Category: Conflict

Introduction

Social conflicts are becoming a reality of everyday life. Although society is constantly in the process of reorganizing its economical, political and legal institutions, such reorganization does not affect the tendency for conflicts in various situations. The presence of conflicts in various spheres of life dictates the necessity in their analysis, identification of their causes and the conditions generating conflict situations, and the development of means of their prevention and resolution. The integration of mediation and human services can be seen in the nature of the mediation process itself, in which assistance is provided for those who cannot solve their problems and disputes by themselves. In that regard, this paper provides an overview of the integration of mediation with human services, stating that mediation is an appropriate method for the specific population served by human service agencies.

Mediation as a Process

The main principles of the community mediation process include voluntarism, informality, effectiveness, quickness, satisfaction, and affordability. In that regard, such principles as affordability indicate that the target population of the mediation service is those who cannot afford other ways of solving their problems, and in that regard, the emphasis is on those who are economically and socially disadvantaged (Community Mediation Services, 2009). The approach to conflict resolution competing with traditional legal methods is based on the model of finding a consensus, rather than confrontation, and was not limited to a specific sphere of specific jurisdiction, or specific areas of law. In that regard, the specific attribute of community mediation can be seen in setting the goal of strengthening relationships and building connections between people and groups, in addition to preserving individual interests (National Association for Community Mediation Homepage, 2009). Accordingly, it should be stated that the process of mediation, as an integral link with human services, implies to an extent the same participants, i.e. the services, and the community, and accordingly the interventions are made with such considerations in mind, where the benefits of mediation are outlined as outlining the relevant issues at the same time and diminishing the number of future conflicts.

Thus, it can be stated that the process of mediation, in the context of community is a process in which human services are an integral part, and the services of mediation provided are focused on a specific population of these communities. In terms of the latter, it can be assumed that such focus is explicitly demonstrated by the offering of free, no-obligation consultations, a condition that the economically and socially disadvantaged population will appreciate the most.

Mediation Services

The services provided as a part of community mediation involve several common aspects in most community mediation services. For families, such services include the collaboration with the Department of Corrections for a Family & Systems Teams (FST), in which the families that have boys and girls from 11-21 years of age, and who at moderate to high-risk levels are represented (Community Mediation Services, 2009). The main focus in such service is in identifying the needs of the family, through an interview in which the family will select the parties which will be present in FST meetings. The parties might include Juvenile Community Corrections Officer (JCCO), family members, support persons, mental health service provider, drug treatment provider, school personnel and others, depending on the needs of the particular client family (Community Mediation Services, 2009). The role of mediation is facilitating and coordinating this whole process, including the interviews, and the meetings. Other family-related services include family conflicts, where mediation helps resolving the disputes among family members; Co-parenting, where the mediation helps the children to cope with the changes resulted from conflicts between the parents; strengthening military families, where the family issues such as custody, separation, support, housing, debt, contract dispute, or employment grievances (Community Mediation Center, 2009) are helped in dealing with in military families. The latter can be seen as a part of the specifically designed program for such purpose, which is the Reservist Re-Integration and Transitions (H.O.M.E.) program. This program provides support and mediation services for the families and service members of the Reserves and National Guard during the deployment cycle (National Association for Community Mediation Homepage, 2009).

The focus on families can be seen through the provision of family group conferencing, a special form of mediation, in which families that gave problems and conflicts are joined together to brainstorm their problems and reach a solution together. It should be noted that the family services are not limited to everyday problems of couples and their children, but also extend to cover the problems that are related to the families as clients of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The relation of mediation, the services, and the communities specific population can be seen in the fact that the other options for such populations in solving their problems imply referring to top legal systems, an option that is too costly to consider for this specific population. On the other hand, the aforementioned services are either low cost, free, or partially free, i.e. free for specific categories, e.g. mediation services for military families, in which the services are free for E-1 to E-3 categories, while for the rest the payment is determined by pay grade (Community Mediation Center, 2009). It should be mentioned that even in such cases, the centers offering the mediation services indicate that the inability to pay does not limit the access to mediation.

Voluntarism and Donations

An essential part of the integration of mediation and human services is its non-profit nature. As it was stated previously, the free to low-cost services is a specific attribute of community mediation, specifically targeting those specific populations. Voluntarism can be considered as an essential aspect of most mediation centers, where these centers provide the opportunity for people fulfilling specific requirements to be engaged in solving the problems of the community. These centers offer the training necessary either themselves or coordinating the participant within certified training programs. The general requirements for volunteer mediators include at least 40 hours of mediation training, and certification, based on the chosen field, a family, or general mediator. In terms of the latter, the requirements also imply a recertification every two years. The dependence on the work of volunteer mediators can be seen through the diversity and the availability of many training programs offered by mediation centers. As mentioned on such centers, the main purpose of such training is to increase the positive effects of the centers in their communities, through the development and the expansion of skills of the centers members. It should be noted that training options are not free, and include specific costs, depending on the training program, in which there are options of non-certification practicum. Nevertheless, it can be predicted that such payments are used to raise the quality of the volunteers involved, rather than giving access to everyone who wants to participate.

The funding issue is another important factor in the non-profit nature of the mediation organizations. The donation options are available in most of the centers, which specifically outlines the fact that the donation is a major aspect that keeps the work of community mediation services working. Taking the example of Community Mediation Center, the center specifically mentions that the help was provided to over 938 economically disadvantaged families, individuals, and youth (Community Mediation Center, 2009), a fact that would not have been possible without the monetary donations, which include many options and programs to choose from. The transparency of these donations is also essential to provide the confidence of the donors in choosing the way to help.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that there is an existing link between mediation and human services. Analyzing community mediation in terms of processes, services, and the non-profit nature of mediation organizations, it can be stated that all of the aforementioned is appropriate to the specific populations in need of mediation help. In that regard, mediation in the community puts among its purpose strengthening the relationships within the community with consideration to future conflict between these communities participants.

