What is the functional theory of stratification. What is the functionalist theory of inequality? 2022-12-22
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The functional theory of stratification is a sociological perspective that explains the existence and persistence of social inequality in terms of the positive functions it serves for a society as a whole. According to this theory, social inequality is not just an unfortunate byproduct of society, but rather an essential component that helps to maintain social order and stability.
According to functionalists, social inequality serves several important functions in society. First, it provides a way for individuals to be rewarded for their contributions to society. In a stratified society, those who work hard and contribute more to the common good are often rewarded with higher social status and greater material resources. This incentivizes people to work hard and contribute to society, which in turn benefits the society as a whole.
Second, social inequality also serves as a way to allocate scarce resources and opportunities. In a society with limited resources, it is not possible for everyone to have equal access to everything. Stratification allows for the allocation of resources and opportunities based on merit, need, or other criteria, which can help to ensure that they are used in the most efficient and effective way possible.
Third, social inequality also serves to provide a sense of order and stability in society. When people understand their place in the social hierarchy, they are more likely to accept their role and fulfill their responsibilities. This can help to reduce conflict and maintain social cohesion.
However, it is important to note that the functional theory of stratification does not necessarily justify social inequality or suggest that it is inevitable. While it acknowledges the positive functions that social inequality can serve, it also recognizes that these functions can be achieved in other ways and that there may be negative consequences of stratification, such as poverty and discrimination.
Overall, the functional theory of stratification offers a useful perspective for understanding the role of social inequality in society and the ways in which it can both contribute to and detract from social stability and well-being.
Notes on Theories of Social Stratification
T his is an inherently positive outcome. This theory was proposed by sociologists Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore. He suggested that the more integrated an individual is in society, the less likely they are to take their own life. On its part, it explicitly explains the integral role that women play in society thereby bringing a balance in society. Structure-functionalists tend focus on the interrelatedness to the social structures that make up society.
What is the functionalist view of social stratification?
Religious beliefs help create false consciousness. Marxists believe that society is based on ascribed status which is given by birth or family background, therefore the bourgeoisie pass down their land and properties to their children, keeping the wealth in the… Outline and assess Marxist explanations of social class inequalities Conflict theory coined by Karl Marx suggests that suggested that social order is maintained by domination and power opposed to a shared consensus among society. There is a group of teenagers that attend the same church and are part of a youth community group for their local area. Otherwise, society will descend into 'anomie', or chaos. All parts are necessary to maintain social cohesion. Who was the founder of social class sociology? What are signs of age discrimination? This all sounds very logical, but a few years after Davis and Moore published their functionalist theory of stratification, other sociologists pointed out some serious problems in their argument Tumin, 1953; Wrong, 1959. Functionalists believe that every individual should be socialised into the norms and values of society.
The judicial system is the main institution responsible for resolving legal disputes and conflicts. Anomie can cause confusion about an individual's place in society. According to Durkheim, society has objective laws, much like the natural sciences. There are three main Functionalists that dealt with the stratification theory and these were Talcott Parsons, Kingsley Davis Compare and Contrast Any Two Sociological Theories and Briefly Evaluate Them. Stratification in the areas of age, race, class, gender, ethnicity, sex and disability is rife amongst the employed.
The functionalist theory of stratification is more relevant
The necessity of stratification Every society requires individuals who can be placed and motivated for specific tasks. They say that class is more tied in with a person's identity, and because of this, it's much more fluid and individualised than previously thought. Shared practices are the basis of social order. Functionalists view society as a set of interconnected parts which work together to form a whole. In his later life he was more tolerant of religion. Some would argue that i ndividuals can form their own roles and identities independent of society. American Sociological Review, 24, 772—782.
What is the main argument of the Davis and Moore functional theory of stratification?
This could therefore be seen as a weakness of functionalism as it fails to acknowledge that there are minority groups within society. It takes different forms of different societies. Class needs to be considered a 'de-centred' concept; both one's class, and its importance relative to one's identity, are subjectively perceived by different people in different contexts. There is no way that the social stratification of a society could be present because of the individuals themselves. Social agents or actors members of a society may understand their position and role in social structures differently. Social inequality, as seen by functionalists, is inevitable, it's an 'unconsciously evolved patten of life, by which societies ensure that the most important positions are filled by the most appropriate people, the most highly qualified. According to Macionis et al stated that the structural-functionalist perspective, poverty, and economic inequality serve several positive functions for society Macionis et al 2015.
Functionalist Theory Of Social Stratification Essay
This refers to the cooperation between different parts of society and the individuals who are part of it. Similarly, t he function of attending religious gatherings in a place of worship is that it helps people practice their faith. According to Walzer, a society is just if and only if its practices and institutions are in accord with the shared values and cultural understandings of its people. In the structural-functionalism, the dominant view is that if the structures that exist are functional, then those structures should be preserved and maintained. This is true of all systems, whether they are relatively static or somewhat dynamic.
Structural functionalists Structural functionalists argue that social stratification is beneficial for a society, while a conflict theorist would argue that, rather than benefiting society as a whole, stratification provides some people with advantages over others. They believe that some people are innately talented and more able to preform certain jobs, like doctors. In his view, approaches in that vein, like Weber's Fig. One is the idea that in an egalitarian society people should relate to one another as equals or should enjoy the same fundamental status and also perhaps the same rank and power. It is neither necessary nor inevitable.
However, inequality covers many other broad factors one factor other than race being income inequality. They said that an understanding of an organ of the body involves understanding its relationship with every other organ and its contribution to the organism as a whole; therefore they said that this could also describe society, that every part requires its own analysis to see what it contributes to the society as whole. What would a functionalist say about social stratification? Age discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably, or not given the same opportunities as others in a similar situation, because he or she is considered to be too old or too young. It is a structural theory, which means it believes societal structures shape individuals. Each section of society has a certain task to fulfill in order to meet the needs of society.
