Inequality - Functionalism

Question 1

Who are the functionalists who study Social Inequality?

Answer 1

Durkheim, Parsons, Davis and Moore, Cummings and Henry, Patterson

Question 2

What did Durkheim study?

Answer 2

Social Solidarity

Question 3

In pre-industrial societies, where did social solidarity come from?

Answer 3

• 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

Question 4

The division of labour said that in post-industrial societies, social solidarity comes from..

Answer 4

• 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.

Question 5

How does this suggest inequality is functional?

Answer 5

Everyone fits into roles to help one another

Question 6

What are the evaluations of this theory?

Answer 6

Inequality leads to resentment. NOT social solidarity.

Question 7

What did Parsons study?

Answer 7

Social Stratification

Question 8

What did Parsons say about social stratification?

Answer 8

• 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.

Question 9

What are the evaluations of Parsons?

Answer 9

Stratification does not always establish order in society, we have seen many protests and riots over inequality.

Question 10

What is the basic premise of the Davis & Moore hypothesis?

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Why do we need to reward the most functionally important roles with higher salaries, higher status and more attractive working conditions?

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

How did Davis and Moore suggest inequality is functional?

Answer 12

It ensures the most talented perform the most important roles.

Question 13

What did Cummings and Henry focus on?

Answer 13

Age inequality

Question 14

How does society treat the old?

Answer 14

Society promotes the elderly to disengage from work as they get slower, less energetic, more vulnerable ect.

Question 15

How is this social disengagement process functional for society?

Answer 15

It leaves space for the younger generations to work

Question 16

As well as the workplace, how is this functional for the family?

Answer 16

Elderly can perform other duties such as: babysitting, housesitting ect. Allowing parents and youth to go out and work and provide for their family.

Question 17

What are the evaluations of Cummings and Henry?

Answer 17

• 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

Question 18

What did Patterson say about inequality?

Answer 18

Ethnic inequality is functional and inevitable.

Question 19

What is the host-immigrant model?

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Why does Patterson reject that the British are racist?

Answer 20

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.