functionalist social inequality

Parsons

Value consensus and stratification

society works best when there is agreement about what is important and worth striving for (value consensus).

In all meritocratic societies some individuals are deserving of greater reward because they are more talented, skilled, beautiful and so on. This leads to society being stratified according to their skills and talents.

Davis and Moore (1945) - Stratification

Social stratification is a feature of all human societies and is therefore functionally necessary.

Social stratification does two things. It ensures that there is:

1. effective role allocation (making sure the right - most able/ talented/efficient - people are allocated to the most functionally important and senior roles).

2. high levels of performance

Davis amd moore example

The most functionally important and senior positions should be filled by people who are the most talented and efficient.

Training to be a doctor/lawyer requires people with very high educational qualifications and demands a long period of training and a lot of responsibility - higher rewards in terms of income and status are offered to motivate the best people.

Evaulation Aristocracy Vs Meritocracy- Ellliot 2014

Elliot 201 4 uses example of grovsner the britains wealthiest man where he went to private school and his family owning 190 acres of land adjacent to Buckingham palace and more

Tumin (1953) DIFFICULTY WITH DETERMINING FUNCTIONAL IMPORTANCE

Which jobs are the most important is a matter of opinion.

The low paid cleaner who ensures the operating theatre is disinfected is perhaps just as important for the patient's survival as the highly paid heart surgeon.

Occupations that are not highly rewarded but are functionally essential to the smooth running of society include: nurses, police officers, water and sewage workers, refuse collectors and power workers.

Those who live off inherited wealth and celebrities occupy positions at the top but neither would be considered functionally important.

Tumin (1953) power and rewards

Rewards reflect power rather than agreement amongst society that they deserve it.

Gender inequalities

Murdock (1949) - the division of labour is universal

According to Functionalists, the difference between is brought about primarily by biological differences;

Parsons - women are naturally suited to caring for the young because they bear children.

Murdock - the greater physical strength of the male is the reason why men are able to dominate economic life.

THis ensures smooth running in society

evaluation- societal change, oakley

Functionalism has not kept up with social changes in gender roles, for example where women have careers and delay or reject marriage and family.

Oakley has shown that gender roles are socially constructed rather than based on biological differences.

Ethnicity-

The Host-Immigration Model - Patterson 1965

Patterson suggested that there were three causes of ethnic inequalities:

Fear of cultural differences and the social change they might bring.

Resentment of having to compete with immigrants for scarce resources like jobs.

Failure of immigrants to assimilate to British culture.

contemporary example- Panorama - White Fright Divided Britain

In 2008 Panorama made a programme in Blackburn - which was becoming segregated along ethnic and religious lines. In 2018 Panorama has returned and found a town that is even more divided.

Some parts of Blackburn are almost entirely Muslim Asian, other parts only lived in by White residents.

Evaluation of patterson- marxism, postmodernism

Marxists would critique Patterson for failing to acknowledge the significance capitalism plays within society

Postmodernists claim assimilation was always the wrong goal suggesting that societies should aim to be multicultural.

age inequalities

Parsons and Age Norms

Parsons suggested that age roles are part of the socialisation process, ensuring that individuals adapt to society's needs:

Youth is a time for learning social norms and values.

The elderly disengage from active participation, which Parsons believed helps society adapt to inevitable generational shifts.

Cumming and Henry - Disengagement Theory

Preparation for the next generation: By stepping aside, older individuals create opportunities for younger people to enter the workforce.

Avoiding societal disruption: This natural process ensures that institutions continue to function smoothly as older workers retire.

Evaluation

Failing to account for inequalities: They ignore structural inequalities (e.g., in health or income) that can exacerbate disadvantages in old age.

X - Perpetuating stereotypes: Disengagement theory reinforces ageist ideas, such as viewing older individuals as "less useful" to society.