Theoretical Perspectives in 'Operation Varsity Blues'

Theoretical Perspectives in 'Operation Varsity Blues'
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Order Theory Perspective in “Operation Varsity Blues”
Order Theory refers to a way of looking at society as having a “social order” of generally consistent behavioral patterns. It is defined as a system of shared ideals and social procedures that reduce confusion, disturbance, and confrontation while encouraging individuals to work together. People who value order regard society as a force for good, or at the very least stability, and consider abrupt interruptions or social disputes as detrimental. Order theory is in line with structural-functionalism or functionalism, historically, the most prevalent and dominant model of sociological order theory. The essence of functionalism is that society comprises several social structures in which standard patterns of social life order people’s behavior. Moreover, every structure serves one of more roles that have practical purposes in society.
Concerning the case provided and named “Operation Varsity Blues,” the order theory and perspective can be used to analyze the situation. According to structural-functionalism, the learning institutions are societies that should have features of consensus, reciprocity, cohesion, and stability. However, this is not the case because the order required in running these societies is lacking. For instance, some students’ wealthy and celebrity parents use their social status to get what they want even if they do not deserve it in the real sense (Hextrum, 2019). These wealthy and influential people have been misusing their fortune to bribe school administrators and coaches to initiate admission of their children into universities even though the students have little or no sports experience as athletes.
According to the order theory, the parts of the system have to interrelate and be in harmony, which is attained via a high level of a corporation or societal integration, cultural values, and consensus of societal objectives. In this case, the parts that create the educational fraternity in the eight institutions involved in the scandals are in some conflict (Hextrum, 2019). The affluent parents have been conspiring with university officials by giving bribes in exchange for fraudulent athletes’’ admissions. This is not in order with the morals and societal expectations because it creates conflicts. For instance, unqualified students have been admitted to competitive universities while the qualified financially struggling students miss their admission chances that they are the rightful heirs. While the needy students suffer, the wealthy ones enjoy the chances they do not deserve (Cole, 2017). There is no harmony in any act of bribery and discrimination against others in society. Structural functionalism, which is under order theory and perspective, expects that all parts, in these cases, students, parents, coaches, and administrators, must be in harmony, cohesion, reciprocity, and stability.
However, the involvement of the legal process and the court system serves to bring back order to the society, which is championed by structural functionalists’ perspectives. The court filings concerning the contrasted operation varsity blues to the legal procedure of school admissions and athletic recruitments are essential in encouraging social harmony and order required through equality and justice. Colleges and high learning institutions set various criteria to admit students with talent; however, the legal processes and standards have to be followed during admissions with discrimination and corruption, as seen in the case (todayonline.com, 2019). The prosecution of Singer and the other 33 people involved in the scandal indicates the importance of maintaining social order, cohesion, stability, and harmony for positive interaction of people in the society.
Conflict Theory Perspective in “Operation Varsity Blues”
Inequalities occur in all cultures across the world, according to the conflict perspective theory. The many elements of master status in social position—the major distinguishing feature of a person considered in terms of racial or ethnic group, gender, religion, age, disability or ability, and socio-economic position—are of special importance to conflict theory (Dahling & Gutworth, 2017). According to the conflict paradigm, every civilization is afflicted by inequity regarding social inequalities between the privileged class and other groups in society. When looking at any aspect of society from this perspective, one must consider a variety of concerns (Liska, 2018). These include status, wealth, and power structures, as well as how such structures sustain one group’s political, economic, social, and coercive dominance at the expense of others.
Consistent with conflict theory, the family always perpetuates social disparity in society by reinforcing and maintaining the status quo. In the case of providing in “Operation Varsity Blues,” conflict is noted wher...