References

Community Mediation Center (2009). Community Mediation Center. Web.

Community Mediation Services (2009). Community Mediation Services. Web.

National Association for Community Mediation Homepage (2009). National Association for Community Mediation. Web.

Introduction

It is safe to say that the transgender theory has experienced a new ideological rise in the American and European scientific discourses over the past decade. Most of the controversy revolves around the topics of conversion therapy for children and fraud in research methodology. It is noticeable that these topics have become very politicized and even taboo in some scientific, political, and social circles. In order to be morally and ethically objective as well as not to be deceived by biased research, it is necessary to investigate the origins of the transgender theory and its current state by answering a series of questions. Critical appraisal, analysis, and the scientific method are the real drivers of progress. This essay aims to give answers to questions of ethics within the transgender topic and research fraud based on scholarly articles and presentations by Dr. Q Van Meter.

Why is this an Ethical Issue, and What Does It Mean That It Has Ethical Implications

In order to answer and justify the question of why the current transgender theory and practice is an ethical issue and what ethical implications it has, it is essential to define within the framework of this work what ethics is in general and in the context of medicine. According to Fremgen (2019), ethics, in general, is concerned with the actions and practices that are directed at improving the welfare of people in a moral way (p. 8). Fremgen (2019) also notes that medical ethics concerns questions specifically related to the practice of medicine (p. 8). It raises questions about what is the difference between ethics and morality and ethics and law. Ethics is a philosophical methodology for determining what should be done to achieve the most objectively favorable result. In contrast, morals are the subjective perception of what is good and what is evil. The difference between ethics and law is that ethics, as a methodology, seeks to achieve what is most objectively correct or fair. The law is a rule that may be unethical or immoral in some cases.

Put differently, law and ethics can be both complimentary and contradictory phenomena. The reason the issue discussed by Dr. Q Van Meter, namely the pseudoscientific nature and fraud of transgender medicine, is ethical is because ethics always involves people (Fremgen, 2019, p. 8). It is relatable to medicine, where physical and mental health is considered the most critical aspect of peoples lives. The basics of ethics are that it is meant to take the past into account, but also to look to the present and future and ask, what should I do now? and what will be the outcome? (Fremgen, 2019, p. 8). John Money neglected or violated the second part of this rule of ethics. According to Dr. Q Van Meter, Money conducted a medical practice in a manner such as lets do this patients and see what happens (IFTCC, 2018). It is a violation of medical ethics and the norms of the conventional Codes of Ethics, especially the Opinions of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs of the AMA and the issue about confidential care of minors (Fremgen, 2019). Such shortsighted and biased decisions have led to several ethical implications.

Ethical implications are the logical consequences of ethical decisions made by individuals. The ethical implications of John Moneys shortsighted and biased approach are the biased goal setting of researchers in their works on the topics of sex and gender (Regnerus, 2019). Such bias affected both supporters and opponents of the transgender theory (IFTCC, 2018). It is also worth noting that several academic disciplines, such as biology, psychology, anthropology, and others, have become overly politicized (Marinov, 2020). These two factors have undermined the credibility of the scientific community among academics (Cretella, 2016). It is safe to say that it negatively affects the American and international scientific discourse.

What Ethical Violations Have Happened, Why Are They Violations

As was written above, John Money, the author of gender theory, neglected or deliberately violated one of the most important ethical rules, namely, he did not consider the consequences of his decision on how to treat one of the twins. He also violated ethical clauses such as confidential care of minors and withholding or withdrawing life-prolonging treatment (Fremgen, 2019, p. 260). It can be said that John Moneys medical practice drove one of the twins to commit suicide, which later prompted the other twin to kill himself as well (IFTCC, 2018). It is important to note that John Money insulted Polish womens religious beliefs, which is also ethically incorrect.

It is crucial not only to list the committed ethical violations but also to explain why they are considered violations. John Moneys decision about the treatment was based solely on his ideas, which is radical subjectivism (Fremgen, 2019). It may be moral, but it is neither ethical nor scientific. This inherently flawed wrong approach has led to further fraud of transgender theory and practice, where many guidelines lack sufficient scientific evidence. It is harmful to both patients and the scientific community. He also did not promote the autonomy of the minor patient (Fremgen, 2019). Moreover, John Moneys medical practice worsened the patients suffering and consequently resulted in his death. The author of this essay views insulting religious beliefs as an insult because it is not morally correct.

What Should Be Done

The author of this paper believes that Dr. Paul McHugh made the right decision by forbidding John Money to treat children with gender dysphoria. He should also have been prohibited from consulting and treating adults. Moreover, research should have been done on his educational background, as Dr. Q Van Meter mentioned that his qualification was unclear (IFTCC, 2019). The ideas voiced and promoted by him should have been publicly criticized and debunked as Dr. Q Van Meter did in 2018 (IFTCC, 2019). As to the current situation, it would be beneficial for both gender specialists and their ideological opponents to conduct an evidence-based critical assessment of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health guidelines.

