Functionalist View on Gender Inequality

Question 1

What did Parsons claim

Answer 1

He felt that separate gender roles for men and women were helpful for societies. He claimed that women were more suited to expressive roles and men were ideal candied for instrumental roles.

Question 2

What does Parsons view imply about the pay gap

Answer 2

That men are more suited to paid employment and women are more suited to domesticity.

Women are less motivated and less suited to the labour market than men.

Therefore he suggests that it is not surprising they are paid less

Question 3

What do some economists suggest about the pay gap

Answer 3

The pay gap between men and women is justified because it reflects that men have more ‘human capital’ than women because of their greater orientation to paid work.

Question 4

What do women have to do that makes the pay gap larger

Answer 4

Have children and look after them, and opt for part time work instead.
Men in this time can build up skills and gain more experience as their employment isn’t interrupted by family commitments

Question 5

What is the human capital theory criticised by

Answer 5

Olsen and Walby (2004), they investigated pay differences between men and women

Question 6

What do Olsen and Walby (2004) say

Answer 6

They accept that pay differences are present because women tend to experience less full-time employment than men. But they reject the idea that the main cause of women’s low pay is the ‘systematic disadvantage in acquiring human capital’