FUNCTIONALIST VIEW ON YOUTH CULTURE

Overview of Functionalism: Functionalism is a structural theory which sets out to interpret society as a structure with interrelated parts. They believe society is important because individuals are the important parts produced by society. Society is like a human body, Durkheim called this the 'organic analogy' whereby each part of society plays an important function - some people are the hearts and have important jobs like doctors and lawyers, while others are the toenails and they have jobs like cleaners! Functionalists have a romanticised view of society.

Why is youth important to Functionalists?

They claim that people need to feel a part of society in order to belong. This is called integration (when they are more likely to deviate…