Reflection on the History Reviewed in the Video

The author of this work agrees with Dr. Van Meter that conversion therapy for children is not only an unscientific practice but should be banned. Children cannot understand all aspects, one of which is complete sterilization, of such a complex and irreversible process, and therefore they cannot give informed consent. It is unethical to carry out such procedures without the patients full understanding of all of its aspects and given permission (Fremgen, 2019). It is worth mentioning again that the current transgender theory lacks scientific evidence since the current one is based on the ideas of a person with a dubious background (IFTCC, 2019). Modern researchers of the phenomenon of transgender have a partially scientific understanding of biology. For example, many of them do not fully understand or misinterpret the non-binary of gametes (Marinov, 2020). However, the author also condemns Dr. Van Meters statements on Dontrellas appearance.

There is a simple reason why the current transgender dogma has become medical and medically accepted. It is the structure of the American Psychiatric Organization, namely its higher ranks. A small fraction of the organization has the power to set the rules. It is led by an activist group of endocrinologists who see John Moneys ideas as a religious dogma (IFTCC, 2019). The author of this essay believes that every theory or hypothesis should be critically assessed and examined, and medical professionals should be guided by a scientific method, not religious zeal.

Conclusion

This work examines the highly political and socially sensitive topic of modern transgender theory and the associated fraud in scientific discourse. The author answered a series of questions based on a 2018 talk by Dr. Q Van Meter, where he criticizes and debunks the origins of the current transgender theory. It is worth noting that these questions are about what an ethical issue and ethical implications are, the ethical violations that have happened, and their essence. The author discusses what should have been done and provides a personal opinion about the mainstream transgender theory and practice and what can be called a fraudulent war in academia. The author hopes that the scientific community will come to a consensus on transgender, and the quality of scientific research on this topic will improve.

References

Cretella, M. A. (2016). Gender dysphoria in children and suppression of debate. Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, 21(2), 50-54. Web.

Fremgen, B. F. (2019). Medical law and ethics. Pearson Education.

IFTCC. (2018). Dr Q Van Meter: The terrible fraud of transgender medicine [Video]. YouTube. Web.

Marinov, G. K. (2020). In humans, sex is binary and immutable. Academic Questions. Web.

Regnerus, M. (2019). Does conversion therapy hurt people who identify as transgender? The new JAMA psychiatry study cannot tell us. Public Discourse. Web.

It is normal to encounter conflicts among stakeholders of a profit-making institution. Business entities provide a social platform where individuals interact professionally. Both senior and junior employees frequently disagree on the best decisions entailing production processes (King et al., 2016). However, this analysis involves conflict and negotiation management between Nick Cunningham and executive directors of a merging firm. Managing conflicts between top administrative officers alter efficient operations of organizations (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). The case study notes that constant disagreements attract long-term decisions affecting both personal and professional lifestyles. Most importantly, conflict and negotiation management is critical for improving stakeholder relationships required to optimize profitability and enhance employee cohesion and collaboration.

Dysfunctional Conflict

Nick Cunningham is facing a dysfunctional conflict with Julian Mansfield, an executive officer at Beauchamp. This organization is part of merging firms with Synergon aimed at profit maximization. The conflict is dysfunctional as the managing director wants to retire early, following strict guidelines issued for the process (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). The case study highlights that the managing director opposes the transactional approach, entailing merging companies management transformation (Overman, 2011). Cunningham faces an administrative challenge as the absence of Julian would negatively affect normal operations at Synergon. The dysfunctional conflict implies a vacancy which requires experienced personnel for an accurate transition to a merger firm. Recruiting a new professional to take over the process would be both expensive and time-consuming for actualizing the merger (King et al., 2016). Conflict management would be useful for enhancing stakeholder relationships between Synergon and the executive director of Beauchamp.

Conflict Sources

The source of conflict in the case study is attributed to administrative differences between Cunningham and Julian. It is highlighted that senior executives at Synergon ensure competent management of mergers using strict policies. Disagreements entailing policy formulation is critical in determining an organizational culture and profitability (Overman, 2011). On the one hand, the leadership approach adopted by Julian could have been transformational. It implies an open working environment that implements progressive policies aimed at professional development among employees (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). On the other hand, Cunningham integrates a transactional framework of employee management, facilitating accurate implementation of strict policies at Synergon. Merging companies with different administrative framework requires active stakeholder collaboration and cooperation for successful unions.

Organizational conflicts at the top levels of a company can result in adverse impacts on business profitability. Executive and managing directors are responsible for enacting operational policies which determine a firms culture. Managers at middle and junior levels of administration ensure accurate interpretation of issued regulations to be relayed to junior staff members (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). Employees working in operational levels practically implement the strategies for the ultimate goal of profitability. In essence, conflicts at high management levels affect the process of policy implementation within an organization. Cunningham is facing a dysfunctional conflict that could attract substantial financial losses between Synergons mergers with Beauchamp. The formers management legacy of strict policies can also cause organizational conflicts with other coalitions. Senior managers below the executive management level can question the relevance and reliability of transactional practices in policy formulation (King et al., 2016). Nevertheless, the source of discrimination in the case study could be mitigated using a strategic conflict management style.

Appropriate Style of Conflict Management

Fundamentally, Cunningham should develop a mitigation tactic for resolving the dysfunctional conflict at hand. He should ensure that all mergers operate efficiently despite a change in ownership. Synergon is likely to experience significant operational issues entailing a successful transmission (King et al., 2016). A successful merger in modern times requires contemporary managerial skills regarding conflict resolution. It is normal to find senior officials disagreeing with specific policies for varying reasons (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). For instance, Cunninghams approach of instituting strict operational policies can influence an organizational culture of employee management at Beauchamp. Protecting a firms professional values is critical in enhancing profitability depending on customer relationship (Overman, 2011). The manager should consider the collaborative approach of conflict management with Beauchamps executive director. Both senior officials involved in a significant merger should consider cooperating for a peaceful administrative transition required for enhanced profitability.

