What is the Functionalist perspective of race and ethnicity?

A Functionalist perspective on Race and Ethnicity is that Functionalists believe that in terms of understanding ethnic stratification it is possible to achieve a value consensus in wider society regardless of cultural variations between ethnic groups in society. Functionalists believe that Ethnic groups need to become assimilated into mainstream or dominant culture. A key assumption behind this approach is that although societies go through a period of adaption with an influx of immigrant groups that it naturally manages to stabilise itself through absorption. Functionalists theorise that when immigrants become assimilated into the host society they can participate in the benefits of the host society, such as upward social mobility.

Functionalist study on race and ethnicity Sheila Patterson (1965) 'Dark Strangers'

Enjoy,

Shaun Lawless (Sociology Student in Aberdeen