Theoretical Perspectives on Social Stratification2.p… · Theoretical Perspectives on Social Stratification ... sociological perspectives functionalism, con ict theory, and symbolic

OpenStax-CNX module: m42845 1

Theoretical Perspectives on Social

Stratification*

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Abstract

• Understand and apply functionalist, con�ict theory, and interactionist perspectives on socialstrati�cation

Basketball is one of the highest-paying professional sports. There is strati�cation even among teams.For example, the Minnesota Timberwolves hand out the lowest annual payroll, while the Los Angeles Lakersreportedly pay the highest. Kobe Bryant, a Lakers shooting guard, is one of the highest paid athletes in theNBA, earning around $25 million a year (Basketballreference.com 2011). Even within speci�c �elds, layersare strati�ed and members are ranked.

In sociology, even an issue such as NBA salaries can be seen from various points of view. Functionalistswill examine the purpose of such high salaries, while con�ict theorists will study the exorbitant salaries as anunfair distribution of money. Social strati�cation takes on new meanings when it is examined from di�erentsociological perspectives�functionalism, con�ict theory, and symbolic interactionism.

1 Functionalism

In sociology, the functionalist perspective examines how society's parts operate. According to functionalism,di�erent aspects of society exist because they serve a needed purpose. What is the function of socialstrati�cation?

In 1945, sociologists Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore published the Davis-Moore thesis, whichargued that the greater the functional importance of a social role, the greater must be the reward. Thetheory posits that social strati�cation represents the inherently unequal value of di�erent work. Certaintasks in society are more valuable than others. Quali�ed people who �ll those positions must be rewardedmore than others.

According to Davis and Moore, a �re�ghter's job is more important than, for instance, a grocery storecashier's. The cashier position does not require the same skill and training level as �re�ghting. Without theincentive of higher pay and better bene�ts, why would someone be willing to rush into burning buildings?If pay levels were the same, the �re�ghter might as well work as a grocery store cashier. Davis and Moorebelieved that rewarding more important work with higher levels of income, prestige, and power encouragespeople to work harder and longer.

Davis and Moore stated that, in most cases, the degree of skill required for a job determines that job'simportance. They also stated that the more skill required for a job, the fewer quali�ed people there would

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be to do that job. Certain jobs, such as cleaning hallways or answering phones, do not require much skill.The employees don't need a college degree. Other work, like designing a highway system or delivering ababy, requires immense skill.

In 1953, Melvin Tumin countered the Davis-Moore thesis in �Some Principles of Strati�cation: A CriticalAnalysis.� Tumin questioned what determined a job's degree of importance. The Davis-Moore thesis doesnot explain, he argued, why a media personality with little education, skill, or talent becomes famous and richon a reality show or a campaign trail. The thesis also does not explain inequalities in the education system,or inequalities due to race or gender. Tumin believed social strati�cation prevented quali�ed people fromattempting to �ll roles (Tumin 1953). For example, an underprivileged youth has less chance of becoming ascientist, no matter how smart she is, because of the relative lack of opportunity available to her.

The Davis-Moore thesis, though open for debate, was an early attempt to explain why strati�cation exists.The thesis states that social strati�cation is necessary to promote excellence, productivity, and e�ciency,thus giving people something to strive for. Davis and Moore believed that the system serves society as awhole because it allows everyone to bene�t to a certain extent.

2 Con�ict Theory

Figure 1: These people are protesting a decision made by Tennessee Technological University inCookeville, Tennessee, to lay o� custodians and outsource the jobs to a private �rm to avoid payingemployee bene�ts. Private job agencies often pay lower hourly wages. Is it fair? (Photo courtesy ofBrian Stansberry/Wikimedia Commons)



Con�ict theorists are deeply critical of social strati�cation, asserting that it bene�ts only some people, notall of society. For instance, to a con�ict theorist, it seems wrong that a basketball player is paid millionsfor an annual contract while a public school teacher earns $35,000 a year. Strati�cation, con�ict theoristsbelieve, perpetuates inequality. Con�ict theorists try to bring awareness to inequalities, such as how a richsociety can have so many poor members.

Many con�ict theorists draw on the work of Karl Marx. During the 19th-century era of industrialization,Marx believed social strati�cation resulted from people's relationship to production. People were divided bya single line: they either owned factories or worked in them. In Marx's time, bourgeois capitalists ownedhigh-producing businesses, factories, and land, as they still do today. Proletariats were the workers whoperformed the manual labor to produce goods. Upper-class capitalists raked in pro�ts and got rich, whileworking-class proletariats earned skimpy wages and struggled to survive. With such opposing interests, thetwo groups were divided by di�erences of wealth and power. Marx saw workers experience deep alienation,isolation and misery resulting from powerless status levels (Marx 1848).

Today, while working conditions have improved, con�ict theorists believe that the strained workingrelationship between employers and employees still exists. Capitalists own the means of production, and asystem is in place to make business owners rich and keep workers poor. According to con�ict theorists, theresulting strati�cation creates class con�ict.

