FUNCTIONALISM + ETHNIC INEQUALITIES

Question 1

what do functionalists believe about ethnic inequalities?

Answer 1

• early ethnic inequalities experienced by immigrants were the product of their cultural differences and low levels of skills

Question 2

what kind of society do functionalists believe in?

Answer 2

• meritocratic society

Question 3

what do functionalists believe will decrease ethnic inequalities?

Answer 3

• they believe the meritocratic society will decrease the inequalities as an immigrant will adopt the norms and values of mainstream society and climb their way up the career ladder

Question 4

who talk about the host immigration model

Answer 4

Patterson

Question 5

what does Patterson argue about

Answer 5

the host immigration model

Question 6

explain the host immigration model

Answer 6

• presents Britain as a stable homogenous society with a high degree of consensus over norms and values
• equilibrium disrupted by the arrival of immigrants in the 1950swho had different sets of norms and values resulting in a culture clash
• argues hosts aren’t racist but weren’t aware of how to act towards the newcomers

Question 7

what were the three reasons for ethnic inequality based on Pattersons theory?

Answer 7

1. host cultures fear of the cultural differences of the immigrants and the social change they would bring
2. the host culture’s resentment of having to compete with immigrants for resources like jobs and houses
3. failure to assimilate the immigrants to make them fully and totally British

Question 8

what were the three stages the minorities would go through to completely assimilate into society according to Patterson?

Answer 8

1. accommodation = minimal adaption and acceptance of mainstream like finding employment and learning the customs of co-workers
2. integration = hosts and immigrants socialise with one another outside of work
3. assimilation = complete assimilation of the immigrants

Question 9

evaluation of Patterson

Answer 9

• emphasis on the dynamic nature of ethnic relationships
• she’s naive to assume all ethnic minorities assimilate
• postmodernists Britain is a multicultural society where ethnic minorities co-exist together side by side and diversity is celebrated
• Marxists criticise as she ignores the role of capitalism plays within society and how the division of race helps maintain the structure
• assimilation will remain an idealistic foal is impossible to achieve under capitalism