SOC 220 Week 6 Assignment Sociology of the Workplace

Modern Economy Sociological Implications

Grand Canyon University: SOC 220

            The modern economy and workplace environment is a constantly changing and evolving a business world where a person can get easily lost.  I read statistics on a regular basis that show that people who want a job where unable to find jobs, however, I feel that this information is inaccurate, simply because most people can get a job working in fast food and many other positions if they simply apply.  The issue comes in that many people can get government benefits or will refuse to work if the job doesn’t fit within what a person will do for employment.  The fact is not everyone will process manure or flip burgers for a job if that is all there is.  Other issues in the modern environment come from various historical prejudices such as the idea that men are usually the “bread winners”. 

                 Social implications of our current system could continue to mean the rich get richer, however, that isn’t any different than any other financial system, a few get rich and the rest just don’t.  While I strongly disagree with PEARSON’s statement “Replace capitalist economic system with one that makes people, rather than profits, it is the highest priority” a capitalist economy has been strong for our government and offered the US a different approach to most other governments (“Social Problems”).  Capitalism is what continues to drive the US economy and is what has been behind the unique creations our world has, such as the innovations of Apple, Microsoft, and simple creations like Velcro.  While I do agree that corporations and businesses should have a better “heart” for their workers, I don’t think the answer is another form of government or change from capitalism. 

            According to an article on Grinnell.edu “Interactionists focus on the subjective aspects of social life, rather than on objective, macro-structural aspects of social systems.” (Kent McClelland, “Symbolic Interactionism”).  When comparing Symbolic Interactionism with structural-functional analysis and social conflict analysis and careers you see that Mead and Weber use a subjective meaning of human behavior.  The one thing I took from this method (although not preferred) is that sociologist would typically be more personal by observing rather than interviewing.  The functionalist view is typically the most commonly used method and the oldest in sociology (Kent McClelland, “Symbolic Interactionism”).  While I like the idea of observing to find out what is working and what isn’t, I don’t particularly like that symbolic interactionism focuses on how employees respond in the work place.  I believe that this is because there are so many people and so many potential responses.  The conflict theory says that the elite controls the economy or their position by alienation.  I feel that a conflict theorist would be ok with sexual harassment or at the very least do little about it.  Functionalism seems more appropriate to me because it states that work and the economy server many functions for society.  Work allows people the means to live and purchase or buy what they need (“12.2 Sociological Perspectives on Work and the Economy”).

           In conclusion, I tend to agree with the Functionalism view point because, well it seems the most functional.  It has the best positives, it should allow us to solve sexual harassment and other issues in the work place and it should allow us to continue on a course that isn’t overrun with too many misleading ideas.  More importantly this system “paints a positive picture of work and the economy by pointing to their many benefits.” and that is important in life to me (“12.2 Sociological Perspectives on Work and the Economy”).  We should never feel like “the man” is making us work and we should be able to enjoy our jobs from digging ditches to building airplanes it shouldn’t matter. 

References

Maconis, J. J. (n.d.). Social Problems [Power Point]. Pearson.    

Symbolic Interaction Theory. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2016, from http://edu.learnsoc.org/Chapters/3 theories of sociology/17 symbolic interaction theory.htm

Symbolic Interactionism. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2016, from http://web.grinnell.edu/courses/soc/s00/soc111-01/introtheories/symbolic.html

Sociological Perspectives on Work and the Economy. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2016, from http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/a-primer-on-social-problems/s15-02-sociological-perspectives-on-w.html