Theories and Explanations of Inequality and Stratification

What Theories and Explanations of Inequality and Stratification covers

Theories and Explanations of Inequality and Stratification is examined in Component 3 Section A, Social Differentiation, Power and Stratification — compulsory. It covers functionalist theories of stratification, criticisms of functionalist stratification theory, the New Right, Marxist theories of class, neo-Marxist theories, Weberian theories of stratification, neo-Weberian theories, feminist explanations of inequality, explaining gender inequality beyond feminism, theories of racism and ethnic inequality, explaining age inequality, postmodernist accounts of inequality and comparing and evaluating the theories.

The 13 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• Functionalist theories of stratificationCore functionalist claim about stratification, functionalist view of social mobility and gans's argument.Open →
• Criticisms of functionalist stratification theoryObjection to the idea of training as sacrifice, criticism from the existence of power and marxist criticism of functionalist stratification theory.Open →
• The New RightNew Right, dependency culture and peter Saunders's argument about inequality in Britain.Open →
• Marxist theories of classTwo classes Marx identified in capitalist society, means of production and exploitation in Marx's account.Open →
• Neo-Marxist theoriesDual consciousness in Gramsci's account, contradictory class location and main criticism of neo-Marxist accounts.Open →
• Weberian theories of stratificationMarket situation, status in Weber's account and status and class diverging.Open →
• Neo-Weberian theoriesDifference between a labour contract and a service relationship, dual labour market theory and neo-Weberian account of the service class.Open →
• Feminist explanations of inequalityCommon ground between feminist theories of inequality and domestic labour debate.Open →
• Explaining gender inequality beyond feminismFunctionalist explanation of gender roles, human capital theory and criticism of a human capital explanation of the pay gap.Open →
• Theories of racism and ethnic inequalityDifference between individual and institutional racism, colour-blind racism and marxist explanation of racism.Open →
• Explaining age inequalityDisengagement theory, activity theory and marxist explanation of the position of older people.Open →
• Postmodernist accounts of inequalityPostmodernist position on inequality, risk society and criticism of the individualisation thesis.Open →
• Comparing and evaluating the theoriesWhat each theory of inequality explains well and where each fails against evidence, the mechanism each proposes, and the prediction that would test it.Open →

What you need to know

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Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Marx's definition of class rests on ownership of the vs Weber's definition of class rests on ownership of the

  Marx's definition of class rests on ownership of the: of production. Weber's definition of class rests on ownership of the: it rests on what a person can command in the market.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is the core functionalist claim about stratification?

   Model answer

   Functionalists argue that stratification exists in every known society because it performs a necessary function. Stratification ensures that the most important positions are filled by the most capable people. Unequal rewards are the mechanism by which that allocation happens.

2. 2

   What did Davis and Moore argue in 1945?

   Model answer

   Davis and Moore argued that societies must place people in social positions and motivate them to perform the duties of those positions. Since some positions are more functionally important and require more training or talent, they must carry greater rewards to attract suitable candidates.

3. 3

   What did Davis and Moore mean by functional importance?

   Model answer

   Functional importance refers to how far a society depends on a position being performed competently, and how few people are able to perform it. A position both essential and difficult to fill will, on their account, attract the highest reward.

4. 4

   How do Davis and Moore explain the reward given to a doctor?

   Model answer

   Medical training is long, costly and open to few, and the work is essential. Davis and Moore argued that high pay and prestige are deferred compensation. That compensation makes people willing to undergo the training rather than take an easier route.

5. 5

   What did Parsons add to the functionalist account of stratification?

   Model answer

   Parsons argued that stratification reflects a society's shared value system. Positions are ranked by how far they contribute to the goals the society itself regards as important. Inequality is therefore an expression of consensus rather than of conflict.

6. 6

   Why does Parsons's account make stratification appear legitimate?

   Model answer

   If rankings follow from values that members of the society genuinely share, then the resulting hierarchy is agreed rather than imposed. Parsons treated the acceptance of inequality as evidence that it rests on consensus.

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Theories and Explanations of Inequality and Stratification revision questions

What does Theories and Explanations of Inequality and Stratification cover in Eduqas A-Level Sociology?

13 subtopics: functionalist theories of stratification, criticisms of functionalist stratification theory, the new right, marxist theories of class, neo-marxist theories, weberian theories of stratification, neo-weberian theories, feminist explanations of inequality, explaining gender inequality beyond feminism, theories of racism and ethnic inequality, explaining age inequality, postmodernist accounts of inequality and comparing and evaluating the theories. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Theories and Explanations of Inequality and Stratification organised?

By the Eduqas A200QS specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.