In a U.S. context, exclusive English-language education is frequently criticized as putting the children of immigrants at a disadvantage and undermining their cultural identity. Teaching some classes in Spanish or another prominent minority language is often advocated as a more equitable alternative. However, conflict theory suggests that this approach to education will reinforce social inequality. In an English-majority society, teaching in minority languages is likely to receive fewer resources and be generally lower-quality due to it being a lesser priority for dominant groups. As a result, members of those groups that rely on it will be placed at a disadvantage, reflecting their lesser ability to struggle for equitable resource allocation. Conversely, order theory would emphasize the socially integrative value of teaching in secondary languages. In addition to offering a more natural path for the integration of immigrant communities into mainstream society, this method will expose members of the majority to minority cultures, increasing their sensitivity. Thus, one can describe the same policy as reinforcing inequality and strengthening social harmony, depending on the theoretical framework used.
Equal pay for equal work is a highly sensitive topic in discussions of sexual discrimination. From the critical theory perspective, female employees receiving less pay than their male colleagues for identical work is both a product and a source of gender inequality. Women are paid less because they have less power in society, and employers find it easier to ignore or downplay their interests. As a result, women’s inferior status is perpetuated, which will continue to happen unless their systemic inequality is successfully challenged. Order theory suggests that pay inequality reflects a long-standing social consensus on a historically complicated issue. Women are paid less because they are perceived to be less valuable employees, less likely to be as qualified, and more likely to leave work, whether temporarily (on maternity leave) or permanently. This consensus will gradually evolve in response to changes in the female workforce, which would also remove or at least drastically reduce pay inequality. Since society naturally moves towards a harmony of interests, no forceful intervention is necessary. This example shows how different macro theories of society can inform reactions to social problems.