

stratification by enabling the division of labor and specialization. Society may make sure that the
most competent people hold key positions by compensating people with higher pay for their
education, abilities, and work duties
 Meritocracy and Incentives: According to functionalists, wealth inequality encourages the
development of a society where people are rewarded according to their individual skills and
efforts. They contend that unequal income distribution encourages people to work hard and make
contributions to society as a whole.

Limitations and Critiques of the functionalism perspective:

 Neglecting Power Dynamics: According to critics, the functionalist viewpoint ignores the power
dynamics that underlie economic inequality. It ignores the possibility that some people or
organizations can abuse their influence to keep or enlarge the economic difference, resulting in
social inequalities.
 Inequality Negative Effects: Economic unrest, rates of crime, and health disparities are just a
few of the negative effects of wealth disparity that functionalists could miss. Without properly
addressing the prospective social implications of high wealth inequality, they concentrate on the
functional elements.
Conflict perspective:
According to the conflict perspective, society is characterized by ongoing conflicts between various
factions over resources and power. The conflict perspective emphasizes the inherent dispute between the
wealthy, whom control and profit from resources, and those with less privilege who do not have access to
such resources in the context of income disparity.

Key insight of conflict perspective:

 Class struggle: Conflict theorists contend that the underlying power disparities in society lead to
wealth inequality. They see it as an example of class conflict, in which the wealthy elite take
advantage of the labor and assets of the working class in order to retain their privileged position.
 Reproduction of Inequality: Conflict theorists emphasize how income inequality is reproduced
through mechanisms such as inheritable wealth, unequal access to high-quality education, and
constrained social mobility. They contend that the system as a whole is set up to favor a select
few on behalf of the oppressed mass.

Limitations and Critiques of the conflict perspective:

 Overemphasis on Conflict: According to detractors, the conflict viewpoint may overestimate the
severity of conflict and minimize opportunities for collaboration and shared interests in society. It
might ignore situations in which people and groups cooperate for both of their advantage rather
than focusing just on power clashes.
 Neglecting Other reasons: The conflict perspective frequently places all of its attention on
economic reasons, ignoring other social aspects like society, gender, and ethnic that also affect
income inequality. The thorough comprehension of the problem could be constrained by this
narrow emphasis.

Interactionism Perspective:
The interactionism viewpoint investigates how people interact and give their social environment meaning.
The interactionism viewpoint on income inequality focuses on how people think about and interpret
income differences and how these beliefs influence their behaviors and interpersonal interactions.

Key insight of interactionism perspective:

 Labeling and Stigma: According to interactionism, wealth disparity causes people to be

stigmatized and labeled according to their economic situation. They investigate how these
designations affect one's image of oneself, interactions with others, and chances for career
advancement.
 Symbolic meaning: Interactionism examine the meanings and symbols associated with money
and wealth in a particular community. They investigate how people interpret and provide
meaning to various income levels, and how such interpretations influence social interactions and
ideas of status.
Limitations and Critiques of the interactionism perspective:

 Limited Macro-level Analysis: Interactionism frequently ignores broader structural reasons that
cause income disparity in favor of micro-level interactions and individual perspectives. It might
ignore structural problems and more extensive social inequality tendencies.
 Lack of Attention to Power Dynamics: Interactionism might not fully address how the
dynamics of power and structural inequities affect different people's experiences and
opportunities in terms of earning money. The viewpoint primarily places an emphasis on
individual agency while ignoring institutional and systemic considerations.

In conclusion every sociological viewpoint offers distinctive insights into the problem of income
inequality. While the conflict perspective emphasizes power disparities and class conflicts, functionalism
emphasizes the practical elements of inequality and its contribution to maintaining social order. The
individual views and societal interactions pertaining to wealth disparity are the main focus of the
interactionism viewpoint. Each perspective, however, also has drawbacks and criticisms, such as ignoring
power dynamics, ignoring other social issues, and conducting insufficient analysis at various societal
levels. A thorough understanding of income disparity necessitates taking into account knowledge from
various viewpoints and looking at macro- and micro-level variables.

Question No 2: Choose a specific social interaction, such as a job interview or a first date, and analyze it
from an interactionism perspective. How do individuals engage in symbolic interaction during this
interaction, and how does this contribute to the construction of social reality? What are some limitations
of an interactionism perspective, and how can it be combined with other perspectives to offer a more
comprehensive understanding of social phenomena?

Answer:

A job interview is one particular social interaction that can be studied from an interactionism angle. In
order to interpret and provide meaning for symbols, actions, and verbal signals during social interactions,
individuals participate in symbolic interaction, which is the center of the interactionism perspective. In a
job interview, the interviewer and the interviewee communicate symbolically to create social reality and
influence the interaction's outcome.

People interact symbolically with one another in a job interview in a variety of ways. Meaning is largely
communicated nonverbally through body language, gestures, and eye contact. While fidgeting, avoiding
eye contact, or bending over may indicate nervousness or lack of interest, a firm handshake, direct eye
contact, and a mindful body position may indicate confidence and competence.

Another significant component of symbolic engagement in a job interview is verbal communication.

Language is used by both the interviewer and the interviewee to communicate their backgrounds,
experiences, and expectations. When negotiating the definition of terms related to the job, they talk about
each other's abilities, successes, and organizational fit. They develop a common understanding of the
qualifications needed for the position and the suitable applicant through this procedure.
When the interviewer and the interviewee read each other's body language and modify their own
responses in accordance, this is another example of symbolic interaction in action. For instance, if the
interviewer shows attention and engagement, the interviewee might feel more at ease and give more in-
depth answers. In contrast, if the interviewer comes across as uninterested or doubtful, the interviewee
may become discouraged and alter their responses.

Through this mutual process of symbolic interaction, social reality is constructed. In the interaction,
both the interviewer and the interviewee offer their particular interpretations, goals, and presumptions.
Through their discussions, they negotiate and create a common understanding of the position, the
company, and the candidate's qualifications. The social reality created during the contact has an impact on
the job interview's outcome, such as an offer of employment or rejection.

The interactionism viewpoint, however, has several limitation. It frequently focuses on small-scale
interactions while excluding larger social frameworks and systemic elements that influence social
processes. For instance, it might not sufficiently take into consideration institutional prejudices, dynamics
of power, or economic variables that affect how well candidates perform in job interviews, such as
prejudice based on gender or color or the effect of socioeconomic status.

In order to get over these drawbacks, the interactionism perspective can be blended with other views to
create a more thorough knowledge of social phenomena . A structural viewpoint, for instance, can look at
how larger social institutions, such organizational policies, social conventions, or economic situations,
impact the job interview procedure. A critical viewpoint can reveal the disparities and power structures
that affect the results of job interviews. Researchers and sociologists might better comprehend the
intricacies of social relations and their wider ramifications by integrating diverse views.