Functionalist View On Stratification

Question 1

What does Durkheim argue

Answer 1

Class conflict was associated with the transition of two stages of social solidarity.
• “ mechanical solidarity “ - found in traditional society , meaning that society had a religious based conscience
• “ organic solidarity “ - contemporary society , society relies on the interdependence on each other as division of labour grows .
• Different occupations being differently rewarded does not undermine social solidarity so long as everyone has equal opportunity and for this meritocracy is required .
• Class conflict would disappear as industrialisation became established and that division of labour is something we should just accept
• A way to reduce class conflict is by occupational associations such as trade union which would help to reduce conflict between workers and employers

Question 2

What does Parsons argue

Answer 2

Class conflict is inevitable:
- competition for occupation produces winners and losers
- organisation of division of labour requires discipline which produces resistance .
• tendency of powerful exploiting the weak
-class conflict is no more than a by product of stratification
- stratification is based upon prestige , respect and social order
Stratification is functional :
helped stabilise social systems

Question 3

What do Davis and Moore argue

Answer 3

• All societies have to ensure their positions are filled with the most talented people . => need to offer people high rewards in order to motivate them.
• Class societies are meritocracies => Stratification system ( educational qualifications) function to allocate all individuals to a role that suits their abilities.
• Claim that most people agree that stratification is necessary because they accept the meritocracy principle on which society is based
• Encourages all members of society to work to the best of their ability
• Ensures that the functional prerequisite of effective role allocation and performance is satisfied
• Stratification is necessary and functional

Question 4

What does Saunders argue

Answer 4

• Economic growth has raised the standard of living for all members of society , social inequality is a small price to pay.
• Influencer by Hayek ( neoliberalist) => argued that capitalist societies offer incentives to those with talent in the form of material wealth .
• Saunders argues that if these incentives didnt exist , then many of the consumer goods that we take granted for today , would not exist because talented people would not be motivated to create them.
• Stratification is not the only way to ensure effective role allocation , but the only alternative would be the threat or use of physical force .
• Stratification systems are therefore not inevitable, but they’re desirable because alternatives would be far worse

Question 5

what’s evaluation for durkheim

Answer 5

ignores the fact that class societies are not meritocratic

Question 6

what’s evaluation for parsons

Answer 6

mentions class conflict but ignores stratification and inequality for ethnic minorities .
Rex and Tomlinson :
ethnic minorities experience low class and status in society .
Compounded by racism so ethnic minorities lack power and feel alienated in society

Question 7

what’s evaluation for davis and moore

Answer 7

Tumin :
Not everyone in society has an equal chance
Not all jobs get the reward they deserve ( nurses)
Some highly paid jobs might not be important to society ( professional footballers )
• dysfunction of stratification are neglected for example poverty has negative impact on life

Question 8

what’s evaluation for saunders

Answer 8

Marxist view of society - Althusser - critiques how the system serves to maintain class structure and propagate ideology of ruling class

Question 9

what does marxist feminist Ansley argue (evaluation)

Answer 9

In the family women are “takers of shit” and how the burden of capitalism is placed in men , displaying how functionalist view on the family is also incorrect