The collaborating style of conflict management is suitable for Synergons case for diverse reasons. For instance, mergers entail a transition of ownership as different investors are involved in the buying new equity shares. Capital resources are critical for ensuring smooth operational procedures by facilitating short-term and long-term investment (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). Most importantly, the collaborating style would lead to mutual financial benefits between conflicting parties. Cunningham should integrate Julians perspectives regarding strict policy formulation and implementation. Similarly, the latter should cooperate with Synergons manager to prompt administrative roles. Enhancing cooperation and willingness to compromise makes the collaborative style more effective in mergers (King et al., 2016). The transformation process of organizations coming together requires full coordination as stipulated by commercial regulations. It is intended to avoid organizational conflicts that would attract significant financial losses, with business termination as an extreme eventuality.

Alternative Approach for Conflict Resolution

Alternatively, Cunningham should consider the compromising approach of resolving the administrative disagreements. This dysfunctional conflict requires either party to forego some managerial interests in strict policy formulation (King et al., 2016). The case study notes that Julian aims at retiring early from his professional capacity as the executive director of Beauchamp. From a critical perspective, the retirement plan is a tactic of avoiding managerial roles in the new merger (Overman, 2011). I would advise Cunningham to consider foregoing some terms of strict policy formulation to be applied across merging organization. It would entail a management strategy aimed at protecting organizational values of individual firms under Synergon. As a result, the organizations top management could compromise strict policies for progressive administrative practices (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). Ensuring advanced stakeholder interaction in an organization requires involved individuals to depict willingness to consider opinions and suggestions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, conflict and negotiation are useful administrative tools of ensuring success among profit-making institutions. Cunningham is facing a dysfunctional conflict with Julian regarding administrative practices of policy enactment and implementation (Bauer & Erdogan, 2011). The former might perceive strict management regulations as regressive and obsolete in contemporary organizations. Mergers between firms which previously operated independently could result in significant financial losses. As a result, Synergons manager should consider collaborating style of conflict resolution for ensuring a smooth administrative transition of ownership. In ordinary business circumstances, mergers require active cooperation and coordination among relevant stakeholders for success. Instead, Cunningham could consider the accommodating managerial perspectives and interests of Beauchamps executive official. The former would protect the interests of Synergon depending on preferred organizational values. Similarly, Julian should be willing to preserve administrative practices that have been successful before the merger.

References

Bauer, T. N., & Erdogan, B. (2011). Organizational socialization: The effective onboarding of new employees. In S. Zedeck (Ed.), APA handbooks in psychology®. APA handbook of industrial and organizational psychology. Maintaining, expanding, and contracting the organization (pp. 5164). American Psychological Association.

King, D. D., Newman, A., & Luthans, F. (2016). Not if, but when we need resilience in the workplace. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 37(5), 782-786. 

Overman, S. (2011). Conflict 101: A managers guide to resolving problems so everyone can get back to work. Aorn Journal, 94(4), 425-426. 

In the modern world, gender norms continue to undergo certain changes and improvements regularly. Some people are obsessed with their biological or social differences, while others prefer not to pay much attention to these concepts. Compared to the physiological characteristics based on sex, gender touches upon the way of how males and females view themselves. In addition, gender may explain the reasons for behavioral diversity, associated roles, and norms that must be followed. As a powerful social construct, gender cannot be ignored and may be re-assessed with time. A number of theories exist to explore gender differences, and this research paper will focus on structural-functional and social conflict theoretical perspectives.

These approaches introduce two opposite thoughts on how gender is viewed in modern society. Functionalists believe that an understanding of gender norms increases social solidarity, while conflict theorists consider promoting gender struggles for dominance. Despite evident controversies, the chosen theories reveal why the concept of gender is an integral issue in human relationships. Functionalist and conflict frameworks prove sociology of gender as a significant means to differentiate gender roles according to dominance and unity and set appropriate behavioral norms.

The Concept of Gender

In sociology, the terms of sex and gender should never be confused due to their characteristics and purposes. Sex characteristics include the reproductive system, height, and muscularity, and gender characteristics mean human behaviors, traits, and social positions. According to Lindqvist et al. (2020), gender is a critical social classification of people based on their identity and the presentation of self. For a long period, gender differences were determined by the roles people perform in their families, at work, and in other environments. Women are defined as housekeepers and babysitters, and men aim at earning money and providing their families with necessary resources.

However, with time, the quality of human relationships has been re-evaluated. New terms and explanations have been added to learn the differences between individuals. For example, cisgender is used to define people whose perception of sexuality and actual gender correspond to their birth characteristics, and transgender is used to describe people whose birth sex does not correspond with their personal identities. In most cases, people find it necessary to reflect on the concept of gender to predict and understand their behaviors, decisions, and norms of communication in society.

Gender-Biased Relationships

Gender roles vary depending on specific cultural, social, economic, and legal aspects. Many families try to introduce their children to certain gender roles as per their biological sex. Boys are taught to be strong and enduring, while girls need to be pretty and gentle. Games are commonly used to represent the idea of gender roles in society. As a result, boys usually get trucks, guns, and heroic equipment to train their motor skills and strengths. Females play with dolls, dress them up, and do their hair to develop creativity, imagination, and care qualities. In the 1970s, feminist activities underlined the necessity to distinguish gender norms and go away from biological functions to recognize social privileges (Cislaghi & Heise, 2020).

