6.1.4
Sociological Theories
Functionalist Explanations
Functionalist Explanations
Inequalities in wealth and income can be explained through different sociological perspectives, including functionalist, Weberian, Marxist and feminist.
Davis and Moore
Davis and Moore
- Davis and Moore argue that inequalities in wealth and income are necessary to maintain society, this is also the preferred position of the New Right.
Maintaining society
Maintaining society
- Some positions in society are more functionally important than other in maintaining society.
- Those who earn more have specialist skills that not everyone has the talent and ability to acquire.
Motivations
Motivations
- Those who do have the ability and talent, as well as the motivation to undertake lengthy training, need the promise of high rewards in terms of income and wealth.
- A system of unequal rewards is necessary to make sure that the most able people get into the most important social positions.
Criticisms
Criticisms
- There is no way of knowing which positions in society are the most important, and this often relies on personal judgments.
- Some people have higher levels of wealth not because they have talent or occupy important positions in society, but because they have inherited it.
Criticisms cont.
Criticisms cont.
- Material needs are not the only way to motivate people to fill important positions, there is also the role of job satisfaction or a desire to help others.
Weberian Explanations
Weberian Explanations
Inequalities in wealth and income can be explained through different sociological perspectives, including functionalist, Weberian, Marxist and feminist.
Weberian explanations
Weberian explanations
- Inequalities in wealth and income arising from the different market situations of the individual, that is, the different skills that people have and the different rewards attached to them when they sell their labour in the job market.
Weberian explanations cont.
Weberian explanations cont.
- Some people earn more because they have rare skills, talents or qualifications that are in demand, or because society values some skills and talents more highly than others.
Criticisms
Criticisms
- Ignores the power of inherited wealth whereby some people have the option not to work and utilise their market situation.
Marxist criticisms
Marxist criticisms
- Marxists would argue it ignores the power of the ruling class not to pay a living-wage due to an excessive supply of skilled labour.
Feminist criticisms
Feminist criticisms
- Feminists would point out it ignores the additional disadvantages women face, such as the glass ceiling, in undermining their market situation.
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
Jump to other topics
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
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