Discuss the drawbacks of functionalism in the context of family and aging.
What will be an ideal response?
Answers will vary. Functionalism has several weaknesses. First, it is questionable whether some family functions are as universal or necessary as functionalists claim. Procreation often occurs outside of marriage, and the government has assumed some of the family's functions, including caring for some children (as in foster homes) and the aged (through Medicare, for example).Second, there is some doubt over whether activity theory is as representative of older people as some functionalists claim. Many people continue to work even in their 80s, but usually not by choice. They cannot afford to retire, even though they are in poor health and unhappy in their low-income jobs. As health deteriorates, many older people become less active and more isolated.Third, 10 percent of the huge wave of baby boomers say that they will never retire, primarily because they have saved very little and carry too much debt. This means that there is not always an orderly progression to retirement and opening up job slots to the younger generation.
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Fill in the blanks with correct word
Many middle-aged women who divorce face significant
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Which of the following criticisms does Thorstein Veblen offer toward Karl Marx?
a. Marx misapplied theories of political economy. b. Marx’s two class structure creates the problem of the middle class. c. Marx’s economic determinism leads him to falsely assume there is a material base to society. d. Marx ignores gender and race.
Answer the following statement(s) true (T) or false (F)
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