Functionalism and stratification
By A. Swaby-Burton, Contributor
WITHIN SOCIOLOGY, the view that stratification is inevitable has always been associated with
functionalist theory. A major contribution to debates about stratification came from Kingsley
Davis and Wilbert E. Moore. However the roots of the functionalist position can be traced back
to Emile Durkheim and Herbert Spencer. Both of them purport that as societies evolve and grow
more complex, a greater variety of social roles and functions develop.
In general, the functionalist theory assumes that elements in culture and social structure have
effects, or functions, that contribute to the stability and survival of society as a whole.
Functionalists, therefore, argue that if stratification is universal, it must have some useful
function in maintaining societies.
Both Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore took the above stance, they both contend that some
form of stratification is a social necessity. However, in their writings, they emphasise that they
are merely trying to explain this situation, not to justify it.
Davis and Moore point out that some social roles require scarce talents or prolonged training.
Not everyone can be a doctor, nuclear physicist or lawyer. If a society is to function effectively,
it must find some way of attracting to these roles the people who have the talents and skills to
play them. For both of the, the roles which require scarce talents, or lengthy training usually
involves stress, considerable sacrifice and heavy responsibilities. As such, these roles must
therefore offer wealth, power, prestige, or some combination of the three to provide incentives
for individuals to take them on. Thus, a society that values, for example, parliamentarians, above
the garbage collectors will give higher status and rewards to parliamentarians, or one that values
doctors or lawyers above teachers will give them higher status and rewards.
For both Davis and Moore, this unequal distribution of social rewards is functional for society
because roles that demand scarce talents are played by the most able individuals. Social
stratification according to Moore and Davis is the inevitable result.
The following points below give a summary of Davis and Moore's work. Some principles of
stratification. It attempts to set out a model of stratification which:
* Starts from the assumption that a modern industrial society has a range of occupational
positions requiring different types and levels of skill for their effective performance.
* Sees some positions as functionally more important than others. The ability to fill these
positions is not evenly spread across the population. Even people with the ability require
considerable investment of time and effort in training and education.
* Attaches extra rewards and benefits to functionally important positions, to ensure a sufficient
labour supply with people being willing to occupy responsible and vital roles.
* Maintains that any society with a complex division of labour needs stratification to ensure that
roles are allocated to maximise efficiency and the most important jobs are done by those most
able to do them. (Adapted from Success in Sociology Marcus and Durkheim pg. 72).
I do hope you found this explanation of the functionalist perspective on stratification and the
comparison of all three perspectives helpful.
Stay in touch for the next lesson as we continue to explore other areas of stratification.
THREE VIEWS OF STRATIFICATION: A COMPARISON
The Functionalist View Conflict View
Evolutionary View
Some stratification is
1. Stratification is
Stratification is not
necessary and inevitable, but
necessary and inevitable necessary or inevitable
much is not.
The interests of the powerful The society's subsistence
2. Social needs shape the
shape the stratification
strategy shapes the
stratification system
system
stratification system.
Stratification arises partly
3. Stratification arises
Stratification arises from
from the need to reward
from the need to match
group conquest, competition scarce talent, partly from
scarce talents with the
and conflict
competition and
roles that demand them
conflict.
Stratification rests on some
4. Stratification is an
Stratification is an
consensus in values, but it
expression of shared
expression of the values of
primarily expresses values of
social values
powerful groups
the powerful.
Some tasks and rewards are
5. Tasks and rewards are Tasks and rewards are
fairly allocated, but many are
fairly allocated
unfairly allocated
not.
6. Stratification
Stratification impedes the
Some stratification facilitates
facilitates the optimal
optimal functioning of
optimal functioning of
functioning of society
society
society; too much impedes it.