Functionalist theories of social inequality

Parsons social inequality

value consensus as to the way society values:

kinship (family)

achievement

possessions

personal qualities

authority

Durkheim social inequality

society is characterised by a division of labour, which are needed to work together, with a value condense of the legitimacy of stratification

David & Moore social inequality

stratification is functionally necessary, and it ensures the most able people do the highest jobs to the highest standard - jobs are functionally unique and get higher rewards

Gans social inequality

poverty performs important social functions that stabilise existing class structure - is seen as functional

Murdock gender

Said gender inequalities are caused by biological factors. women need to be in the home due to their child bearing role to raise children. men are stronger = more suited to breadwinning role

parsons gender

women have expressive roles, men have instrumental. roles are inate and unchanging. women work in private sphere, men work in public sphere

parsons and bale gender

did a study in 1955 - said women have key role in primarily socialisation and personality stabilisation for members of the family. provide comfort for men at home so they can be productive at work

rasotgi gender

gender inequality in workplace is because women make the choice to work in lower paid fields, take maternity leave and work part time = lower human capital = paid less

patterson ethnic

said windrush generation faced "host fear" not racism. racial predjudice was caused by host cultures fears, host cultures working class resentment at competing for scarce resources, and failure of minorities to assimilate

parsons and clark ethnic

said black people were segregated in america & were denied many civil rights because of deepseated racist assumptions. P & C were advocates for intergration & predicted assimilation - said colour stigma would disappear

merton ethnic

said the american dream is the ideal. if it cant be achieved it creates a strain & can be fixed by finding an illegitimate way to achieve the dream (crime) or making their own communities by not assimilating to society

rastogi ethnicity

ethnic inequality is caused by skills and credentials rather than racism. as more generations gain more host-country knowledge, human capital increases

parson age

old people disengage from the central role in family. allows their children to have space to raise their own families

cumming and henry age

percentage of population that is working, divided by percentage that isnt. shows more people work than dont, and those that dont are dependant on those who work

eisenstadt age

says young people face challenges, but are resilient, and these are essential for developing independance from their ascribed status as children, to achieved status as independant adults

cowgill and holmes age

elderly held high social status as they have wisdom experience & resources. as they leave work and youth come in, the youth value kineship less, so elderly people loose power & social status