The Theories of Social Stratification

Elbernezer Andrew
SOC143: Social Stratification and Social Mobility
Section C: 12:30- 1:30
 Learning
Objectives

 To outline the main tenets of the

different perspectives on social
stratification
  Functionalism
The theories of  Marxist /Conflict

Social  Weberian Social Action theory

 Feminism
Stratification  Caribbean Explanations
Functionalism
Functionalism

 The functionalist theories of stratification set their explanations in the framework of larger theories which
seek to explain the operation of society as a whole. They assume that society has certain basic needs or
functional prerequisites that must be met if it survive.
 They therefore look to social stratification to see how far it meets these prerequisites
Functionalism

 Functionalism assume that the parts of society form integrated whole and thus they examine the ways in
which the social stratification system is integrated with other parts of society.
 They maintain that a certain degree of order and stability is essentials for the operation do the social systems.
They therefore consider how stratification systems help maintain order and stability in society
Functionalism

 Like many functionalist Talcott Parsons. Believed that order , stability and cooperation in society are based
on value consensus- a general agreement by members of society concerning what is good and worthwhile.
 Parsons argued that the stratification systems derive from common values . If values exist, then it follows
that individuals will be evaluated and placed in some form of random order. In order words those who
performed successfully in terms of society’s values will be ranked highly and they will be likely to receive a
variety of rewards
Functionalism

 To illustrate, if a society places a high value on bravery and generosity, as was the case with the Sioux
Indians in North America , those who excel in terms of these qualities will received high rank in
stratification system.
 Because different societies have different value systems, the ways of attaining a high position will vary from
society to society. Parson, argued that American society values individual individual achievement, and
efficiency, and ‘ puts primary emphasis on productive activity within the economy.’
 Parson’s. Argument suggests that stratification is an inevitable part of all human societies . If value
consensus is an essential component of all societies, then it follows that some form of stratification will
result from the ranking of individuals in terms of common values.
Functionalism

 It also follows from parson’s argument that there is a general belief that stratification systems are just, right
and proper, because they are basically an expression of shared values.
 This is not so say there is no conflict between the values and have nots, the highly rewarded and those with
little reward. Parson recognized that in Western industrial society there will be ‘certain tendencies to
arrogance on the part to arrogance on the part of some winners and to resentment and to “sour
grapes”attitude on the part of some losers’
 However,Parson believed that this conflict kept in check by the common value system which justifies the
unequal distribution of rewards.
Functionalism- Davis and Moore

 The most famous functionalist theory on stratification was first presented in 1945 in an article by the
American sociologists Davis and Moore entitled “ Some Principles of Stratification.”
 Effective role allocation and performance
 Davis and Moore began with the observation that stratification exists in every known human society.
 They argued that all social systems share certain functional prerequisites which must be met if the system to
survive and operate effectively. One such functional prerequisite is effective role allocation and performance.
Functionalism- Davis and Moore

 Effective role allocation and performance means the following:

 All roles must be filled
 They must be filled by those best able to perform them
 The necessary training for them must be undertaken
 The roles must be performed faithfully
Functionalism- Davis and Moore

 Davis and Moore argued that all societies need some mechanism for ensuring effective role allocation ad
performance. This mechanism is social stratification, which they saw as a system that attaches unequal
rewards and privileges to the different positions in society.
Functionalism- Davis and Moore/Criticism

 Melvin Tumin (1967) argues that:

 Many low pard and unskilled jobs are just as vital as higher- paid or more skilled jobs.
 There is a greater pool of talent than Davis and Moore assume
 Training is a pleasant experience and does not require extra rewards to persuade people t undertake it.
 Stratification systems do not provide equality of opportunity and tend to prevent those from the lower strata
achieving their potential.
 Stratification can demotivate those at the bottom stratification systems encourage ‘hostility, suspicion and
distrust’.
Marxist Perspective
Marxist Perspective

 In Marx’s theories, stratification is a key aspect of the capitalist system. All stratified societies have two
major classes: a ruling class and the subject class.
 The ruling class owns the means of production and the subjective class does not. The ruling class exploits the
subject class.
 In capitalist societies the main classes are the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
 The bourgeoisie exploits the working class through the system of wage labour. Capitalists pay wages to
workers, but make a profit because they pay workers less than the value of what they produce.
Marxist Perspective

 The transition to communism will not be straightforward because it requires revolutionary action by the
proletariat. However, the bourgeoisie uses the superstructure to suppress the proletariat by creating false
consciousness. Eventually though, class consciousness will develop- workers will realize that they are being
exploited and will rise up to change society.
 Class consciousness develops for the following reasons:
 There is a basic contradiction in capitalist societies between the interests of workers and capitalists.
 Workers will become concerned in large factories, making it easier to communicate with one another and
organize resistance
 Marxist Perspective

 Workers’ wages will decline in relation to the growing wealth of capitalists , in order to maintain profits.
There will be a polarization of classes, with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, making
inequalities more obvious.
 Skill divisions between workers will be reduced as new technology is introduced, resulting in a more
homogenous and united working class
 The petty bourgeoisie will be unable to compete and will sink into the proletariat
 Capitalist economies are unstable, and economic crises and periods of high unemployment will cause
growing resentment.
 Workers will join together to form unions , political parties and revolutionary movements as class
consciousness grows, enabling them to overthrow capitalism and replace it with communism.
Weber Perspective
 Weber’s Perspective
 Max Weber accepted some of Marx’s ideas but rejected others . Weber argued that classes develop from
people’s market situation ( their situation in relation to buying and selling things, including their labour
power ) in markets.
 Weber differs from Marx in a number of ways
 Like Marx he saw a basic division between those who have considerable property ( and can live off the
proceeds) and those who do not- the property less- who have to sell their labour. However, there are also
significant differences within the two groups as well as between them.
 Within the property less group there are some who can sell their labour for a higher price- those with scare
but sought after skills such as professionals and managers- they have an advantaged market situation
compared to other groups of workers. Unlike Marx, Webers therefore believed that different occupational
groupings could form classes.
 Weber saw no evidence of a polarization of classes. Instead he thought that the middle class of white collar
workers in bureaucracies would expand.
 Weber’s Perspective

 Weber did not believe that a revolution by the proletariat was likely.
 He thought that some, but not all power came from wealth
 He argued that class was the only basis for group formation. Status groups-groups of people who enjoyed
similar levels of status or respect in society- could also be formed . Status groups mights , for example , be
based on ethnicity, age nationality or gender; individual within groups tended to share similar lifestyles.
 Organized groups which seek to exercise political power or influence those with power are called parties
Parties or they maybe pressure groups, status groups or neither.
 Weber’s Perspective

 Weber did not believe that a revolution by the proletariat was likely.
 He thought that some, but not all power came from wealth
 He argued that class was the only basis for group formation. Status groups-groups of people who enjoyed
similar levels of status or respect in society- could also be formed . Status groups mights , for example , be
based on ethnicity, age nationality or gender; individual within groups tended to share similar lifestyles.
 Organized groups which seek to exercise political power or influence those with power are called parties
Parties or they maybe pressure groups, status groups or neither.
THE END