Therefore, it is correct to use the concept of gender as a primary frame for social relationships and human experiences in the world (as cited in Cislaghi & Heise, 2020). Gender biases have a strong impact on research, the choice of profession, and family standards. It is not enough to say that a person is a male or female but to recognize his or her responsibilities and rights in a community.

Structural-Functional Theory and Gender Issues

Structural functionalism is one of the sociological theories that can be addressed to understand the difference between genders and the role of this type of inequality in society. According to structural functionalists, each gender must play significant but unequal roles in their development as per the needs of societies and their practices (Ballantine et al., 2018). The main idea of this theory is that all social structures, culture, and social processes should work together (Ballantine et al., 2018). It means that men and women are both active participants in social life.

Structural functionalists look at the established values and norms to introduce clear gender roles, improve social solidarity, and support survival. The early ages made men left their houses for hunting and fishing to provide their families with food. With time, the role of men was improved, and their participation in social events was major compared to women who still had to perform many domestic duties.

During the war times, the division of labor was significantly shifted because it was necessary to fill in empty spaces with human resources. Women had to be involved in traditionally male occupations in addition to their regular duties like child care, food preparation, and gardening (Ballantine et al., 2018). Gender-based labor division exists today in several forms, and functionalists explain it as the necessity to accomplish tasks with different but complementary roles (Ballantine et al., 2018). In terms of this theory, such differentiation of roles is critical because it allows the use of available resources and opportunities efficiently.

Gender inequalities matter because any society needs a structure, the law, and other behavioral norms. Structural functionalists do not promote or restrict differences between men and women. They believe these distinctions are inevitable as it is a part of human history, complex relationships, discoveries, and available knowledge. Gender-based division of labor cannot be forgotten, and some judgments and prejudices emerge in democratic societies.

Some nations are still concerned about families where men take care of children, while women earn a living. Anyway, the complexity of the gender concept is predetermined by cultural background, traditions, and acceptable changes. The application of structural-functional theory is a step to comprehend why modern society needs gender differences from the point of view of labor conditions and social obligations.

Conflict Theory and Gender Issues

The examination of the issue of gender can be developed through another sociological perspective, known as conflict theory. The main idea of this theory is the presence of a state of perpetual conflict due to false consciousness about specific groups in an unequal system. Conflict turns out to be inevitable because people get access to different sources and opportunities; as a result, some of them have more money or prestige and need to protect their achievement by using power (Ballantine et al., 2018). Compared to the structural-functional theory, where diversity serves as a background of progress and survival, conflict theory introduces diversity as something negative. It proves the importance of tensions in human relationships and the necessity to participate in a competition where rules cannot be changed.

Conflict theory is based on the approaches developed by Karl Marx in the middle of the 19th century. This German philosopher contrasted capitalists (the bourgeoisie) with workers (the proletariat) and explained how the former controlled the means of production, while the latter were exploited and exposed to unfair labor (Ballantine et al., 2018). As soon as workers learned about their contributions to social development and the plight created by capitalists, they got themselves ready for new conflicts to rise up and form a new society with collective ownership (Ballantine et al., 2018). Such origins of conflict theory should not be forgotten but applied to the analysis of modern social relationships, including gender roles and gender-based inequality.

Although functionalists have solid grounds for their theory, the supporters of conflict theory also specify the urgency of conflict in society. Conflict usually means competition, and competition has to be related to order. In its turn, order in society is a crucial element that proves gender as a structural system of power and privileges at some point. Similar to Marxs position, men are defined as capitalists who own power and positions, while women are workers who have to perform subordinate roles and remain under male control (Ballantine et al., 2018).

Regarding the outcomes of the capitalist movement, the feminist movement follows the same standards to protect the privileges of women in society. Functionalists propose to view gender diversity as a means for survival, while conflict theory offers to keep women in traditional (minor) gender roles for men to maintain control. Social relationships are based on a struggle for gender dominance, and if a man overuses available power and resources, a woman has to oppose this inequality and protect her rights.

Improvements of Social Relationships Through Two Theoretical Perspectives

Despite mutual intentions to create an equal society and use available resources fairly, people cannot avoid the impact of gender biases today. Many nations believe that men and women have specific roles because of their inborn gender and should not deviate from the already established standards. The chosen approaches, structural functionalism and conflict theory, have certain advantages and disadvantages with the help of which gender relationships may be improved. For example, both frameworks define gender as a significant construct to differentiate people as per their inborn qualities and establish order as the only appropriate form of control.

However, if functionalists accept gender as a positive characteristic that promotes social development and growth, conflict theorists use gender as another reason for tensions and inconsistency of human relationships. These theories show that gender roles define the quality of living in the modern world. It is a responsibility of a person to accept gender either as a reason for conflict or as an opportunity for development. There are many chances to improve social relationships by respecting the differences between genders and the roles the representatives of both groups can perform.

Conclusion

Today, people live in a society where gender differences determine the quality of human relationships. For an extended period, gender roles have been formed and changed in regard to specific community demands, traditions, and achievements. It is hard to stop this process of formation because new interests and opportunities emerge regularly.

Therefore, the concept of gender remains a unique theme for analysis. In this paper, a comparative analysis of the structural-functional theory and conflict theory was developed to prove that gender diversity has certain positive and negative characteristics. Still, the major message is that gender is a critical variable in human relationships that define peoples roles. Gender is a complex topic, but awareness of gender inequalities has to be promoted to achieve respect and justice.

