The document discusses two theoretical perspectives on social stratification: functionalism and Marxism. Functionalists view stratification as necessary to maintain order and stability by rewarding individuals based on their performance and contribution to society. However, Marxists see stratification as divisive and a means for one class to exploit others through unequal control and ownership of resources and political power.

1. THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION
Functionalism
&
Marxism

2. The Functionalist Perspective
 Considers how stratification systems help to maintain
order and stability in society.
 Important Question: “How far does social stratification
meet the functional prerequisites?”

3. Talcott Parsons
 Believed order, stability, cooperation in society are based
on value consensus
 Stratification systems derive from common values
 Rank in society will be based on successful performance in
terms of society’s values
 Rewards based on such ranking

4. Parsons cont’d
 He suggested that stratification is an inevitable part of human
society
 General belief that stratification systems are just and right since
they are an expression of shared values
 He believed that Western Industrial societies will display
tendencies to arrogance on part of winners; resentment on part of
some losers
 Conflict kept in check by consensus value system that justifies
unequal distribution of rewards

5. Kingsley Davis & Wilbert Moore
 Advanced controversial argument on value of S.S.
 Perhaps most influential of functionalist paradigm seeing
social inequality as vital to operation of society
 Argued that SS has beneficial consequences for society
 all societies share certain functional prerequisites that
must be met if society is to survive

6. Kingsley Davis & Wilbert Moore
cont’d.
 Very imp. F P - effective role allocation & performance
 all roles must be filled by those best able to perform
them
 necessary training for jobs must be undertaken & roles
performed well
 positions of high day-to-day responsibility that demand
special abilities are most functionally significant

7. Measurement of Importance of
Positions
 Degree to which position is functionally unique (no other
position can perform function satisfactorily)
 Degree to which other positions are dependent on
particular position

8. Education Systems
 Ed. Systems stratifies by using meritocracy, reward talent and
ability
 Education is a means of role allocation
 Important to process by which persons are selected and placed
according to capacities/abilities
 Reward most academically inclined with high
qualifications/certification used to enter functionally most imp.
occupations.

9. Kingsley Davis & Wilbert Moore
cont’d.
 SS - the mechanism for insuring effective role allocation &
performance
 Unequal rewards & privileges had to be attached to different
positions in society.
 No need for SS if members of society did not differ in important
respects
 There is difference in abilities therefore talent and positions differ
in importance for survival and maintenance of society

10. Kingsley Davis & Wilbert Moore
cont’d.
 Some positions more functionally imp. than others, thus more
rewards
 One main function of stratification - to match most able people
with functionally most important positions, by giving high
rewards
 encourages persons to aspire to these jobs
 by distributing resources unequally, society motivates each
person to aspire to more significant work, to work better,
harder, longer, leading to more productive society

11. What Does All of this Imply?
 That a productive society is a meritocracy - a system of SS based
on personal merit
 Such societies use rewards to encourage effort and develop talents
 In pursuit of meritocracy, society promotes equality of
opportunity while mandating inequality of rewards
 SS therefore “a device by which societies insure that the most
important positions are conscientiously filled by the most
qualified”
 SS is a functional necessity for societies

12. Marxist Perspective
 Stratification :
 a divisive structure;
 mechanism by which some exploit others;
 not a system that fosters integration & furthering of
collective goals.

13. Marxist Analysis
 All stratified societies consist of 2 major social groups in
which power of ruling class emanates from ownership &
control of MOP
 Such societies marked by oppression and exploitation
(conflict of interest)
 Legal and political systems instruments of ruling class
domination

14. Marxist Analysis cont’d.
 Systems of Stratification originate from relationships of
groups to MOP (class stratification)
 Mutual dependency of 2 classes not an equal relationship -
exploiter & exploited
 Marxists question role allocation and meritocracy &
challenge that all roles are performed by those best able to
perform them

15. Samuel Bowles & Herbert Gintis
 Ask who are those persons who are sifted & sorted?
 Ask who are these best qualified persons that school system
produces to match most important jobs?
 Question functionally most important jobs by asking who decides
or by what criteria are some jobs deemed more important than
others?