Social stratification Flashcards
Work of Davis and Moore (1945) on social stratification - functionalist
-All societies need a way of placing people into different roles for society.
-Some roles are more functionally important than others
-Roles that are difficult to fill need people with the most talent, this is why inequality is essential.
Criticisms of Davis and Moore (1945) -functionalist
- Some functionally important roles such as nurses and refuse collectors have low wages.
-Society may not be seen as meritocratic.
-Some high payed jobs aren’t functionally important (e.g footballers.)
-Status and power isn’t always linked to their job.
-Bourgeoisie gain at others expense.
Simple definition of social stratification
Social stratification is the way society is organized into different layers or groups based on things like wealth, power, education, and social status. It shows how people are ranked and how that affects their opportunities and life chances.
Marx and Weber (1947) perspective on socio economic class.
-Classes formed in market places such as labour market (one class sells labour, one hired for it)
-A class is people with similar life chances, based on distribution of economic resources (e.g wealth.)
-Weber highlighted status and power in determining life chances. (e.g members of aristocracy may not have any money, title handed to them.)
- 4 status classes - petty bourgeoisie, working class, property owners, professionals.
Criticisms of Marx and Weber (1947) perspective on socio economic class.
- Marx and Weber’s perspective has been criticized for being too focused on economic factors, potentially neglecting the influence of culture, ethnicity, and gender on social class.
- Some argue that their definitions of class are overly simplistic and do not account for the complexities of modern society, where class identities can be fluid and multifaceted.
- Critics also point out that the dichotomy between the bourgeoisie and proletariat in Marx’s theory may not accurately represent the diverse range of classes present today.
- Additionally, Weber’s concept of status and party may be seen as vague and difficult to measure, leading to challenges in applying his theory empirically.
Work of Devine (1992) revisiting idea of affluent worker.
-She revisited Luton 2 decades after goldthorpes study.
-Found that people moved to improve living standards.
-Moved to Luton to be with friends and kin, aspirations, social and political values weren’t solely individualistic (Goldthorpe found it was, their findings where mainly opposite and W/C norms hadn’t changed as much as Goldthorpe claimed.)?
Criticisms of Devine (1992) on revisiting the affluent worker.
- Fiona Devine’s revisiting of the affluent worker concept has been criticized for potentially romanticizing the experiences of affluent workers, overlooking the complexities and challenges they face in a changing economy.
- Some argue that her focus on the professional middle class may neglect the realities of working-class individuals who do not fit into this category, leading to a narrow understanding of class dynamics.
- Critics also suggest that her analysis may not adequately address the role of globalization and technological changes in shaping the experiences of affluent workers today.
- Additionally, some believe that her conclusions about the political attitudes of affluent workers could be overly optimistic, failing to consider the potential for discontent and alienation among this group.
What does it mean by affluent worker? (Devine and Goldthorpe)
Affluent worker refers to individuals who have a higher income and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle, often working in professional or managerial jobs. They typically have more access to resources and opportunities compared to those in lower income brackets.
What does alienation mean?
Alienation refers to a feeling of being disconnected or isolated from others, society, or oneself. It’s often experienced when people feel that they have little control over their lives or when their work doesn’t reflect their interests or values. In a broader sense, it can also relate to a lack of belonging or engagement in social or community life.
Walby (1990) -feminist view on patriarchy.
Believed in 6 patriarchal structures.
- Paid employment ; women typically earned less and excluded from better paid jobs - wages lose so payed work isn’t worth the while.
- Household ; benefiting from women unpaid labour in home.
-Culture ; differentiates between men and women.
-Sexuality ; double standards- sexually active men are admired, women aren’t.
-Male violence against women.
-State policies changed- now it’s easier to divorce, however policies are still patriarchally biased and don’t helped women’s pay in workplace.
Criticisms of Sylvia Walby (1990) feminist perspective on patriarchy.
- Critics say Walby’s focus on structures misses the real experiences of women.
- Some argue she doesn’t consider how race, class, and sexuality affect women’s lives.
- Her emphasis on economic and political issues might ignore cultural factors that contribute to oppression.
- There’s a concern that her ideas suggest an easy path to gender equality, which doesn’t reflect the complex reality.
Work of Weber on power and authority
-Saw class and status as different things
-People with power get what they want.
3 types of authority.
-Traditional ; e.g monarchy are expected to have power
-Rational legal ; cooperates between bureaucracy (hierarchy and set of rules) accepting laws or rules.
-Charismatic ; inspired by them, e.g religious figures.
-People can exert more than one authority.
Critisisms of Weber on power and authority
- Some critics argue that Weber’s definitions of power and authority are too rigid and don’t account for the complexities of modern social dynamics.
- Others believe his focus on rational-legal authority overlooks the influence of charismatic leaders and traditional forms of authority in shaping power structures.
- There are also concerns that his theories may not adequately address how power can be exercised in informal or non-bureaucratic settings.
- Additionally, some suggest that Weber’s perspective doesn’t fully consider the role of social inequalities and how they impact authority and power relations.
Murray (1984) - New Right thinker on the underclass.
-Examined how social programs and welfare policies affect the underclass behavior.
-Policies produced poverty and encouraged dependency.
-Underclass associated with African and Hispanic people.
-Underclass poses a threat to societies wellbeing.
-Members of the underclass are responsible for crime rates increasing and are a tax payer burden.
-Welfare state and benefits make the underclass increase.
Criticisms of Murray (1984) New Right thinker on the underclass
- Critics say Murray makes the underclass issue too simple, blaming individuals instead of looking at bigger problems like poverty.
- Some think he ignores the real struggles of people who need help and overlooks the positive things many in these communities do.
- Others argue his ideas can create negative stereotypes about low-income families instead of helping to understand their situations.
- Additionally, some researchers feel his views aren’t backed up by enough evidence and don’t consider the different experiences of various groups in the underclass.
Work of Townsend on relative deprivation.
-Calculated almost 23% of population were experiencing poverty. (proportion was much higher than state standard of poverty being 6%, and relative income standard of poverty being 9%)
-Identified people at risk of poverty;
Elderly who had worked in unskilled manual jobs
Children in families of unskilled manual workers
Children in one parent households.
Criticisms of the work of Townsend on relative deprivation
- Critics argue that Townsend’s concept of relative deprivation focuses too much on material conditions and doesn’t consider the emotional and psychological aspects of deprivation.
- Some suggest that his definition of deprivation is too broad, making it difficult to measure and analyze effectively.
- Others believe that his emphasis on social comparisons may overlook the importance of individual resilience and coping mechanisms in facing deprivation.
- Additionally, some researchers claim that his work doesn’t adequately address how factors like race, gender, and geography intersect with relative deprivation.
Meaning of relative deprivation
Relative deprivation means feeling poor or disadvantaged compared to others around you. It’s not just about having less money or resources; it’s about how you see your situation compared to what others have. If you think others are doing better, it can make you feel worse about your own situation.
What are the sociologists mentioned?
Davis and moore - functionalist
Marx and Weber - marxist
Devine
Walby - feminist
Townsend
Weber
Murray - new right
