Theories of Strarification

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Theories of Stratification in Sociology The Functionalist View of Stratification: 1. Main principles of structural functionalism: a. Societies are complex systems of interrelated and interdependent parts, and each part of a society significantly influences the others. b. Each part of a society exists because it has a vital function to perform in maintaining the existence or stability of society as a whole; the existence of any part of a society is therefore explained when its function for the whole is identified. In other words, the function of anything, which is assumed to be “beneficial function”, explains why a structure exists. c. The tendency of society is toward stability, harmony, or equilibrium, in other words toward balance. Society is seen as a self-regulating system and all of the constituent elements of a society must contribute to maintaining this state of harmony. d. Overall, the assumption of functionalism is that all social structures contribute to the maintenance of the system and the existence of any given structure is explained by means of its consequences (functions) which must, by definition be beneficial to the maintenance of stable order. 2. Functionalism on stratification: the Davis-Moore thesis: a. With particular respect to the issue of social stratification or social inequality, the functionalist view argues that social inequality is necessary because it fulfills vital system needs. b. One such functionalist view of social inequality was developed by Kinsley Davis and Wilbert Moore and has come to be known as the “Davis-Moore Thesis.” This functionalist theory of stratification was first discussed by the authors in 1945 in the article, “Some Principles of Stratification” which appeared in the American Sociological Review and was later extended and refined in Davis’s book Human Society (1948).
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