functionalist views on inequality Flashcards
do functionalists think inequality is good or bad?
good for society
why do functionalists believe we have ineqaulity?
it motivates people to work hard, to prevent poverty. most talented succeed.
what does the idea of inequality ‘motivating people to work hard’ basically suggest?
ppl who fail to reach highest positions are lacking in some way eg ability, talent or characteristics.
what is social darwinism?
darwin’s ‘survival of the fittest’ concept applied to society. strongest become wealthy and powerful and weak become punished/controlled.
what is social stratification?
society categorising people into ranks based on factors like wealth, income, education, power. functionalists suggest it helps maintain order and stability.
what do davis and moore talk about with social stratification?
role allocation and performance.
what is role allocation and performance?
social systems have functional prerequisities to be met if system is to survive.
1. all roles must be filled
2. must be filled by those best able to perform them.
3. necessary training must be undertaken
4. must be performed conscientiously.
how do davis and moore try to justify social inequality?
inequality exists in all societies so must be necessary for societies to function and develop
not all jobs are equal so must be rewards to encourage best ppl to do most important jobs.
pay/status reflect a person’s value to society.
what makes a job functionally important?
jobs requiring special skills/ training and the number of individuals with the ability to acquire such skills.
what do functionalists call getting better pay for a harder job?
differential rewards for differential achievements.
desire for this motivates people.
how do davis and moore suggest measuring functional importance?
- degree to which position is functionally unique, no other positions that can perform the same function satisfactorily.
- degree to which others are dependent on the one in question.
who criticises davis and moore?
tumin
briefly what are some ways tumin criticises davis and moore?
functional importance, power/reward, pool of talent, training motivation, inequalities of social divisions.
what does tumin say about functional importance?
questions functional importance of positions. many vital jobs receive little prestige or economic reward. no objective way of measuring this.
what does tumin say about power and rewards?
argues davis and moore ignore influence of power on unequal distribution of rewards. differences in pay/status may be due to difference in power not functional importance.
what does tumin say about the pool of talent?
rejects that a limited amount of people have talent for most important positions.
1. no effective measure of talent/ability. exams not effective.
2. no proof that exceptional talent is needed for these positions.
3. may be a larger pool of talent than thought, unequal rewards may not be needed.
what does tumin say about training?
questions idea of ‘sacrificing’ time as student life comes with leisure, freedom, opportunities. doesn’t need extra rewards.
what does tumin say about motivation?
social stratification acts as barrier to motivation. eg in caste systems NO social mobility.
also those in most powerful positions may place barriers to recruitment, increasing their own rewards as higher demand.
what does tumin say about inequality of opportunity and social division?
actually makes society worse, some ppl never have same opportunities as others creating feelings of exclusion eg race. ignores many dysfunctions of social strat.
A03 of davis and moore vs tumin
took place in 40s/50s. is it rly relevant now?
ignores issues of race/gender.
