Blog: 3 Parsons, Durkheim
Emile Durkheim was born in Lorraine, France in 1858 and passed away in 1917. He is known as the father of Sociology. Durkheim believed that society was the sum of all social activities, an organism composed of parts. In other words, the constitution is not just a book of laws; individuals are able to study it. Emile believed that history studied the small pieces of a puzzle, but he mentioned that society is not understood this way. Instead, one must go through the small pieces and build a puzzle, in other words the big picture and study it to make a clear statement. One of Emile famous work was the one about suicide and how it varies in different religions. Durkheim stated that an individual must first use imperial data and statistics from positivism, study sociology scientifically (Zoft 2013). On the side of Durkheim, Parsons was born in Colorado he graduated in 1924 from Amherst College with a major of economics. As an instructor at Harvard he discovered Durkheim’s work. One of Parson’s main points is AGIL. AGIL was a function, a complex of activities directed towards meeting a need or needs of system. In the documentary, Maid in America domestic workers shows a clear picture of what Parsons means by AGIL. Therefore, allowing readers to make a better understanding of this term.
In Maid in America, the concept AGIL is present, and one is able to confirm Parsons work through this documentary. I will explain why, to begin with, I will define what each letter means to define the whole term. A stands for adapting, adjusting to and transforming the external world, G defines the goal attainment or defining system goals and mobilizing resources to attain them (Ritzer 2008). I defines integration which is a function by controlling its components parts, and L is for latency, providing actors with norms and values that motivate them for action.
Furthermore, in Maid in America we are able to see A meaning adaption, through the sense that Telma as well as many domestic workers must adapt to the American life in the United States. G or goal attainment is found through the fact that even though there are many obstacles to reach each individual’s dreams and some women that are domestic workers are selfish because they leave behind their kids such as Judit. Or another way this can be understood is through the fight for justice. Domestic workers in the U.S. specifically in California fight as a group for their rights. Being that each has a goal to meet and they are willing to fight for their goal to be accomplished. In Maid in America they unite to get treated correctly at home as well as decent pay for their hard labor as maids. I then or integration would be an example of Eva’s story; Eva in this case integrates to the U.S. by learning the English language which makes it easier for her to communicate with many individuals surrounding her. And finally L for Latency is defined through what these domestic workers have learned in their life experience and they are able to fight for their rights. In this documentary, latency can be related with CHIRLA, which is Coalition for Human Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. Many domestic workers are able to combat for their rights as civilian workers. The above mentioned then, completes the AGIL’s function, complicated activities leading to connecting a need or needs of a system (Ritzer 2008). Many domestic workers must fight through a battle to meet their needs.
To conclude, with Parsons’ AGIL function in mind, Maid in America clearly defines what Parsons way of thinking is through this function. Many workers come to U.S., an unknown country for them and they must adapt. They all have a goal and they will fight through the trail to succeed in the U.S. This then demonstrates how this function is true.