References

Ballantine, J. H., Roberts, K. A., & Korgen, K. O. (2018). Our social world: Introduction to sociology (6^th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Cislaghi, B., & Heise, L. (2020). Gender norms and social norms: Differences, similarities and why they matter in prevention science. Sociology of Health & Illness, 42(2), 407-422.

Lindqvist, A., Sendén, M. G., & Renström, E. A. (2020). What is gender, anyway: A review of the options for operationalising gender. Psychology & Sexuality.

Among the many sociological theories that study the structures of society, functionalism and conflict theory stand out as progressive ideas. This short essay will compare these theories in sequence, both in the light of their similarities and differences. First of all, it should be understood that functionalism refers to a philosophy that assigns to each aspect of sociological existence a distinct function that is important for the survival of societies or communities. On the contrary, conflict theory implies the permanent presence of classes in a state of conflict war over resources, which, moreover, are unequally distributed among the units of society: the power elites have more. Thus, the first difference is the difference in the essence of the ideas themselves. The second difference should be called the approach to the study of society: in functionalism, sociological structures are interrelated, complementary to the development of society, whereas, in conflict theory, they are seen as enemies in a competitive battle. A third distinction should be made about the nature of optimal change, which is peculiar to the theories. Functionalism sees stability in societys slow, gradual transformation, while conflict theory identifies abrupt and radical change as the key to development. Finally, authorship can also be seen as a distinction, especially if the continuity of national ideas is taken into account. Thus, functionalism was formed by the French sociologist Durkheim, while conflict theory was created a little earlier by the German philosopher Marx.

However, we should also emphasize some connection between the two views of sociology. First, both theories were developed during the New Age, when rational thinking took precedence. Second, both Marx and Durkheim borrowed some ideas from their predecessors and formalized visions that existed in the ancient world. Third, both theories should be categorized as macro theories that consider the same object, society. Finally, functionalism, like conflict theory, recognizes the importance of inequalities, including racism and ethical differentiation.

In a diverse multi-cultural society, cultural conflicts between individuals that represent different backgrounds might occur frequently. The differences in the cultural background might be attributed to the distinctions in age, gender, race, ethnicity, or nationality. The inability of individuals to understand each others worldviews or behaviors due to the inherent cultural paradigms leads to a collision. The analysis of and reflection on the instances of such conflict might be beneficial for individuals living in diverse social environments. Indeed, they contribute to the capability of people to acknowledge the uniqueness of each cultural background and seek ways to find common grounds for relationship building. In this paper, an observed example of a cultural conflict will be described and reflected on with the aim of finding educational implications for the future.

The cultural conflict that I witnessed occurred one year ago between my friend and her classmate. My friend is an Asian American female, and her classmate is a White American female; they are of the same age and attend the same class. However, my friend has been brought up in a cultural environment that cherishes her Asian roots. As we were sitting together in the park, the two girls started to discuss their planned work on a group research project. They could not agree on the approach of task delegation because my friend wanted to do all the tasks together, while her classmate insisted on separating the tasks so that each participant could complete the assigned part individually. The White American girl spoke in an elevated voice, openly declaring her unwillingness to comply with my friends offer of collective work, while my friend tried to explain her position calmly but not assertively enough. They could not reach an agreement for a long time; ultimately, the classmate representing the White American background persuaded my friend to divide the tasks and work independently.

When reflecting on this experience, I might note that as a witness, I was able to see the conflict from a relatively objective perspective. Indeed, since I was not involved in the conflict directly, my position was not biased, and I was able to recognize the particularities of each of the participants in the dispute. When analyzing this situation, I understood that the differences in their vision of the work on the project and their eagerness to pursue each girls vision were influenced by their cultural background. Indeed, they represented American individualist culture and Asian collectivist culture. Moreover, the White American vividly demonstrated assertiveness, which typically connotes the promotion of individual self-interest and self-expression; therefore, assertiveness inherently is consistent with individualistic cultural values (Pham et al. 6). For that matter, when seeking a resolution to such conflicts, one should seek ways to establish dialogue between cultural groups for the purposes of fostering greater cohesion (Marginean et al. 366). Thus, the girls should have communicated their reasoning with respect to their cultural backgrounds to avoid conflict.

In conclusion, the description and reflection on the observed cultural conflict have been valuable lessons learned for my future management of intercultural tensions. The situation I observed, and the reflection and analysis have helped me learn a lesson for the future. Indeed, if I encounter an individual with an opposite perspective on some important issue or merely a different worldview influenced by their background, I will not resist a dialogue or eliminate the opportunity for communication. Instead, I will try to find common features between our cultures to concentrate on them as the mutual basis for fruitful communication. In addition, I will approach the concept of multi-cultural society from the perspective of its contribution to diversity as a positive attribute of the contemporary world. The understanding and respect for the differences between cultures will help me build meaningful communicative links with the representatives of other backgrounds without conflict.

Works Cited

Marginean, Diana, et al. Constructing Intercultural Selves: Bridging Cultural Conflict through Dialectical Engagement. Psychological Studies, vol. 64, no. 3, 2019, pp. 365-375.

Pham, Savannah, et al. Intergenerational Cultural Conflict, Assertiveness, and Adjustment among Asian Americans. Asian American Journal of Psychology, vol. 11, no. 3. 2020, pp. 1-41.

It is important to note that Kenneth Waltz is a neo-realist who identifies three major images which contribute to the conflict around the world. He concludes that although human nature has a role in the preponderance of war and political conflict, it is ultimately due to the anarchic state of international relations.

