Social stratification is the existence of various class inequalities in terms of economic and social status of individuals in the society. These disparities arise from the fact the control of factor of production is no equally distributed among the members of the society. However, these social statuses are at times unstable and in that those born poor can struggle and join the rich class. Similarly, the reach may stumble and become poor. There are several theories that have been advanced by different schools expose the assumptions surrounding the existence of social inequality. In general this theory emphasizes that social stratification is justified by an individual’s qualifications and competence. This argument claims that the opportunities are available for all the members of the society to compete for. The question that is left unanswered is that how does merit and inherited advantage interact in social functionalism?
The functionalist theory views social stratification from the leadership responsibilities that the society endows on its individuals. In a society, different job opportunities attract different benefits such as power and monetary rewards. Members of the society are therefore motivated by theses benefits to work hard and acquire such positions.
Even though the Marxists recognize the importance of societal functions, disagrees with the functionalists on their assumptions that the society is always a relatively stable institution in which conflict and change are not common occurrences. Through their conflict theory of social stratification, the Marxist school argues that social classes are products of a struggle for dominance of the scarce resources. The Marxists explain that the individuals who own and control the means of production have to acquire the power to maintain the status quo by establishing political structures and systems that favor their interests. This contradicts the functionalists’ view that these status exist on their own. The school and legal systems are set in such a way that they benefit the ruling class. In fact, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels emphasize that every generation off rulers do so from the ideas of its ruling class. For instance, the American capitalist used social Darwinism to justify their position that they are the most fit to do so having survived the evolutionary struggles of the survival of the fittest. (Tischler, 2010, p.188)
The feminism theory also criticizes the social functionalists view on the social stratification. Women in Canadian society do not get equal treatment on job placement and general societal functions. Men dominate the ownership of property, control over capital, politics, management and key decision making organs. This theory therefore criticizes the existence and propagation of the gender inequality in our societies. Female workers are liable to low wages even if they perform equal duties as their male counterparts. But, why should this be the case? Outside professionalism and the job placement, domestic division of labor is not obeying any gender equity regulations. Women do a lot of domestic work and child care as well as performing their office duties. This is overburdening on the women.
In conclusion, the functionalist theory of social stratification is very inadequate. It largely assumes that the society functional structures are stable and everyone has equal opportunities to exploit. The Marxist and the feminist schools critique this approach by presenting the other side of the coin that is not fully exhausted by the functionalists.
Reference
Tischler, H. L. (2010). Cengage Advantage Books: Introduction to Sociology (10 ed.). USA:
Cengage Learning.
