 Dear students, in this module we are going to discuss one of the very important aspects of socialization particularly in the theoretical context that is the functionalist approach that how structural functionalists view the socialization process. Socialization is considered necessary for the maintenance of social order and stability. As you know that functionalists are always viewing the society as a perpetual system that is leading towards the consensus and social order. So, this they do consider that socialization is the function that helps this process moving towards the consensus. So, it teaches the individuals the values, norms and rules necessary for the society to function. Socialization process, when we talk about functionalist perspective, it is considered a very basic or very foundational aspect of society and it guides the individuals, the values, the norms regarding them according to them. So, in Pakistan functionalist might point to the role of family, education, religion in teaching the children, the cultural practices and traditions which are central to the Pakistani society. So, they are of the view that every individual must be embedded within the society through the process of socialization. So, it also ensures that the individuals are equipped to perform the rules necessary for the functioning of society. So, they are of the view that whatever exists in the society exists because of its functional nature. Since socialization is very important and very fundamental function for the individuals, so that is why the socialization exists in the society. In this approach socialization is viewed as the positive force that contributes to the well-being of both individual and society. So, they do consider that without socialization society cannot be formed and without society an individual cannot be socialized. So, they both are substituting to each other. If we talk about its limitations, one of the limitations is that it emphasis on the consensus and it downplays the conflict. It doesn't mean that individuals are always having relationships based on consensus, they are always in a cooperation. However, they are in the situations where conflict also becomes part of the normality. So, it downplays that conflict part of our socialization process and may overlook the ways in which socialization can be used to maintain these power differences. Because while adopting this process of socialization, we do have our differences which creates potential inequalities in the society, our functionalists generally ignore these aspects while talking about the socialization process.