Answer

Racial Profiling in view of the Sociological Perspectives

Racial profiling is a contemporary issue in the society whose solution continues to evade many stakeholders. Simply defined, racial profiling is any form of discrimination or mistreatment on account of one’s race alone. Sociologists have attempted to understand racial profiling and the reasons behind it. The theories of structural functionalism, social conflict the symbolic interactionist theory can all be used to view the phenomenon of racial profiling. It is surprising that even amidst the realities of globalization, increased levels of education and varied forms of intercultural relations, the problem of racial profiling still persists (Normand & Derouet, 2016). The continued reports on incidences of racial profiling prove that this cancerous problem can only be solved through consistent attitude change, breaking down of systemic structures that support discrimination and the unconditional repudiation of racial stereotypes, prejudices and unfounded biases.

Structural Functionalism

This sociological perspective views society as a conglomeration of parts. These parts are what function together for the sake of attaining stability and balance. It attempts to understand society from the lens of the social structures that members of the society are defined by. These social structures are like the family, religious organizations, learning institutions, political groups and many more. According to this perspective, every social structure has a particular set of expected functions, and these functions are what make the society (Potts et al. 2016). In the view, the society is an organism with parts that work separately but for the overall good of the body. The main focus of this perspective is a view that society is made up of social structures and institutions that all work to give it balance and meaning.

In the eyes of a structural functionalist, racial profiling is a phenomenon in the perceived hierarchy of races in which every race has to understand their position for the society to function efficiently. In this view, there are races that are the owners of the means of production, and there are those who provide labour to these owners of production. For the society to function, this dichotomy has to be understood. In other words, the status quo that is racial profiling, provided it makes the society stable, is to be left as it is. In this regard, the races that engage in profiling see it as a way of exerting their informal structural advantages that have benefited them and kept them powerful. The system always strives to attain equilibrium, and regardless of the means it uses, it stays that way all the same.

Social Conflict

According to the social conflict theory, the society is always dynamic and is characterised by consistent change as a consequence of the competition for scarce resources. While structural functionalism sees life as an interaction of complex forces all aimed at attaining equilibrium, social conflict theory views social life as a competition in which opposing forces are always clamouring for the scarce resources available (Pruitt, 2018). Sociologists who attempt to understand social change from this perspective look at the distribution of power, resources and inequality. Large social structures and organizations like governments, religions, group of schools and many others are just a demonstration of the competition for resources. In this view, those with more resources, power and influence use these instruments to maintain their position. For every social institution they study, they attempt to find out who benefits. The main focus of this perspective then is a view of social life as a dynamic phenomenon that is characterised by persistent struggle over resources and power. Competition over scarce resources, rather than a consensus on how to utilize them, is at the heart of every social relationship.

The social conflict sociologist views racial profiling as a demonstration of opposing forces—the ones doing the actual profiling and the ones against whom the profiling is done. This profiling is seen as being enhanced by the desire to hold onto the scarce resources available, hold onto power and continue the inequality systems. According to them then, racial profiling benefits the person who discriminates and disadvantages the one being discriminated against. Stratification, according to this view, is harmful in the society, but the racial profiling which is a form of the stratification is perpetuated because it benefits the powerful at the expense of the weak and the poor. 

Symbolic Interactionist Theory

This perspective assesses the relationship between human beings and society. In this view, the human actions can be understood via the exchange of symbols of communication. Symbolic interactionism is guided by the notion that people react towards situations and things depending on what those situations or things mean to them. It is important to note that meaning, for the symbolic interactionist, is derived out of social interactions (Carter & Fuller, 2016). It is these interactions that fit together the varied individualized ways of reactions. In this perspective, we begin by imagining how we must appear to others and the judgement of that particular appearance before we can develop ourselves through the judgement of others.  It is important to note that symbolic interactionism begin early in life even for children, where a cry as a symbol is used to draw attention to them and call out for the need for necessities. The focus of symbolic interactionism is on the subjective nature of reality and the looking glass self theory (Carter & Fuller, 2016). This is achieved through a systematic study of meaning and communication.

The symbolic interactionist would view racial profiling as being a symbol of various underlying issues in society. For instance, it would view it as a symbol of the exertion of power and influence of one group over another. This exertion of power and influence may be as a result of systemic advantages that are felt to be held by the ones who profile other groups. The profiling can also be seen as a means of communication one group’s exceptionalism and feelings of superiority. When a group feels exceptional and superior, they may want to outwardly show this through profiling people from other races. Alternatively, racial profiling may be a sign of the ignorance of one group on the equality of people and races, so that their subjective view is conditioned solely by their social interactions.

Critical Thinking Analysis

Racial profiling as a phenomenon is a negative aspect as it entails at its core the questioning of the equality of races. It is important to say from the outset that racial profiling constitutes discrimination which is unnecessary for the positive progress of society. This notwithstanding, racial profiling is still a cancerous issue, affecting many people every day.

It has been noted under the structural functionalism that racial profiling is a way of society that it uses to attain some kind of equilibrium. The equilibrium attained through racial profiling cannot be regarded as a positive experience. Racial profiling is a system through which the imbalances of the social structures—including the systemic and systematic discriminatory– issues are brought to the fore. It is difficult to see such active dynamism from the perspective of equilibrium. The notion that there can anything good that can emanate from racial profiling is a frightening possibility. It is a possibility that is founded on a discriminatory practice. It would therefore be very difficult for the structural functionalist to respond to a situation whereby the people on the end of racial profiling decide to have a social action in which they actively demand an end to this practice.

Racial profiling is about perceptions of power, of a perceived hierarchy of races and of ingrained systemic perceptions that may be prejudicial and totally unfounded (Shjarback et al 2017). The ones who racially profile others do not just imagine that they are better; they believe others are inferior. As the conflict theory rightly says, the constant competition for power and resources forms the basis of most cases of racial profiling. The ones who own the scarce resources may feel that the only way to keep the other races out is to create a false system of beliefs that shape the way that these races are perceived and treated. These false beliefs cause them to be treated unfairly and with suspicion. They are then excluded through measures like racial profiling.

This type of profiling is not only a demonstration of power and influence; it is also a symbol of the perceptions and realities that exist in society. Racial profiling can either be a symbol of one’s feeling of being better while at the same time being a symbol of the ignorance that characterizes everyday social interactions. A young child does not advance racial profiling out of the blues; they do so following the few social interactions they have had. 

As discussed above, the three theories attempt to interpret social reality from different perspectives. The structural functionalist perspective views these conflicts as attempts at attaining equilibrium. The conflict theory sees them as a demonstration of persistent competition especially over the scarce resources and power. On the other hand, the symbolic interactionist perspective is of the view that these conflicts are symbols that are interpreted differently depending on the people’s culture. Ultimately, racial profiling is a conflict in society that is advanced for discriminatory purposes, and regardless of the sociological perspective used, demonstrates an imbalance and the bad of society.