Relevance: Sociology: Stratification
What are the critiques discussed for the structural-Functional theory?
- “Social stratification systems function to limit the possibility of discovery of the full range of talent available in a society. This results from the fact of unequal access to appropriate motivation, channels of recruitment and centers of training.
- In foreshortening the range of available talent, social stratification systems function to set limits upon the possibility of expanding the productive resources of the society, at least relative to what might be the case under conditions of greater equality of opportunity.
- Social stratification systems function to provide the elite with the political power necessary to procure acceptance and dominance of an ideology which rationalizes the status quo, whatever it may be as “logical”, “natural”, and “morally right”. In this manner social stratification systems function as essentially conservative influences in the societies in which they are found.
- Social stratification systems function to distribute favorable self-image unequally throughout a population. To the extent that such favorable self- image are requisite to the development of the creative potential inherent in men, to that extent stratification systems function to limit the development of this creative potential.
- To the extent that inequalities in social reward cannot be made fully acceptable to the less privileged in a society, social stratification systems function to encourage hostility, suspicion and distrust among the various segments of a society and thus to limit the possibilities of extensive social integration.
How social Stratification can be dysfunctional?
- Ralf Dahrendorf was also one of the major critics of functional theory. Ralf Dahrendorf observes that stratification originates from the closely related trinity of norms, sanction and power.
- Similarly, rigidity of caste system cannot be explained through functional theories of Davis and Moore and others.
- Further, elite recruitment theory proves that elite gobble up all the rewards and perpetuate the elite rule.
- Beck and Baudrillard also visualise that such functional stratification is no longer valid as inequalities are now individualised and no clear strata exists today.
- According to Alvin Gouldner, stratification is not inevitable as Davis and Moore predicted and he criticises them for providing a justification for social inequalities.
Why Structure-functionalist theories suffer from illegitimate teleologies as a big logical problem?
- According to Jonathan Turner – ‘Structure-functionalist theories suffer from illegitimate teleologies as a big logical problem’. They often take cause for effects and vice-versa, for example, if you ask them which positions are more important? They will say the one which are rewarded the most. When you ask them why are they rewarded the most? They will say that because they are functionally more important.
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