Functionalist & Marxist views on Stratification

What do functionalists say about stratification?

Those who work the hardest are at the top of the social strata.

What do Marxists say about stratification?

The bourgeoisie are at the top of the hierarchy, and the proletariat are beneath them and they dominate most of society.

Believe bourgeoisie own the means of production and proletariat do not.

What do feminists say about stratification?

Society is based on the structure of patriarchy, with men at the top of the hierarchy with the power, control and dominance.

What is the functionalist view of stratification?

• Stratification is needed for society to be functional and fair - it should be meritocratic and based on equality of opportunity.

• Poverty is functional for society - motivates people into working harder. Without inequality, society would not be based on meritocracy.

What did Parsons say about stratification?

• Society works best when it is meritocratic.

• Rewards = wealth and status e.g. a good salary.

Functionalist.

What did Davis & Moore say about stratification?

Functionalists.

Society performs the function of ‘role allocation’ - the best jobs/roles given to those who work hardest for them - in school and beyond.

e.g. doctors and lawyers = 7 years study, high salaries.

Criticism of this functionalist view

Is society really meritocratic? What about ascribed status and in-work poverty?

What is the New Right view of stratification? (Saunders)

• Society needs stratification to make it work as well as possible.

• We need to give unequal rewards (high salaries) to those who get to the top as they have worked the hardest to get there.

• This incentivises everyone to strive for the top paying jobs.

What else does Saunder say?

The middle class are naturally more clever and work harder than the rest, hence why they have the best jobs.

Criticisms of New Right View

• Middle class have material and cultural advantages

• Feminists - women excluded from top jobs (glass ceiling)

• Are the best paying jobs really the most important? e.g. footballers.

What is the Marxist view of stratification?

• Society is stratified by class - the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

• Middle class own property (business, land) which they can profit from.

• Working class do not, so sell their labour to middle class to survive.

• Stratification is unequal and unfair. Poverty is the result of this inequality.

Who is the sociologist for the marxist view?

Marx

What did Marx say?

• Middle class own the means of production and exploit the working class into low paying jobs, maximising profit for themselves at the expense of the poor.

• Their position in society and power allows them to control ideas and justify inequalities in other parts of society e.g. false class consciousness.

What is capitalism?

• Economic system based on accumulating wealth via private ownership.

• Class inequalities have become much worse under capitalism, as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

• Marx predicted capitalism would get replaced with communism.

Criticisms of the Marxist view of stratification

• Is capitalism really that bad? Things have improved since Marx.

• Is meritocracy a myth? Those who work hard do tend to do better.

• Marx was wrong that communism would rise. Countries who have tried have failed.