Sociological theory creates ways of understanding the social world by having different theories to explain social life. It helps make sense of this social world. It brings together a wide range of perspectives to help provide a more complete picture. (Macionis & Plummer p.36) This shows that one theory can explain something that another cannot explain. My goal is to answer this question with reference to both functionalism and conflict theory. This will be done by comparing and contrasting the two theories in relation to their perspectives on suicide and gender discrimination as relevant social issues in our times. Both functionalism and conflict perspectives are macro theories. This means that they focus on the big picture, for example social structure, social institutions and economic change. Functionalism views society as a complex system whose parts are interconnected. This perspective comes from the work of Émile Durkheim, who was interested in the relative stability of society. Emilie recognized that society exists beyond us: it has its own life. (Macionis & Plummer p.124) He recognized that society has the power to shape our thoughts and actions. Functionalism holds that the study of society as a whole can only capture human experience. Durkheim viewed crime as a “vital function for the continued life of society itself.” (Macionis & Plummer p.125) He believed that crime was completely normal and that society would not exist without it. Functionalism sees society as an integrated whole whose parts strive to hold the whole together and sometimes it does not function well and falls apart. (Macionis & Plummer p.37) Durkheim did not precisely define the factors and dynamics responsible for the unity of society. He focused middle of paper......to explain issues that the other cannot. The interpretation of different social issues varies according to different theories. References: Turner, Bryan S., 2009 Blackwell Companions to Sociology, The New Blackwell Companion to Social Theory, Actions, Actors, and Systems, Chapter 5, p.106-123, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, United Kingdom. Turner, JH, Beeghley, L., Powers, CH, 2007 The Emergence of Sociological Theory, 6th Edition, Thomson Wadsworth Australia.Macionis, JJ and Plummer, K. 2012 Sociology: A Global Introduction, 5th Edition, Pearson Education Limited EnglandPlummer, K 2010, Sociology: The Basics, Routledge, Oxon.Back, L., Bennett, A., Edles, D, L., Gibson, M., Inglis, D., Jacobs, R. & Woodward I 2012, Cultural sociology : an introduction, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, West Sussex. Sociology: Understanding and changing the social world, Flat World Knowledge