3 Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic interactionism is a theory that uses everyday interactions of individuals to explain society as awhole. Symbolic interactionism examines strati�cation from a micro-level perspective. This analysis strivesto explain how people's social standing a�ects their everyday interactions.

In most communities, people interact primarily with others who share the same social standing. Itis precisely because of social strati�cation that people tend to live, work, and associate with others likethemselves, people who share their same income level, educational background, or racial background, andeven tastes in food, music, and clothing. The built-in system of social strati�cation groups people together.

Symbolic interactionists also note that people's appearance re�ects their perceived social standing. Hous-ing, clothing, and transportation indicate social status, as do hairstyles, taste in accessories, and personalstyle.



(a) (b)

Figure 2: (a) A group of construction workers on the job site, and (b) a group of businessmen. Whatcategories of strati�cation do these construction workers share? How do construction workers di�er fromexecutives or custodians? Who is more skilled? Who has greater prestige in society? (Photo (a) courtesyof Wikimedia Commons; Photo (b) courtesy of Chun Kit/�ickr)

Conspicuous consumption refers to buying certain products to make a social statement about status.Carrying pricey but eco-friendly water bottles could indicate a person's social standing. Some people buyexpensive trendy sneakers even though they will never wear them to jog or play sports. A $17,000 carprovides transportation as easily as a $100,000 vehicle, but the luxury car makes a social statement that theless expensive car can't live up to. All of these symbols of strati�cation are worthy of examination by aninteractionist.

4 Summary

Social strati�cation can be examined from di�erent sociological perspectives�functionalism, con�ict theory,and symbolic interactionism. The functionalist perspective states that systems exist in society for goodreasons. Con�ict theorists observe that strati�cation promotes inequality, such as between rich businessowners and poor workers. Symbolic interactionists examine strati�cation from a micro-level perspective.They observe how social standing a�ects people's everyday interactions and how the concept of �social class�is constructed and maintained through everyday interactions.



5 Section Quiz

Exercise 1 (Solution on p. 7.)

The basic premise of the Davis-Moore thesis is that the unequal distribution of rewards in socialstrati�cation:

a. is an outdated mode of societal organizationb. is an arti�cial re�ection of societyc. serves a purpose in societyd. cannot be justi�ed


Unlike Davis and Moore, Melvin Tumin believed that, because of social strati�cation, some quali�edpeople were _______ higher-level job positions.

a. denied the opportunity to obtainb. encouraged to train forc. often �red fromd. forced into


Which statement represents strati�cation from the perspective of symbolic interactionism?

a. Men often earn more than women, even working the same job.b. After work, Pat, a janitor, feels more comfortable eating in a truck stop than a French

restaurant.c. Doctors earn more money because their job is more highly valued.d. Teachers continue to struggle to keep bene�ts such as health insurance.


When Karl Marx said workers experience alienation, he meant that workers:

a. must labor alone, without companionshipb. do not feel connected to their workc. move from one geographical location to anotherd. have to put forth self-e�ort to get ahead


Con�ict theorists view capitalists as those who:

a. are ambitiousb. fund social servicesc. spend money wiselyd. get rich while workers stay poor



6 Short Answer

Exercise 6Analyze the Davis-Moore thesis. Do you agree with Davis and Moore? Does social strati�cationplay an important function in society? What examples can you think of that support the thesis?What examples can you think of that refute the thesis?

Exercise 7Consider social strati�cation from the symbolic interactionist perspective. How does social strat-i�cation in�uence the daily interactions of individuals? How do systems of class, based on factorssuch as prestige, power, income, and wealth, in�uence your own daily routines, as well as yourbeliefs and attitudes? Illustrate your ideas with speci�c examples and anecdotes from your own lifeand the lives of people in your community.

7 References

Basketball-reference.com. 2011 �2010�11 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Statistics.� Retrieved January 9,2012 (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2011.html1 ).

Davis, Kingsley and Wilbert E. Moore. �Some Principles of Strati�cation.� American Sociological Review

10(2):242�249. Retrieved January 9, 2012 (http://www.jstor.org/stable/20856432 ).Marx, Karl. 1848. Manifesto of the Communist Party. Retrieved January 9, 2012 (http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-

manifesto/3 ).Tumin, Melvin M. 1953. �Some Principles of Strati�cation: A Critical Analysis.� American Sociological

Review 18(4):387�394.

1http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2011.html2http://www.jstor.org/stable/20856433http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/



Solutions to Exercises in this Module

to Exercise (p. 5): AnswerCto Exercise (p. 5): AnswerAto Exercise (p. 5): AnswerBto Exercise (p. 5): AnswerBto Exercise (p. 5): AnswerD

Glossary

De�nition 2: conspicuous consumptionbuying and using products to make a statement about social standing

De�nition 2: Davis-Moore thesisthesis that argues some social strati�cation is a social necessity


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Theoretical Perspectives on Social Stratification2.p… · Theoretical Perspectives on Social Stratification ... sociological perspectives functionalism, con ict theory, and symbolic