Functionalism

Question 1

“Davis-Moore Thesis.” - Class

Answer 1

Stratification or unequal distribution of rewards ensures that the most talented
and trained individuals will fulfil the social roles of greatest importance.

Meritocratic

Question 2

Tumin - Class

Answer 2

Further, Tumin levels the charge that the functionalist theory applies to a competitive
society and not to an ascriptive society.

Davis and Moore are concerned more with
differential positions and less with the mechanism for recruitment

Question 3

Bowles and Gintis - Class

Answer 3

myth of meritocracy reflected through the school system

Question 4

Spencer - Class

Answer 4

class stratification was justified on the basis of “natural” inequalities among individuals,

Question 5

Saunders (1990) - Class

Answer 5

Agrees with meritocracy

Saunders argues that ability and effort are the key factors in occupational successes, not class background. He used data from the national child development study to show that children who are smart and hard working will succeed regardless of the social advantages or disadvantages they experience.

Question 6

Young - Class

Answer 6

‘Meritocracy’ - where people with merit are rewarded with higher levels of status and money - a meritocracy would see rewards given based on merit

Question 7

Parsons - Gender

Answer 7

Parsons felt that separate biological gender roles for men and women are functional and helpful for societies

• Women are more suited to expressive roles; caring and emotion.
• Men are more suited to instrumental roles; showing aggression, competition and achievement.

Question 8

Rastogi - Gender

Answer 8

‘Human capital theory’

women are less committed to paid employment than men

Question 9

Sue Sharpe - gender

Answer 9

shows a difference between females priorities in the 1970’s and the 1990’s.

Question 10

Parsons - age

Answer 10

Argues that many older people actively disengage from some social roles

Question 11

Davis and Moore - age

Answer 11

Therefore age inequality in the labour market is functional because otherwise the wrong people would be allocated roles that are not suited to their ability and therefore the market would not run smoothly

Question 12

Gramsci - age

Answer 12

rejects the idea of role allocation and suggests its simply a myth created the bourgeoisie to justify age inequality

Question 13

Cumming and Henry - age

Answer 13

the ageing process and society’s reaction to it is part of the process by which the elderly are encouraged to abandon their occupational roles within the specialised division of labour
•this process of ‘social disengagement’ allows the younger population to take their place in the labour market with minimum disruption

Question 14

Warde and Hetherington - ender

Answer 14

claim that the gender roles that Parsons identified weren’t equal, they arguably inhibit women’s ability to have a career.