Sociological Theories Of Progeria

Analysis of the Sociological Theories

The Progeria Research Foundation is an organization that helps children that has Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome or commonly known as progeria. Progeria is a rare fatal genetic disease that affects children by accelerating the aging process of their appearance. There is no cure for this disease and the average life span of a child with this disorder is fourteen years of age. My senior year of high school I dedicated my senior project to this organization to raise awareness and help donate money towards a cure, and since then I have been a member. Looking at this institution from a sociological point of view I will analyze it using thee major sociological theories which are structural functionalism,

Talcott Parson is the founder of this theory, but the theory was also highly influenced by Emile Durkheim. Structural functionalism is very interdependence driven. Within the Progeria organization an example of interdependence would be between the medical researchers and the patients. This relationship is what drives the entire organization. They both rely on each other for scientific purposes for the researchers and for keeping the hope alive for the patients. This combination of science and hope creates a functional environment that manifest peace despite dire situations. Although the medical researchers and patients are important they are not the only parts of the equation. Business officials, donators, parents, and supporters are all part of what makes this organization an integrated whole. All of the parts of the organization work separately but connectively to promote change within their environment. Although the ultimate change would be finding a cure for the children they also adapt to little changes. Theses changes could be discovering more children with this disease and slowly introducing them to the environment within the organization, or the medical trails that the children endure. Change is an inevitable circumstance especially envolving medicine and children growing to understand their

This theory examines social differences and how they can potentially lead to oppression and inequality within groups or individuals. This theory was found and also influenced by Karl Marx. Conflict theory looks to expose inequalities through groups, but within this particular institution I can not definitively say that a group is being oppressed within the organization. However I can point out some legitimations that may hide within society that impact the individuals with this disease. An example would be language that people use verbally and also art. Both of these agents fall victim to casting the children as helpless victims of this disease. While we feel sympathetic for these children it can make the child more self aware that they are different, and like they are not a part of the norm. Where as this disease is fatal and these children are victims of it they are still human like everyone else and still live everyday life like others but with slight limitations. Due to these legitimations some of the children choose to speak out or make videos to show that they are like any other child. A child named Sam Berns performed a Ted Talk about how to live a happy life. Sam was diagnosed with progeria at the age of two and he was then a junior in high school when he performed this talk. In the talk he talks about his philosophy of living a happy life despite knowing what the disease is doing to him. He shows a different