Functionalist views on social inequality:
Intro:
Functionalists have a consensus view of society. They believe that
people in society work together for the common good of all, this is
known as the organic analogy
All societies are unequal. Inequality of whole groups in the social
structure is known as stratification
Functionalists believe stratification is good for society
Functionalists say that the best people get the best jobs because
they are more talented and work harder. Poor people are poor
because they do not work hard enough for the best positions
Point 1: Parsons’ view
AO2:
Parsons believed that we are stratified based on our collective
values. Therefore, those who perform successfully in terms of
society’s values will be ranked highly and received reward/prestige
For example, in our society, we place great importance on financial
success - therefore anyone who achieves this will be rewarded with
wealth, high status and often power
The common value system that we share helps to justify these
rewards and prevents too many “sour grapes” from those who don’t
succeed
The education system provides society with people equipped with
the right skills to do the jobs society needs. This makes sure the
best/most qualified people end up doing the jobs that utilises and
recognises these skills, qualifications and individual effort
This creates what is termed as the division of labour - whereby the
world of work is fragmented into a large number of specialised jobs
From this position, the inequalities in society are fair and just,
everyone is given an equal chance, it’s merely that some people
work hard and succeed and others choose to be idle, mess about in
class and only have themselves to blame for their failure
AO3:
Marxists view stratification as actually divisive, and a way of
exploiting people rather than furthering collective goals or value
consensus
They believe inequality is not fair or functional, but the result of
capitalist exploitation
The bourgeoisie keeps the proletariat oppressed to maintain power
and wealth. Far from being based on merit, the distribution of wealth
and power reflects a system where the ruling class maintains
dominance by controlling resources and shaping ideology through
institutions like education and the media, which Althusser later
called the ideological state apparatus
Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital supports the Marxist argument
by showing the middle-class families pass down advantages which
Intro:
Functionalists have a consensus view of society. They believe that
people in society work together for the common good of all, this is
known as the organic analogy
All societies are unequal. Inequality of whole groups in the social
structure is known as stratification
Functionalists believe stratification is good for society
Functionalists say that the best people get the best jobs because
they are more talented and work harder. Poor people are poor
because they do not work hard enough for the best positions
Point 1: Parsons’ view
AO2:
Parsons believed that we are stratified based on our collective
values. Therefore, those who perform successfully in terms of
society’s values will be ranked highly and received reward/prestige
For example, in our society, we place great importance on financial
success - therefore anyone who achieves this will be rewarded with
wealth, high status and often power
The common value system that we share helps to justify these
rewards and prevents too many “sour grapes” from those who don’t
succeed
The education system provides society with people equipped with
the right skills to do the jobs society needs. This makes sure the
best/most qualified people end up doing the jobs that utilises and
recognises these skills, qualifications and individual effort
This creates what is termed as the division of labour - whereby the
world of work is fragmented into a large number of specialised jobs
From this position, the inequalities in society are fair and just,
everyone is given an equal chance, it’s merely that some people
work hard and succeed and others choose to be idle, mess about in
class and only have themselves to blame for their failure
AO3:
Marxists view stratification as actually divisive, and a way of
exploiting people rather than furthering collective goals or value
consensus
They believe inequality is not fair or functional, but the result of
capitalist exploitation
The bourgeoisie keeps the proletariat oppressed to maintain power
and wealth. Far from being based on merit, the distribution of wealth
and power reflects a system where the ruling class maintains
dominance by controlling resources and shaping ideology through
institutions like education and the media, which Althusser later
called the ideological state apparatus
Bourdieu’s concept of cultural capital supports the Marxist argument
by showing the middle-class families pass down advantages which
