Functionalist (inequality)

Question 1

Parsons

Answer 1

• Value consensus
  -individuals are rewarded for achieving things society considers valuable

Question 2

Davis + Moore

Answer 2

• Stratification is necessary to society:
  1) It allocates the right people to the most important roles
  2) It ensures that people perform these roles to the highest standards
• Roles are important if they have:
  1) Functional uniqueness (only a small number could do it)
  2) Dependence of others (other people need them)

Question 3

Tumin

Answer 3

criticises Davis + Moore

-Is it possible to determine functional importance: it’s just an opinion.
- The pool of talent: may be down to opportunity, not skill.
- Stratification actually creates resentment.
- Pay can reflect power, not how much people deserve it

Question 4

Murdoch

Answer 4

Women are unable to perform strenuous tasks so are best located in the home

Question 5

Human capital theory

Answer 5

Men develop more ‘work capital’ due to prioritising their careers and are therefore worth more/ more useful

Question 6

Patterson

Answer 6

• The host immigrant model (proposed causes of ethnic inequality) :
  1) Fear of cultural differences
  2) Resentment of competing over shared resources
  3) Failure of immigrants to assimilate

STAGES OF ASSIMILATION
1) Accommodation- minimal adaptation to basics of culture
2) Intergration- socialising with other cultures
3) Assimilation- complete acceptance
-Patterson argued this could lead to complete amalgamation by interbreeding

EVALUATION
-Patterson is naive to assume ‘assimilation’ will occur
-Postmodernists argue Britain is multicultural with all cultures working side by side
-Marxists would argue that she ignores the impact of capitalism, which causes division preventing assimilation

Question 7

Talcott parsons

Answer 7

• Both youth and elderly threaten social stability.
  -Youth is a bridge to adulthood and needs sanctions

Question 8

Eisenstadt + Parsons

Answer 8

The elderly need to have roles (e.g. childcare)

EVALUATION
-not everyone wants a role
-many older people have roles anyway
-people aren’t valued as individuals

Question 9

Cummings + Henry (1961)

Answer 9

• Disengagement theory
  -old people must be disengages from society in preparation for death
  -abilities deteriorate with ageing
  -a process of disengagement avoids a gap in society
  -managed disengagement is needed (e.g. retirement)

EVALUATION
-ignores the individual
-not all elderly people deteriorate at the same rate
-not everyone wants a role: too positive