Elucidate the basic premises of Davis’ structural-functional theory of social stratification. How far is it relevant in understanding contemporary Indian society?(2016)
In sociology, the functionalist perspective examines how society’s parts operate. According to functionalism, different aspects of society exist because they serve a needed purpose.
sociologists Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore published the Davis-Moore thesis, which argued that the greater the functional importance of a social role, the greater must be the reward. The theory posits that social stratification represents the inherently unequal value of different work. Certain tasks in society are more valuable than others. Qualified people who fill those positions must be rewarded more than others.
According to Davis and Moore, a firefighter’s job is more important than, for instance, a grocery store cashier’s. The cashier position does not require the same skill and training level as firefighting. Without the incentive of higher pay and better benefits, why would someone be willing to rush into burning buildings? If pay levels were the same, the firefighter might as well work as a grocery store cashier. Davis and Moore believed that rewarding more important work with higher levels of income, prestige, and power encourages people to work harder and longer.
Davis and Moore stated that, in most cases, the degree of skill required for a job determines that job’s importance. They also stated that the more skill required for a job, the fewer qualified people there would be to do that job. Certain jobs, such as cleaning hallways or answering phones, do not require much skill. The employees don’t need a college degree. Other work, like designing a highway system or delivering a baby, requires immense skill.
The Davis-Moore thesis, though open for debate, was an early attempt to explain why stratification exists. The thesis states that social stratification is necessary to promote excellence, productivity, and efficiency, thus giving people something to strive for. Davis and Moore believed that the system serves society as a whole because it allows everyone to benefit to a certain extent.
functional important positions are functionally unique or a degree to which other positions are dependent on the one in question. For ex- the Highly skilled surgeon is functionally unique and hence important position which has prestigious pay and reward. Further, Davis argued that stratification system provides equality of opportunity and integrate the social system.
In contemporary Indian society, all important positions are filled and role allocations are ensured with competition exam. Our society is moving toward meritocratic society. Unequal rewards and privileges to the functionally important positions provide equality of opportunity to everyone, be it the political, social or economic sphere. However, as Melvin Tumin argued that social stratification can and often does act as a barrier to the motivation and recruitment of talent. This is apparent in a closed system such as caste and racial stratification thus the ascribed status of untouchables prevented even the most talented from becoming Brahmins. Lower strata never have the same opportunities as of higher strata. Social stratification at times increases hostility and becomes divisive for society as seen in recent agitation for reservation.