3.6 Social stratification

Functionalist theory of stratification

Content

Additional information

  • Different views of the functionalist theory of social stratification.
  • The work of Davis and Moore on social stratification from a functionalist perspective.

Students should be able to:

  • describe and explain the functionalist theory of stratification (effective role allocation and performance linked to the promise of rewards)
  • describe the key ideas of Davis and Moore
  • describe, compare and contrast alternative perspectives on functionalist theory (feminist and Marxist).

Socio-economic class

Content

Additional information

  • Different views of socio-economic class.
  • The work of Marx and Weber on socio-economic class.

Students should be able to:

  • identify, describe and explain socio-economic class divisions in society
  • describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on socio-economic class (functionalist, feminist and Marxist)
  • describe the key ideas of Marx on socio-economic class
  • describe the key ideas of Weber on socio-economic class.

Life chances

Content

Additional information

  • Different views on factors affecting life chances.
  • The work of Devine revisiting the idea of the affluent worker.

Students should be able to:

  • identify, describe and explain factors affecting life chances including social class, gender, race and ethnicity, sexuality, age, disability, religion and belief
  • describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on life chances (functionalist, feminist and Marxist)
  • describe the key ideas of Devine on the idea of the affluent worker.

Poverty as a social issue

Content

Additional information

  • Different interpretations of poverty as a social issue.
  • The work of Townsend on relative deprivation and Murray on the underclass.

Students should be able to:

  • identify, describe and explain different interpretations of poverty as a social issue including, the culture of poverty, material deprivation, the way in which governments have attempted to alleviate poverty and unemployment, the impact of globalisation
  • describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on poverty (functionalist, feminist and Marxist)
  • describe the key ideas of Townsend on relative deprivation
  • describe the key ideas of Murray on the underclass including links to New Right theories.

Power and authority

Content

Additional information

  • Different forms of power and authority.
  • The work of Weber on power and authority.

Students should be able to:

  • identify, describe and explain different forms of power and authority including traditional, charismatic, rational-legal, formal and informal sources of power
  • describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on power and authority (functionalist, feminist and Marxist)
  • describe the key ideas of Weber on power and authority.

Power relationships

Content

Additional information

  • Describe and explain different views on factors affecting power relationships.
  • The work of Walby on patriarchy.

Students should be able to:

  • identify, describe and explain different factors affecting power relationships including social class, gender, sexuality, race, age, disability, religion and beliefs
  • describe, compare and contrast a variety of sociological perspectives on power relationships (functionalist, feminist and Marxist)
  • describe the key ideas of Walby on patriarchy.