Functionalists assert that stratification in society is both
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values (appearing in all societies) and desirable (because it carries out important “
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values ” which allow society to work properly).
Functionalists start from the
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values that society is harmonious and
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values (peoples position in society is a result of their effort and abilities). They therefore acknowledge that stratification in society involves some
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values but claim that these inequalities are both beneficial and
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values .
Functionalist see stratification as a chain of
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values based on occupations and societies
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values of these occupations. Though stratas are unequally valued and rewarded functionalists argue that all stratas are
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values for society to function - (we may not value dustbin mean very highly but we need them to empty our dustbins!!).
Functionalists like Durkheim and
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values claim that stratification in modern society is different to stratification in past societies. In the past
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values and prestige was fixed at birth -
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values , whereas in meritocratic modern society status is “
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values ” through the efforts and qualities of individuals.
For functionalists the overriding “functions” of stratification and differentiation are:
1. To enable society to maintain a common set of
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values - people are rewarded for achievement and effort which reinforces beliefs in such values as equality of
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values and individual freedom. When people see others achieving they are also
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values to strive for themselves further reinforcing societies basic values.
2. Stratification and differentiation results in individuals being allocated different
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values within society. Davis and Moore talked a lot about role
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values (you may remember them from the Education unit last year!). It is important that roles or jobs are ranked in society to provide
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values for people to do important and challenging jobs - this is why a brain surgeon earns more than a bus driver! Stratification and the inequality which comes with it is therefore seen by functionalists as
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values (fair and accepted by society)
Criticisms of Functionalism By focussing solely on
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values functionalists are unable to satisfactorily explain racial or gender
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values and the inequalities that result other than by saying that these too are natural and legitimate.
Marxists dismiss the fundamental premise of functionalism that society is fair, meritocratic and
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values There is much
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values in society to suggest that ascribed rather than achieved status is still important.
There is little evidence of the
achieved allocation ascribed consensus discrimination encouraged evidence fair functions harmonious hierarchy incentives inequalities legitimate meritocratic needed occupation opportunity Parsons premise ranking roles status universal values on the importance of various occupations the functionalist imply.