Social class can be ranged in different dimensions such as economics (measured in wealth or income), political (status and power) and cultural (lifestyle and beliefs). Social class can create inequalities and is an indicator on social stratification and that is where social groups in society are ranked based on factors such as wealth (Haralambos, 2004). Sociological theories such as Functionalism, Marxism and Social Action Theory differ in their perspective on class stratification.
Functionalism is a sociological theory which has a macro point of view as they look at society in a structural fashion and shows how society affects the individual. Functionalists have a body analogy when describing society which is each body part has a function …show more content…
One key feature of this study is role allocation and performance, and this makes sure that every role in society is fulfilled, the people who have the role are the best people for it, the people undergo the training for the job and the role is performed well (Haralambos, 1990). To make this feature effective society would need stratification (Haralambos, 2004). Another feature that Davis and Moore explain is functional importance and that is there are jobs that have a more important role to society than others and would tend to have higher rewards. The importance of the roles is determined with two factors. Firstly, the role is unique and the skills for them is not needed in other roles an example of this is a doctor because there are specific skills a doctor needs that other jobs such as a nurse does not (Haralambos, 1990). Finally, other roles are dependent of the role with a higher functional importance and an example of this is a manager of a business because without their organisation then the business would be less stable, and the workers can potentially lose their job. Melvin M. Tumin critiques this study and two of the critiques are that rewards are not influenced to the importance of the role but rather than the power that the role offers and that there are people who do have the skills to have a high functional …show more content…
Marxism mainly talks about two classes: the ruling class (Bourgeoisie) and subject class (Proletariat). The ruling class would take advantage of the subject class and exploits their work to get profit out of their labour (Haralambos, 1990). The subject class are being exploited by the ruling class as they would do all the work and not get much profit out of it. However, the two classes are co-dependent with one another as the Bourgeoisie need the Proletariat because without them there are no products to make profit out of and the Proletariat need the Bourgeoisie because without them they have no wages and won’t be able to survive (Haralambos, 1990). The superstructure within the main institutions in society are the reason why the Bourgeoisie have power as the superstructure act for the needs of the Bourgeoisie, not the Proletariat (Haralambos, 1990). Marxists would believe that class stratification is used most when in capitalist societies because in that type of system only the minority in society (Bourgeoisie) receives the benefits of the exploitation to the rest of society (Haralambos, 1990). The majority are exploited because of false class consciousness. This means that they let this happen as they are not aware that they are being exploited by the bourgeoisie
Functionalism is a sociological theory which has a macro point of view as they look at society in a structural fashion and shows how society affects the individual. Functionalists have a body analogy when describing society which is each body part has a function …show more content…
One key feature of this study is role allocation and performance, and this makes sure that every role in society is fulfilled, the people who have the role are the best people for it, the people undergo the training for the job and the role is performed well (Haralambos, 1990). To make this feature effective society would need stratification (Haralambos, 2004). Another feature that Davis and Moore explain is functional importance and that is there are jobs that have a more important role to society than others and would tend to have higher rewards. The importance of the roles is determined with two factors. Firstly, the role is unique and the skills for them is not needed in other roles an example of this is a doctor because there are specific skills a doctor needs that other jobs such as a nurse does not (Haralambos, 1990). Finally, other roles are dependent of the role with a higher functional importance and an example of this is a manager of a business because without their organisation then the business would be less stable, and the workers can potentially lose their job. Melvin M. Tumin critiques this study and two of the critiques are that rewards are not influenced to the importance of the role but rather than the power that the role offers and that there are people who do have the skills to have a high functional …show more content…
Marxism mainly talks about two classes: the ruling class (Bourgeoisie) and subject class (Proletariat). The ruling class would take advantage of the subject class and exploits their work to get profit out of their labour (Haralambos, 1990). The subject class are being exploited by the ruling class as they would do all the work and not get much profit out of it. However, the two classes are co-dependent with one another as the Bourgeoisie need the Proletariat because without them there are no products to make profit out of and the Proletariat need the Bourgeoisie because without them they have no wages and won’t be able to survive (Haralambos, 1990). The superstructure within the main institutions in society are the reason why the Bourgeoisie have power as the superstructure act for the needs of the Bourgeoisie, not the Proletariat (Haralambos, 1990). Marxists would believe that class stratification is used most when in capitalist societies because in that type of system only the minority in society (Bourgeoisie) receives the benefits of the exploitation to the rest of society (Haralambos, 1990). The majority are exploited because of false class consciousness. This means that they let this happen as they are not aware that they are being exploited by the bourgeoisie