Final answer:
Sociologists use various theoretical perspectives such as functionalism, conflict, and interactionism to understand media coverage disparities in societal issues. These perspectives explore the role of media in reflecting and reinforcing social norms, inequalities, and behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Within sociology, the disparities in media coverage, such as those between a crackdown on child marriages and extensive coverage of lavish millionaire weddings, can be analyzed using several theoretical perspectives. The functionalist perspective might examine the social functions media serve and their role in promoting societal norms, while the conflict perspective would focus on media's role in reproducing social inequalities and the differential access to media. The interactionist perspective might explore how media representations contrast with reality and influence individual behaviors and societal expectations. the dichotomies observed in societal aspects is found in applying these different sociological perspectives to understand and explain the reasons behind such disparities. Sociologists analyze patterns of social behavior, cultural norms, and the resulting consequences on various societal groups, incorporating the impact of media and technology as significant factors. Critical examination of media coverage supports understanding the selective nature of media narratives and their potential to reflect and reinforce existing power structures within society.
Despite the diversity of approaches, these perspectives together help explain why certain social issues receive more attention than others, how social norms and values are reflected in media choices, and the implications these have on public awareness and societal change.