RajeshwariAIR 2 · CSE 2025 · 338 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a definition
Stratification is the process of orderly placement of hierarchical positioning based on access to the resources and opportunities.
Body · points
Functionalist and Marxist theories adversely vary with each other in this context.
| Marxist | Functionalist |
|---|---|
| → stratification is dysfunctional to the society | → Stratification in society is a functional element |
| → Inequality is justified by concept of merit | → Stratification is based on merit |
| Marxist Perspective | Functionalist Perspective |
|---|---|
| → Role allocation is in favour of the elite | → Role allocation is based on the skill set |
| → Social strata based on haves & havenots | → No such differentiation in society |
| → stratification deprive talent to underprivileged | → Stratification fuel talent and hence rewards |
| → Rewards actually reduce motivation of the people | → Rewards are for crucial functions performed by people |
| Marxist Perspective | Functionalist Perspective |
|---|---|
| → Melvin Tumin criticised the functional perspective | → Davis and Moore propored functional theory |
| → Dahrendorf state stratification due to forced disabilities | → Parsons state stratification due to social consensus |
| → This will end in the society based on communism | → stratification will persist forever in society |
| → Revolution is the solution to recover the stratification in society | → No need to replacement of models of stratification |
| Marxist Perspective | Functionalist Perspective |
|---|---|
| → stratification act as dividing tool in the society | → Stratification act as tool of social integration |
| → stratification leads to worst exploitation | → stratification lead to social solidarity |
Both Marxist and Functional theories have their own drawbacks. Both stick to extreme functions of being dysfunction & functional elements of stratification.
Close · a summary
Still, Marxian & functionalist theory make stratification a well studied subject matter of sociology in various perspectives.