Functionalism & Social Stratification

Functionalism & Social Stratification

1. Structural theory

   • All strucutures sereves a useful function
   • A strong collective conscious exist in society; binding indviduals together
   • Explains social world with reference to systems

2. Durkhiem

   • Explained the development of inequality in terms of the transformation from agricultural socities into industralised complex societies
   • Modern soceities require highly specialised divisions of labour to occupy hospitals, schools etc.
     • As industralised soceties are complex, they need specialisit to undertake various of jobs to ensure running smoothly.
   • The different jobs of division of labour generate different status and power than others
     • Individuals would accept this aslong as they deemed it fair, though it could also be controlled through institiations and socialisation

3. Davis and Moores

   • Society needs most talented to perform most skilled jobs and thus pay them accordingly
   • Society is meritocratic and thus the examination system would sift and sort individuals with their class position reflecting this allocation
   • There is an expectation that those at the top would sacrafise early on in life to make this 'power' possible

4. Parsons

   • In industralised societies stratifcation exists on the basis of which roles are agreed to be most important and functional to society
   • This agreement occurs as people are socialised into shared norms and values by institutiosn
   • The value consensus that occurs is what hold society together - gives social order.
   • Values give people a common goal - work hard...

5. Evaluation of Func...

   • Cultural capital - Bourdie - not all suceed in exams
   • Soceity not meritocratic not everyone starts at the same point.
   • Society not harminous - capitalist exploit proletariat
   • No emperical evidence - - assumptions - though deep analysis shows not most functional jobs lead to higest pay - i.e. Nurse earns less than bankers