Functionalist Theory of Stratification: Understanding Functionally Important Roles
Imagine society as a complex machine with many different parts. Some parts might seem more important than others, but they all work together to keep things running smoothly. This is how functionalists view society and explain why some people have more wealth, power and status than others.
Key Definitions:
- Social Stratification: The way society is divided into different layers or strata based on wealth, power and status.
- Functionally Important Roles: Jobs or positions that are considered essential for society to function properly.
- Meritocracy: A system where people gain rewards based on their abilities and efforts rather than their background.
Davis and Moore's Theory of Stratification
In 1945, two sociologists named Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore developed a theory to explain why social inequality exists in all societies. They argued that stratification serves an important purpose - it ensures the most talented people fill the most important roles in society.
💡 The Basic Argument
According to Davis and Moore, some positions in society are more functionally important than others. These positions:
- Require special skills and talents
- Need extensive training and education
- Are crucial for society's survival and progress
🎓 The Reward System
To motivate talented people to take on these important but difficult roles, society offers greater rewards:
- Higher salaries and financial benefits
- Increased social status and prestige
- More power and influence
What Makes a Role "Functionally Important"?
According to functionalists, certain roles are more important for society's functioning than others. But what makes a role important?
🔬 Scarcity of Personnel
Roles that few people can perform due to limited talent or the difficulty of acquiring necessary skills (e.g., surgeons, scientists).
🏫 Training Requirements
Positions requiring extensive education and training, representing significant investment of time and resources (e.g., lawyers, engineers).
🛠 Functional Significance
Jobs that are critical to society's wellbeing and cannot be easily replaced or automated (e.g., teachers, emergency services).
Examples of Functionally Important Roles
Functionalists would identify these roles as particularly important for society:
- Doctors: Require 5-7+ years of training, possess rare skills and their work directly impacts life and death.
- Engineers: Design and maintain crucial infrastructure that society depends on.
- Scientists: Drive innovation and solve complex problems through specialised knowledge.
- Business Leaders: Coordinate economic activity and create jobs.
- Teachers: Educate future generations and pass on essential knowledge.
Case Study Focus: NHS Doctors' Pay
In the UK, junior doctors start with a basic salary of around £29,000, but consultants can earn over £100,000. Functionalists would argue this pay gap reflects the years of additional training (often 10+ years), responsibility levels and the crucial nature of their work. The higher rewards are necessary to motivate people to undertake the lengthy training and difficult working conditions of senior medical roles.
Meritocracy: The Ideal System?
Functionalists believe that a properly functioning society should be a meritocracy - where the most talented and hardest-working individuals rise to the top, regardless of their background.
👍 How Meritocracy Should Work
In an ideal meritocratic system:
- Everyone has equal opportunity to develop their talents
- The most capable people fill the most important roles
- Rewards are distributed based on contribution to society
- Social mobility is possible for anyone with ability and determination
🤔 Is the UK a Meritocracy?
Evidence suggests the UK isn't a perfect meritocracy:
- Children from wealthy families have better access to education
- Only 7% of UK children attend private schools, but they make up around 40% of students at top universities
- Family connections often help people secure important jobs
- The "glass ceiling" can prevent women and minorities from reaching top positions
Criticisms of the Functionalist Theory
While the functionalist theory provides one explanation for social stratification, it has faced significant criticism:
💭 Tumin's Critique
Sociologist Melvin Tumin argued that stratification might actually prevent talent from being discovered. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds might never get the chance to develop their potential.
💲 Who Decides Importance?
The theory doesn't explain who decides which roles are most important. Often, those with power define what's "important" in ways that benefit themselves.
🤝 Marxist Response
Marxists argue that stratification exists to benefit the ruling class, not society as a whole. Inequality serves the interests of the wealthy, not social function.
Real-World Application: Are Rewards Always Fair?
The functionalist theory suggests that rewards should match the functional importance of roles, but reality often shows discrepancies:
- Footballers vs Nurses: Premier League footballers can earn over £300,000 per week, while nurses start at around £27,000 per year. Are footballers really more functionally important to society?
- CEOs vs Teachers: The average FTSE 100 CEO earns around £3.9 million annually, while experienced teachers earn about £41,000. Does this reflect their relative importance to society?
- Essential Workers: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many "low-skilled" jobs were reclassified as "essential," yet their pay remained low despite their newly recognised importance.
Case Study: The Pandemic Perspective
The COVID-19 pandemic challenged functionalist ideas about which jobs are most important. Supermarket workers, delivery drivers and care workers - traditionally low-paid roles - were suddenly deemed "essential" to keeping society functioning. Yet their pay and status didn't increase to match this newly recognised importance. This suggests that rewards aren't always aligned with functional importance as the theory would predict.
Evaluating the Functionalist Theory
When assessing this theory for your iGCSE exam, consider these strengths and limitations:
✅ Strengths
- Explains why some inequality might be necessary
- Recognises that different roles require different levels of skill and training
- Provides a logical explanation for why doctors, engineers and other highly skilled professionals earn more
- Supports the idea of meritocracy which many people see as fair
❌ Limitations
- Doesn't explain extreme inequality or inherited wealth
- Ignores how power and privilege maintain inequality
- Assumes a level playing field that doesn't exist in reality
- Doesn't account for discrimination or structural barriers
- Rewards often don't match the actual importance of roles
Key Exam Tips
When writing about the Functionalist Theory of Stratification in your exam:
- Always refer to Davis and Moore by name
- Use specific examples of functionally important roles
- Compare rewards across different professions to evaluate the theory
- Consider both strengths and limitations of the approach
- Link to other perspectives (Marxist, Feminist) for higher marks
- Use contemporary examples like the pandemic to show application