Functionalist Theory of Social Inequality

Social Class inequality is inevitable and necessary

Social Class inequality is inevitable and necessary

Parsons - Social inequality is an inevitable feature of a social system that requires order and ranking. Ranking in society is based on a value consensus about what society values and thus there is generally agreement about who deserves the highest. The values are: Kinship, Achievement, Possessions, Personal qualities, and Authority. Those who have more of these qualities are likely to be higher in the system of stratification and as a society we are fine with this because we all agree these qualities are of high value. Those who are highly valued are rewarded.

Social class inequalities create social order

Durkheim - Class stratification exists because it is functional or beneficial to social order. Modern society is characterised by a specialised division of labour in which people have different functions, skills and abilities. It is characterised by social divisions. People are content to take their positions within the division of labour because they believe in its moral worth. This value consensus means members accept the legitimacy of stratification which is beneficial because it sets limits on competition and aspirations, and therefore order is maintained.

Social class inequalities are functional for society

Davis and Moore - Social stratification allocates the right people to the most important roles and ensures people in these roles perform them to the highest standards. We can tell which positions are most important by functional uniqueness, whereby only a small number of people could carry out the role, and the degree of dependence of others, whereby people are not dependent on anybody above them. People’s class position is a fair representation of their talents.

Social class inequalities are a reflection of anomic conditions

Durkheimian concept of anomie - In order for society to remain stable there needs to be a healthy level of inequality. However there are times in which these class-based inequalities may tilt into instability. In times of significant social and economic upheaval or change, members of society can become morally confused, and lack direction. This can lead to individuals in society losing any sense of aspiration, morality or desire to contribute to society, experiencing anomie. This can lead to large swathes of society slipping into poor standards of living.

Gender inequalities are the result of biological differences

Murdock - Saw the social roles that men and women have, which have led to differences in societal outcomes, as being socially constructed and reinforced. These roles fundamentally stem from the natural, biological differences between males and females. Women need to be located in the home because of their biological function of bearing children. Mens stronger physique mean they are able to perform more strenuous tasks and therefore suited to being breadwinners. Found a gendered division of labour in nuclear families because they are essential to a functional society.

Gender inequalities are the result of socialised roles which are necessary for society

Parsons - Gender inequalities are not really inequalities are simply due to the correct gender roles that males and females are socialised into. Females are socialised into expressive caring roles, while males are socialised into instrumental roles related to work and labour. This implies that mean are more suited to paid employment and women are more suited to domesticity. Women are less motivated and less suited to the labour market than men, therefore it is not surprising that on average they are paid less. Sees these differences as innate, ascribed at birth and ultimately contribute to a healthy, smooth running society.

Women’s expressive role crucial for primary socialisation and oersonality stabilisation

Parsons & Bales - Women are the key figure in providing primary socialisation for children which is essential for reproducing social order. Women provide personality stabilisation for other adult family members. Women provide comfort to their husbands when they are not at work which is crucial for men to be able to be productive. This means women are not present in certain sectors of social life.

Gender inequalities in work are inevitable

Rastogi - Human capital theory contends that the wage gap can be explained by the amount of human capital an individual develops through the knowledge and skills they have obtained. Men are more work-orientated and committed to their jobs than women who typically choose to prioritise their roles as homemakers and caring for family over their careers. This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy whereby men become more lower-status, less well-paid positions. This is a naturally occurring phenomenon rather than a patriarchal conspiracy.

Ethnic inequalities are temporary and the result of minorities failing to assimilate

Patterson - The host immigrant model is were the hosts were afraid of immigrants undermining the value consensus. Racial and ethnic prejudice was caused by: the hosts culture’s fear of strangers, cultural difference and social change; the hosts culture’s, particularly the working class's resentment at having to compete with ethnic minorities for scarce resources; the failure of ethnic minorities to assimilate - they tend to live in segregated rather than socially mixing. Ethnic minorities would eventually move toward full cultural assimilation by shedding their ‘old’ ethnic values and taking on British values through: accommodation (living alongside but not interacting); integration (living alongside and interacting, but not adopting hosts values); assimilation (living alongside, interacting and adopting hosts values).

Successful assimilation has resulted in excellent outcomes for minorities in US

Parsons & Clark - Wrote about the experience of black people in the US in the early 20th century. During this period, black Americans were segregated, second class citizens who were denied a large amount of civil rights. This was due to deep-seated racist assumptions surrounding skin colour, and was used as the justification for the inequalities. Strong advocated of integration, equality of rights and predicted assimilation in America between black and white people. Over time the stigma surrounding skin colour would disappear as people integrate more, and black people would be able to be successful.

Ethnic inequalities are the byproduct of cultural factors

Roberts - Disparities between non-white minority groups in terms of outcomes and standards of living. Looked at differences between the economic situations of minority diaspora groups in Britain. Asian groups are more likely to be self-employed or small business owners, due to strong entrepreneurial traditions within Asian cultures. East African Sikhs were often described as having a strong ‘spirit of enterprise’ and strong supportive family networks which favoured academic success. The experiences of colonialism and slavery on the Afro-Caribbean community meant that these groups were falling into worse outcomes due to these historical factors.

It is normal for ethnic minorities to be at the bottom of the economic ladder

Modood et al - 3/5 Bangladeshi women and ½ of Pakistani women living in Britain do not speak English. Nothing discriminatory about not being able to offer high status occupations to individuals who cannot speak the language of the host nation.