The first reason can be found in the image of individuals, where he argues that human nature plays some role in promoting war and conflict. These rather rare cases include Saddam Hussein and Napoleon, who were highly militaristic leaders (Waltz, 2018). The politics of masculine human nature of such individuals showcase the fact that human nature cannot be fully excluded from the reasons for wars and conflict. Machiavellian principles also apply in this argument, where a loved leader cannot be a good leader and vice versa. The reason is that effective leadership requires taking actions, which are not always favored by the masses, indicating the role of human nature.

The second reason involves individual states and their structures, where certain states are inherently designed to be expanding their influence. Waltz gives an example from Marxism-Leninisms view of capitalistic expansion, which seeks to grow the economy by widening the overall reach to newer markets (Waltz, 2018). In other words, the internal structure of a state needs its intervention in other states for resources and capital.

The third reason is the international system, which is the main root of war and conflict, and it outweighs the previous two by a substantial margin. The primary reason for war and conflict is not human nature or state structure but international relations (Waltz, 2018). The author describes the current international system as anarchic due to the lack of a sovereign body, which would supervise interactions between states and enforce international laws.

In conclusion, war and conflict are the results of the international systems anarchic structure and not human nature.

Reference

Waltz, K. N. (2018). Man, the state and war: A theoretical analysis (anniversary edition). New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

Relational dialectics can be described as a concept of communication theories that analyses contradictions and tensions that exist in relationships. It was developed by Leslie Baxter who prescribes three primary relational dialectics including Autonomy connection, novelty-predictability, and openness-closeness. Autonomy connection is the desire to be bonded physically and mentally in a relationship but at the same time have individuality, space, and identity. Novelty-predictability is the desire to have certainty in a relationship but at the same time have an element of surprise and ambiguity. Openness and closeness refer to the desire to have openness in communication for the sake of dependability and at the same time a certain level of privacy. Understanding relational dialectics is important for the maintenance of healthy relationships.

The definition of conflict varies with context but at the bottom line, it is a clash of interest. There are two schools of thought referring to whether the conflict is good or bad, one perceives conflict as productive and the other perceives it as destructive. Conflict as being destructive comes from the fact that it is a threat to the established order of relationships and hence conflict should be avoided. Conflict as being productive is viewed as a natural outgrowth of relationships and is a useful, indispensable part of human relationships. As long as the conflict is handled productively, it makes relationships stronger, especially after conflict resolution and gives a platform for negotiation regarding contradicting personal needs and interests.

Mostly, conflict is only bad if it is mismanaged. Conflict can be managed effectively with guidance from the five outlined strategies, which include dominating strategy, obliging style, compromising style, avoiding and integrating styles. Dominating strategy means fighting for ones interest instead of the other and the goal is to win. Obliging strategy is when an individual is less important than the relationship so the main concern is the relationship. Compromising style is when the conflicting parties are willing to give up their portion of the pie to gain something else. Avoiding means walking away from a conflicting situation for example leaving a toxic relationship. Integrating style is when conflicting parties work together to fully meet their needs. Applying a conflict management strategy depends on the situation, for instance in the case of violent relationships, it may be better to avoid by walking away.

Introduction

The information provided by research and theories usually work to intimidate certain groups; for instance, the minorities like gay and feminists. Because of such daunting perspectives on research and theory, many people do not trust research and theory as they feel that such works function only to perpetuate unpopular policies. This notion is decidedly rife despite the fact that many aspects of life are explained by theoretical perceptions or research. For one to make better judgment of a given situation, s/he must be well informed. Marriages, and more specifically gay marriage, have been an issue for debate and to understand or have rational thoughts on it, a person must understand marriage and family, as well as theories, which influence social science research.

Conflict theories purport that, families can take different structures and do not view change as a clash or dysfunctional. Therefore, conflict theorist view gay marriages as only normal and inevitable as the society is not always friendly or stable. Rather they view the society as a system full of inequality where individuals or groups of people compete for resources and services. This theory has been a catalyst for gay marriages and feminism.

Feminist theories hence focus on the manner in which a society is structured in terms of sex and gender roles and how these structures define the relationship between man and woman. Structural-functionalist theory, on the other hand, studies the connection and interaction between a family unit and the society. Under this construct, any issue that seems to diverge from normal or natural fulfillment of societal function is considered dysfunctional.

Is Same Sex Marriage Feminist Matter?

The context of this paper is shaped by the fact that, gay marriages have spurt debates across the world, and this brings up contradiction in national identities. Supporting gay marriages and adoption of children in such families would mean that the normative status of the natural heterosexual nuclear family is threatened (Kitzinger, & Sue, 2004, p.129). Nonetheless, when these marriages are not recognized, it would be an issue of undermining the rights of gay and lesbian people (Ferguson, 2007, p. 42). This issue is, hence, a platform for the discussion of the feminist dilemmas. The discussion dwells on whether feminists should rally in support of the gay marriage to demand basic human right for such individuals, or whether to take issue with the idea and criticize it as an issue, which is against society or a system that is oppressing women (Kitzinger, & Sue, 2004, p.134).

Theorists agree that the increased same-sex marriages have been causing increased polarization of perceptions and designing of a dichotomy which where people have to take a stand for or against (Ferguson, 2007, p. 44). This has to happen without making the marriage itself look like a problem in the society or economic setting. In reality, there seems to be no room for taking a stance, which is not absolute support or total rejection of the same-sex marriage.

When gay/lesbians came out strongly to fight for their recognition, it was a political statement. They thought other people would not dwell so much on this issue of marriage. Nonetheless, this political position is complex because of the real life situation. Gay people are denied fundamental rights, which are supposed to be inalienable (Ferguson, 2007, p. 46). Feminists have increased their campaign for this dichotomy and perception that people must enthusiastically accept or refuse the momentous critique of this institution.

