Describe the structural functionalist perspective on gender and provide an example to illustrate this perspective. Then discuss one way this perspective influences or could potentially influence social policy.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

This perspective takes the form of sex role theory. Different expectations or norms go along with these different statuses. A sex role is the set of expectations attached to your particular sex. For example, in the United States, one expectation of straight men is that they do not hold hands with or kiss other men, even on the cheek.
Sex role theory fits within the structural functionalist view because it assumes different sex roles for women and men are functional for society. Functionalist sociologists such as Talcott Parsons explained these differences in terms of instrumental versus expressive roles. Men are taught in childhood and throughout their lives to be instrumental, or goal and task-oriented, while women are taught to be expressive, or oriented toward their interactions with other people. Theorists saw this division of labor as functional for society, because women who worked outside the home or men who wanted to stay home and take care of their children created dysfunction for society.
Applied to policy, sex role theory presumes a functional family unit consists of a man who fulfills an instrumental role and a woman who occupies an expressive role. Policies that support the centrality of the nuclear family-husband, wife, and children-are thus consistent with sex role theory. Examples may vary. One potential example is TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), which encourages women to form a relationship with the father of their children.