Functionalist Explanations For Social Class Inequality

Question 1

Durkheim

Answer 1

Class stratification existed because it was functional and beneficial to social order.
- modern society is characterised as a ‘specialist division of labour’ in which people have different functions, skills and abilities- characterised by social divisions

• people are content to take their positions within the division of labour as they believe in its moral worth
• this value consensus means members accept the legitimacy of stratification - it is beneficial because it sets limits on competition and aspirations

Question 2

Parsons

Answer 2

Supports Durkheim and suggests that social inequality is functional and that it is an inevitable feature of a social system that requires order and ranking.

Ranking - based on value consensus about what society values and therefore there is generally agreement about who deserves the highest rewards.

Ranking- based on a consensus about what family values
•kinship 
• personal qualities
• achievement 
• possessions
• authority

Question 3

Davies and Moore

Answer 3

All societies should ensure that their most important positions are filled with the most talented and skilled people
- important jobs need the highest rewards

Class societies are meritocracies - high income and status are guaranteed in order to motivate gifted people
- people's class position is a fair reflection of their talents 

They believe that stratification is necessary because people accept the meritocratic principles on which society is based
- stratification encourages all members of society to work to the best of their ability

Question 4

Saunders (new right- development of functionalism)

Answer 4

Agreed with Davies and Moore - believes that they were correct in saying that stratification serves important functions ( even critics believe that stratification is universal )

He sees a degree of inequality as desirable and functional in order to encourage competition
- believes that economic growth has raised the standards of living for everyone (social mobility)

Question 5

Murray - new right

Answer 5

• cultural underclass
• argued that there was an underclass in the USA and a similar group were developing in the U.K.
  • underclass promoted a ‘dependency culture’ - would not take responsibility for their own situations and depended on the Welfare State to survive
• he blamed the welfare state - no incentive to work - the culture that has developed has led to a number of social problems
  •crime
  • unemployment
  • motherhood
  • illegitimacy