Functionalist Theory of Stratification » What is Social Stratification

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

Define social stratification and understand its key features
Explore the functionalist theory of stratification
Learn about Davis and Moore's theory of stratification
Understand how social stratification affects life chances
Examine criticisms of the functionalist approach
Apply concepts to real-world examples

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Introduction to Social Stratification

Imagine society as a layered cake, with different groups of people stacked on top of each other. This is essentially what social stratification is - a system where society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy. Some groups have more wealth, power and status than others, creating different social layers or 'strata'.

Key Definitions:

Social Stratification: The way society is organised in layers or strata based on factors like wealth, power and status.
Social Inequality: The unequal distribution of resources, opportunities and rewards in society.
Life Chances: The opportunities individuals have to improve their quality of life.
Social Mobility: The movement of individuals between different social positions.

📈 Features of Stratification

Social stratification has four key features:

It's a social system, not just about individuals
It persists across generations - your family background affects your position
It's universal - found in all societies, though in different forms
It involves both inequality and beliefs about why inequality is fair

👥 Types of Stratification

Different societies have different stratification systems:

Class system - based on economic factors, common in modern societies
Caste system - based on birth and religion, like in traditional India
Estate system - based on land ownership, like in medieval Europe
Slavery - extreme form where people are owned as property

The Functionalist Theory of Stratification

Functionalists believe that social stratification serves an important purpose in society. They argue that society is like a body with different organs - each part has a specific function that contributes to the whole. Similarly, social stratification helps society run smoothly by ensuring the most important roles are filled by the most qualified people.

Davis and Moore's Theory

In 1945, sociologists Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore developed the most famous functionalist explanation of stratification. Their theory has three main points:

🎓 Important Roles

Some jobs are more important than others for society's survival and progress. These roles (like doctors, engineers and leaders) require special skills and training.

💪 Motivation

People need incentives to take on difficult, important roles. Higher rewards (money, status, power) motivate people to get the necessary qualifications and do challenging jobs.

🤝 Social Benefit

The unequal distribution of rewards ensures that the most talented people take on the most important roles, which benefits society as a whole.

According to Davis and Moore, stratification is both inevitable and necessary for society to function properly. Without different rewards for different roles, people wouldn't be motivated to take on the most difficult but essential jobs.

Case Study Focus: The Medical Profession

Doctors are highly rewarded in most societies because:

Their role is crucial for society's wellbeing
Becoming a doctor requires many years of difficult training
The responsibility of the role is high
Without high rewards (status, income), fewer people would be willing to invest the time and effort to become doctors

Functionalists would argue this shows how stratification ensures important roles are filled by qualified people.

How Stratification Affects Life Chances

Your position in the stratification system has a huge impact on your life chances - the opportunities you have to improve your quality of life. These include:

🏫 Education

People from higher social strata typically have better access to quality education, private tutoring and educational resources. This gives them a head start in life and better career prospects.

🏥 Housing

Your social position affects where you can afford to live, the quality of your housing and whether you can buy property. This impacts everything from safety to access to good schools.

🩺 Health

Higher social positions are linked to better health outcomes, longer life expectancy and better access to healthcare. People in lower positions often face more health risks and barriers to care.

💼 Employment

Your social background influences the types of jobs you can access, your earnings potential and your chances of promotion. Networks and connections often play a key role.

Criticisms of the Functionalist Theory

While functionalists see stratification as necessary and beneficial, many sociologists disagree with this view:

Tumin's Critique

Sociologist Melvin Tumin (1953) raised several important criticisms of Davis and Moore's theory:

Who decides importance? The 'importance' of different roles is subjective and often reflects the values of those already in power.
Talent is wasted: Many talented people from disadvantaged backgrounds never get the chance to develop their skills due to lack of opportunity.
Rewards aren't fair: The rewards people receive don't always match their contribution to society. For example, nurses are essential but often poorly paid.
Inherited privilege: Stratification systems tend to be self-perpetuating, with advantages passed down through generations rather than earned through merit.

Real-World Example: CEO Pay vs Worker Pay

In the UK, the average FTSE 100 CEO earns around 120 times more than the average worker. Functionalists might argue this reflects their importance and responsibilities. Critics would question whether any role is truly worth that much more than others and whether such inequality is necessary for society to function.

This example highlights the debate about whether stratification is about functional necessity (as functionalists claim) or about power and exploitation (as conflict theorists argue).

Alternative Perspectives on Stratification

While functionalists see stratification as necessary, other sociological perspectives offer different explanations:

✊ Marxist View

Marxists see stratification as a system of exploitation where the ruling class controls resources and exploits the working class. Unlike functionalists, they view inequality as harmful and unnecessary, serving the interests of the powerful rather than society as a whole.

💬 Interactionist View

Interactionists focus on how social labels and expectations shape people's identities and opportunities. They examine how everyday interactions reinforce social hierarchies and how people make sense of their position in society.

Conclusion: Evaluating the Functionalist Theory

The functionalist theory of stratification helps us understand how social inequality might serve certain purposes in society. However, it has significant limitations:

It tends to justify inequality rather than questioning it
It overlooks how power shapes who gets what in society
It doesn't adequately address how privilege is inherited rather than earned
It assumes that the current system is the most efficient way to allocate talent, which many dispute

When studying social stratification, it's important to consider multiple perspectives to gain a complete understanding of this complex aspect of society. The functionalist view is just one way of explaining why societies are stratified and it should be critically evaluated alongside other theories.

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