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Subject: Stratification and Diversification

Title : Modern Functionalism and Social Stratification

I - Modern Functionalism

Functionalists maintain that a system of social inequality serves the needs of society as a whole. In other words, all benefit from such a system, including those at the lowest levels of the social ladder. For example, they argue that a system of stratification maintains the order and stability of society.

Talcott Parsons is a prominent functionalist who argues that the stability and functioning of society is maintained by a value consensus, that is, an agreement among members of society that the social order is worth preserving. Hence, functionalism is also known as consensus structuralism; it states that society is structured into functionally distinct groups, including classes, but that the cohesion of society as a whole is maintained by a consensus held by members of society that such as structure is natural and fair. Parsons also maintains that American society, for instance, is a meritocracy since social status within it is achieved rather than ascribed; that is, the American system of stratification is open as opposed to closed. He argues that American businessmen deserve their high social status because they have achieved it through their own work and skills.

In this way, Parsons argues that American society is fair.
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Subject: Stratification and Diversification

Title : Social Mobility

I - Early studies of social mobility

It is believed that social mobility in industrial societies is greater than in pre-industrial societies. That is, people can progress from one social stratum to another with more ease in modern society than in agricultural society. The system of social stratification has become more open; status is more achieved rather than ascribed. It is usual to study social mobility in terms of occupational mobility. David Glass et al conducted a study of intergenerational mobility in 1949, using occupational categories as follows:

1. Professional and high administrative
2. Managerial and executive
3. Inspectional, supervisory and other non-manual (higher grade)
4. Inspectional, supervisory and other non-manual (lower grade)
5. Skilled manual and routine grades of non-manual
6. Semi-skilled manual
7. Unskilled manual
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