This document consists of notes taken on social class inequality and focuses on the following topics:
1. Functionalism: Parsons, Davis and more (more topics included in the actual document)
2. New right theorists: Murray and the underclass theory and Saunders
3. Marxism: Alienation, Class ...
Assignment 14 Theories / views on social class inequality (full 5 hours) AND will help with revision, but it is lots I
warn you
Task 1: H5802B Social inequality: Functionalism 1 hour
1. Watch the following video to ensure a good understanding of: Functionalist theories of social inequality C3: Functionalist theories of
social inequality 12mins BUT stop at 8.42mins (the evaluation)
-the organic analogy is a functionalist idea that institutes are similar to our organs as though they have their every individual role they
link together to maintain society
-these institutes come together to play a function in society promoting stability
-functionalists observe that social stratification (davis+M ) features in all societies
eg caste and economic status
-argued stratification is indispensable and need to place people in different hierarchical roles
-social inequality is a good thing as societies important jobs are highly rewarded so people will compete for them and the most talented
will win through. this benefits society as a whole as it ensures maximum utilisation of human resources available to boost the economy
- parsons argues that people in society should learn to accept their places within the stratification system as it seems fair/ just
-so functionalists argue that education role is to allocate individuals to an occupational role that suits their abilities this is seen as fair as
it's based on universal standards iof assessment
-a consensus theory
,2. Read the notes on Functionalism Book 1 p246-247 (text book) and notes below. Lots you should already know!
Summary sheets: Theoretical explanations of social class
There are a number of different sociological theories that explain why social class stratification exists.
Functionalism
Functionalists assume that society has functional pre-requisites that must be met if it is to survive. Thus they examine social class stratification
to see if it meets these functional pre-requisites. They are interested in how the social class stratification system is integrated with other
parts of society and how it helps to maintain order and stability in society.
Talcott Parsons
He argued that order, stability and cooperation in society are based on value consensus - a general agreement in society about what is good and
worthwhile. He argues that those individuals who perform successfully in terms of society’s values will be ranked highly and therefore receive
a variety of rewards. Thus a healthy society contains stratification.
This argument suggests that stratification is an inevitable part of all human societies. If value consensus is an essential component of all
societies (and exists) then it follows that some form of stratification will result from ranking individuals in terms of common values.
This also suggests that social class stratification is just, right and proper, because it is based on shared values; i.e. members of society agree
who should be higher up and rewarded more and who should be lower. E.g. Business executives are seen to deserve their rewards because
members of society place a high value on their skills and achievements.
Parsons (and other Functionalists) view society as a meritocracy with the most talented and able rightly receiving the highest rewards.
Competition between groups is seen as healthy as it encourages people to work hard in order to achieve success.
Davis & Moore – Role allocation
, Davis & Moore argue that stratification is a permanent and universal feature of all societies because it is functionally necessary. They
argue that:
⮚ All societies have to make sure that the most important positions are filled with the most talented people. Therefore societies need to offer
such people high rewards
⮚ Society is meritocratic as high rewards in the form of high pay and status motivate the gifted people to make sacrifices in order to achieve
the top positions. E.g. sacrificing a wage from a job at 16 in order to stay in education to train as a doctor. Educational qualifications and
therefore the stratification system, function to allocate all individuals to an occupational role that suits their abilities. In other words
peoples’ class position is a reflection of their talents and abilities.
⮚ Most people accept that stratification is necessary because they accept that society is meritocratic.
⮚ Stratification encourages all members of society to wok to the best of their ability. E.g. those at the top will work hard to stay there and
those lower down will work harder to improve their position.
Evaluation of Functionalism
● Marxists would argue that social class stratification is based on conflict rather than consensus.
● Marxists would argue that social class stratification is a divisive force in society rather than an integrative force.
● Many theorists would argue that British society is not a meritocracy and functionalism ignores the inequalities that exist.
● Davis and Moore are criticised by Tumin for assuming the most functionally important jobs are rewarded with highest pay. E.g.
‘celebrities’ are not functionally important but earn huge sums of money.
● How easy is it to measure the functional importance of a job? Isn’t a hospital cleaner as functionally important for our health as a hospital
doctor? Tumin points out that deciding what is functionally important or not is often decided by those with the power in society as a way
of protecting their privileged position.
● Tumin also points out that Davis and Moore are also wrong in assuming that the highest rewards are given to those who make sacrifices
for training and education – those who inherit wealth and do not need to work have not made any sacrifices.
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