Inequality - Functionalism Flashcards
Who are the functionalists who study Social Inequality?
Durkheim, Parsons, Davis and Moore, Cummings and Henry, Patterson
What did Durkheim study?
Social Solidarity
In pre-industrial societies, where did social solidarity come from?
- From farming/agriculture. (High level of social solidarity)
- In traditional societies, people were bound together through living and working in the same communities. Eg, agriculture
The division of labour said that in post-industrial societies, social solidarity comes from..
- In modern societies with divided labour markets and diversity of lifestyle, we needed a new way of achieving social solidarity. Eg, our reliance on one another. Teachers rely on farmers to grow food, and police to keep people safe ect.
How does this suggest inequality is functional?
Everyone fits into roles to help one another
What are the evaluations of this theory?
Inequality leads to resentment. NOT social solidarity.
What did Parsons study?
Social Stratification
What did Parsons say about social stratification?
- Social stratification is inevitable, and useful. He argued that systems evaluate individuals in terms of common social values: High status is a reward for conforming to societies values.
- Stratification reinforces the collective goals of a society and establishes order.
What are the evaluations of Parsons?
Stratification does not always establish order in society, we have seen many protests and riots over inequality.
What is the basic premise of the Davis & Moore hypothesis?
Some roles in society are more functionally important than others, and need people with the most talent and skills to fulfill them, this talent is rare.
Why do we need to reward the most functionally important roles with higher salaries, higher status and more attractive working conditions?
In order to attract those with more talent and compensate them for the sacrifices they have to make during education and training, they should be rewarded.
How did Davis and Moore suggest inequality is functional?
It ensures the most talented perform the most important roles.
What did Cummings and Henry focus on?
Age inequality
How does society treat the old?
Society promotes the elderly to disengage from work as they get slower, less energetic, more vulnerable ect.
How is this social disengagement process functional for society?
It leaves space for the younger generations to work
As well as the workplace, how is this functional for the family?
Elderly can perform other duties such as: babysitting, housesitting ect. Allowing parents and youth to go out and work and provide for their family.
What are the evaluations of Cummings and Henry?
- Retirement from work and society is not often voluntary, and also has negative consequences for the self esteem of the elderly
- Disengagement often leads to the neglect of the experience, talents, and skills of older members of society which could still be a great benefit to society
What did Patterson say about inequality?
Ethnic inequality is functional and inevitable.
What is the host-immigrant model?
Depicted Britain as a homogenous and orderly society. This was disrupted by the arrival of ‘immigrant strangers’ who subscribed to a different set of values, e.g , west Indians were boisterous, and didn’t have a habit of queueing.
Why does Patterson reject that the British are racist?
British are not racist, but have understandable fears and anxieties. Immigrants competed with hosts for jobs/houses. She predicted immigrants would integrate, learn english and learn British values.