Feminism should not be hell-bent to show that marriage is not a social conduct but equality. Having access to equality has not prevented heterosexual people from opposing it and making it appears as a threat to traditional marriage. Lesbian feminist will continue radical support of family in a democratic way and push for gender and sex relational rights. The goal of feminism seems to be set on introducing serious restructuring of society, reciprocated and equal participation of men and women and especially appreciation of what women do.

Do they Mind the children?

Same-sex couples are at risk people for psychological problems. Even research has shown that, homosexuals have higher rates of suicidal ideation, substance abuse among other psychological problems. Most of them, on the other hand, suffer multiple disorders. Besides, these couples suffer domestic violence at a higher rate compared to normal heterosexual couples (Meezan, & Rauch, 2005, p.92). Men couples have higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases like hepatitis, HPV and HIV. These problems affect of adopted children negatively (Ferguson, 2007, p. 47). When it comes to heterosexual couples, agencies have been particularly strict on their ruling of risk factors but somehow lenient on gay couples.

Children naturally ask questions like, why was I given up for adoption?, Why was I given a fatherless family? and so forth. These concerns define and shape a child, and if not well addressed, the child suffers stress and social isolation. Same-sex parents are likely not to answer these questions well because if they were born and lived with heterosexual families (Meezan, & Rauch, 2005, p.92), they will be in denial and will not want to admit that they have denied a child a father or a mother.

Children have rights too. Later they blame the society or homophobia for their own problems. The children tend feel that there is something wrong with them by wanting a natural family, father, and mother (Meezan, & Rauch, 2005, p.92). A natural desire for a father is seen as a rejection by a lesbian couple. This notion is a tremendous burden for the adopted child.

Conclusion

The worldwide political, religious, and social debate on gay marriages is heightened and already destabilized climate for gays and lesbians. There is increased societal intolerance, rejection, and lack of support for gay marriages based on the idea that gay couples cannot provide psychological physical health and safety to a children and society.

Reference List

Ferguson, A. (2007). Gay Marriage: An American and Feminist Dilemma. Hypatia, 22(1), 39-57. Web.

Kitzinger, C., & Sue, W. (2004). The Re-Branding Of Marriage: Why We Got Married Instead Of Registering A Civil Partnership. Feminism and Psychology, 14(1), 127-150. Web.

Meezan, W., & Rauch, J. (2005). Gay Marriage, Same-Sex Parenting, And Americas Children. The Future of Children, 15(2), 90-113. Web.

Functionalism theory

Functionalism theory developed from the work of Durkheim, who evaluated how part of society unite to form a whole society (Andersen and Taylor, 20). The theory gives an account of each section of society that comes together to build a whole society. According to functionalism theory, each part and institution depend on each other, and they have a direct influence on the whole of society. Family is one of the institutions in society, and it has multiple functions that integrate people into society. Andersen and Taylor (20) indicate that the family offers reproductive roles and children are taught the changes in society that helps them to understand the surrounding better. These traits of the family contribute to the stability, and prosperity of society and the same applies to other institutions like government, education, and religion in society.

Thus, the theory maintains the sharing of public resources that produce an orderly society. Several changes are brought by the incompetence of society; thus, the parts in society should be organized well to bring stability (Powers 175). The functionalism theory argues that when one part of society is not functioning well, it influences all other parts and cause social problems in society. The changes that may occur due to the malfunctioning of some part in the society may be beneficial or may hurt society. These negative impacts from malfunctioning in the social system include a breakdown in shared values and social institutions no longer meet the peoples needs. The theory was further developed by Robert Merton, who argued that social activities have consequences for society that are not always immediately perceptible. Meanwhile, the theory was further developed by Talcott Parsons, who urged that all parts of the social system interact. Therefore, the theory is concern about the togetherness of all parts of society to produce a whole society.

Conflict theory

According to Andersen and Taylor (21), conflict theory focuses on the role of coercion and power that gives individuals or groups the ability to influence and control others in producing social order. While, functionalism emphasis unity within society, conflict theory focuses on strive and friction in society. The theory emphasizes the order in society is maintained by power and not unity and the power is with the mighty ones. From a perspective of conflict theory, consensus occurs because people are united to attain a common interest and often in conflict with other groups. The theory demonstrates that the unequal distribution of the resource is brought by people who are powerful and want everything to be in their interest.

Coercion and social control unite people in society, but there is exceptional of shared values and conformity. Andersen and Taylor (21) indicate that individuals and groups fight for control over societys resources trying to secure them to meet their interests. Therefore, those with most resources put pressure on those without resources, and in the end, there is an unequal distribution of resources. The theory views the race and class to contribute to the unjust done to the minority because they accumulate resources that give them the power to fight the poor in society (Powers 175). Therefore, the conflict theory has been criticized for not emphasizing the issue of shared values in a society like functionalism, but its focus on inequality and social control. However, like functionalist theory, it traces the origin of social behavior in the structure of society, but it differs from functionalism in that it focuses on the significance of power. Finally, functionalist views families as a contributing factor to the stability of society, but conflict theorists view families as reflecting systems of power in society.

Works Cited

Andersen, Margaret and Taylor, Francis. Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society. New York: CengageBrain Inc, 2007. Print.

Powers, Charles. Making Sense of Social Theory: A Practical Introduction. United Kingdom: Rowman and Little Field Press, 2010. Print.