The video, which is going to be analyzed, throws light on the experiences of Dalits or people who are treated as outcasts in India. This film shows how the caste system developed in the country can marginalize individuals or groups.
This issues highlighted in this film can be examined with the help of such a theory as structural functionalism since it can explain how the groups that are included in the Indian community interact with one another and why they have to resolve many tensions. Moreover, this framework can show how this community can evolve and what kind of difficulties it has to struggle with. These are the main questions that should be closely discussed.
According to the principles of structural functionalism, a society can be viewed as a complex system consisting of various elements. Moreover, the elements are supposed to perform certain functions and supplement one another (Henslin, 2012).
One can say that this idea has been implemented in India almost literally. It should be borne in mind that in India, Dalits or untouchables are deliberately reduced to the subservient status. Moreover, they have access only to those jobs that are associated with some impurity or hard physical labor.
For instance, one can mention cleaning sewers (Untouchable India, 2008). They do not have any opportunities for climbing the social ladder. This example is important because it shows that a certain group of people can be forced perform a certain function. At present, there is no official norm that can enforce this discrimination, but these prejudiced attitudes influence the decisions of employers as well as officials. So, one can argue that this video partly supports structural functionalism.
There is another element of structural functionalism that should not be disregarded. This approach to the study of society implies that the existing social order is essential or necessary for functioning of the community which is often compared to a living organism (Henslin, 2012). In this context, the term social order can be defined as a set of rules, institutions, and cultural norms that regulate the interactions between individuals or groups (Henslin, 2012).
In turn, the welfare of individual members is less significant than the welfare of the society. This is one of the main ideas underlying structural functionalism. Again, this principle has been fully adopted in India which the caste system continues to influence the lives of people. It should be mentioned that the caste system is aimed at separating the community into distinct groups that occupy various places in the social hierarchy.
Moreover, the supporters of this division argue this system is essential for the preservation of Indian culture and society (Untouchable India, 2008). They even rely on the beliefs that are rooted in Hinduism. For instance, according to these beliefs, a person’s present day status is the result of his/her good actions or sins in the past life (Untouchable India, 2008). Therefore, he/she should protest against discrimination.
Furthermore, the authorities usually suppress the demonstrations of Dalits (Untouchable India, 2008). This example supports the functionalist approach to the study of the society. The main problem is that in the case of India, the protection of existing social order is aimed at dehumanizing many people. This is one of the aspects that should be taken into account.
Yet, one should also bear in mind the supporters of structural functionalism do not deny the possibility that systems or organisms can evolve or change with time passing. It is not permissible to view a complex system as something static. As a rule, this evolution can be attributed to the changes in external environment or the challenges that a society has to resolve (Henslin, 2012). Moreover, this outcome can be attributed to the inefficiencies of existing social order.
To some degree, this idea can be applied to the contemporary Indian society. For instance, many political activists in this country struggle to eradicate the existing caste system (Untouchable India, 2008). This process can be partly attributed to western journalists who raise international awareness about this problem (Untouchable India, 2008). Moreover, those people, who are treated as outcasts, cannot contribute to the economic development of the country.
As a rule, they are on the brink of absolute poverty. This is another aspect that should be considered. It shows that any complex system should respond to the new circumstances; otherwise it may eventually stop functioning. Thus, the evidence presented in the movie is in line with the ideas underlying structural functionalism.
On the whole, this discussion suggests that structural functionalism can be applicable to the problems examined in the video. In this case, one can speak about such aspects as the division of the society, the interactions between groups and the possibility of change within the community.
One can say that the continued existing of caste system in India can be explained by the conservative and prejudiced attitudes of the elites in the county. They are willing to preserve the social order which only slows down the economic and political evolution of India. These are the main arguments that can be made.
Reference List
Henslin, J. (2012). Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach. New York, NY: Pearson Education, Limited.
Untouchable India. (2008). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5JkfYcxiQ8&feature=related