Social Stratification Flashcards
What is functionalists views on social stratification? (Social mobility)
Functionalists believe that there needs to be inequalities within society for it to keep functioning. They argue that it is a way for individuals to move to positions that best match their talents and qualifications, ensuring that society runs efficiently.
What are functionalists strengths and weaknesses (social mobility)
Strengths- Functionalists views highlight class inequality. They know that inequality does exist and must exist to maintaining order. There needs to be rewards for people for society to advance. All of societies institutions operate to uphold the class system: family, education, work, the media and even religion.
Weaknesses- it is an acceptance of capitalism. Marxists suggest that it comes from conflict, not consensual necessity. There are many problems with the idea that if you work harder it will create a fair society. (Hard working people still face inequality). It doesn’t say who decides what functionally important jobs are.
What is the Weberian theory’s views on social mobility
They believe that people can move up and down the social ladder based on their skills, credentials and qualifications. It highlights the significance of education and achieved status in determining one’s position within society. He believed that people’s class, status and power shaped an individuals position in society
Strengths and weaknesses of weberianism in social mobility
Strengths- It gives a good account of how class operates in a modern environment. It deals well with middle classes. It combines structural and action approaches to class.
Weaknesses- underestimated the importance of economic class divisions. Economically poor individuals very rarely have a high social class. Unclear about the relationship between class, status and party. Feminists not Happy.
Marxists views on social mobility
Marxists believes that social mobility is limited because in the capitalist society, the money and power are only given to a few.
Marxists strengths and weaknesses on social mobility
Strengths- conflicts have been central to human history and the progression of society. Emphasises the importance of economic ownership. Draws attention to the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie. Control of capital is still the defining aspect of power in modern society.
Weaknesses- criticised for being to economically deterministic. Focuses to much on the economy and ignores other factors. It privileges the role of the proletariat. Classes are all made up of individuals which Marx forgets. The working class is seen as a revolutionary force which will progress human society
What is Oxford mobility study by goldthrope in 1972?
It was a study that consisted of 10,000 men in which was to find if social mobility had become more long range than glass had suggested. Goldthrope talked about service, intermediate and working class. He found there was greater social mobility in meritocracy but finding relative mobility had changed little in a hundred years, thus continued social closure
What are strengths of the Oxford mobility study by goldthrope
-it was the first major study since glass
- it challenge the views on what was thought to be true about social mobility. (He found that service class was not so closed and self recruiting as he previously thought)
- long range mobility was far widespread than previously thought.
Weaknesses of Oxford mobility study by goldthrope
-he is criticised for ignoring the existence of the elites at the top of the class structure.
- his class 1 is seen to be too big. He has underestimated the impact of elite self recruitment and social closure.
- he is criticised by feminists as it was only maxed on men. Therefore social mobility against men cannot be measured
What did the up and down the generational income ladder in Britain, blades and machin (2004/08)
The study aimed to understand how individuals and families move up or down the income ladder from one generation to the next in Britain
What was the up and down generational income ladder in Britain’s findings
The earnings of those born in 1970 strongly correlate with that of their parents. The life chances of these two people with shared characteristics are therefore markedly different and unequal.
-of sons born in 1958 31% born in the bottom quartile were still there aged 33. 17% had reached to the top quartile.
Of sons born in 1970 38% were still there aged 33 and only 11% reached the top quartile.
-there were less upward mobility of those born in 1970 than those born in 1958.
Intergenerstional mobility and equality of opportunity have decreased in Britain.
The USA upward mobility has increased over this time. Britian had one of the lowest mobility rates across the 8 countries
Findings of goldthropes study
It found that there was limited social mobility in britian, however, not as much as glass had claimed. This was due to people staying in the same social class as their parents. It showed that society’s structure made it difficult to move inbetween social classes
It also showed that 80% of people in the 1980s moved up from social class from their families which meant that they were able to improve their social and economic status compared to their parents
