Class Inequality: Functionalist explanations of Class Inequality

Question 1

What do Functionalists say about inequality in society?

Answer 1

It is needed for society to keep running properly

Question 2

Why do Functionalists believe there is social mobility?

Answer 2

They say if working class individuals work hard then they can achieve status

Question 3

Which Functionalist said inequality was necessary to keep society healthy

Answer 3

Durkheim

Question 4

Why does Durkheim say inequality is functional?

Answer 4

It helps society to run properly

Question 4

Why does Durkheim say inequality is universal?

Answer 4

All societies face inequality

Question 4

Why do Functionalists argue inequality is a good thing?

Answer 4

It would not exist otherwise

Question 4

Why does Durkheim say inequality is inevitable?

Answer 4

Inequality will always exist in societies

Question 5

What does the organic analogy say according to Durkheim?

Answer 5

All parts of society come together to create a healthy society

Question 6

Does Durkheim say inequality is part of the organic analogy?

Answer 6

Yes

Question 7

Which sociologists would argue data suggests class inequality is unhealthy for most societies?

Answer 7

Wilson and Pickett

Question 8

How many times richer than the poorest 20% are the richest 20% in the UK?

Answer 8

7 times richer

Question 9

How many times richer than the poorest 20% are the richest 20% in Finland?

Answer 9

4 times richer

Question 10

Which country out of all of the ones Wilson and Pickett studied had the third highest crime rate?

Answer 10

The UK

Question 11

What did Wilson and Picket find with crimes in countries with higher inequality?

Answer 11

They have higher crime rates

Question 11

Which Functionalists said some jobs are of greater value to society than others?

Answer 11

Davis and Moore

Question 12

Which institution does role allocation happen in?

Answer 12

The Education System

Question 13

What process did Davis and Moore say will determine which roles people have in society?

Answer 13

Role allocation

Question 14

What specific process in schools causes role allocation?

Answer 14

Exams

Question 15

Why do the best paying roles require a lot of qualifications?

Answer 15

So that only the best people get these jobs

Question 16

Does a cleaner need qualifications?

Answer 16

No

Question 17

Does it take much time to train to be a cleaner?

Answer 17

No

Question 18

How much are cleaners paid a year?

Answer 18

£17,000 a year

Question 19

Name one of the qualifications a doctor needs

Answer 19

University degree in medicine

Question 20

How many years does it take to train to be a doctor?

Answer 20

10 years

Question 21

How much are doctors paid a year?

Answer 21

£70,000 a year

Question 22

Which sociologist says the value of jobs explanation is too simplistic?

Answer 22

Tumin

Question 23

What would Tumin argue about the value of a cleaner to society?

Answer 23

They can prevent people from getting diseases

Question 24

What does Tumin say about certain jobs in society during Covid-19?

Answer 24

They were given key worker status

Question 25

Name 2 key worker jobs during Covid-19

Answer 25

Teachers, Nurses

Question 26

What did Parsons say is the main class inequality in society?

Answer 26

People have differing incomes

Question 27

What did Parsons say many Americans follow to try and succeed?

Answer 27

The American Dream

Question 28

What do Americans acknowledge they must do to achieve the American Dream?

Answer 28

Work hard

Question 29

What does Parsons say should be the outcome for those who work the hardest?

Answer 29

They get the best rewards

Question 30

Name a type of person Parsons would argue deserves good rewards for working hard

Answer 30

Business owners

Question 31

Name 3 successful business owners and the companies they run

Answer 31

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon. Elon Musk, founder of PayPal and Tesla. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft

Question 32

What is the networth of Elon Musk?

Answer 32

£400 billion

Question 33

What is the networth of Jeff Bezos?

Answer 33

£200 billion

Question 34

What is the networth of Bill Gates?

Answer 34

£100 billion

Question 35

What would Marxists argue causes class inequality instead?

Answer 35

Capitalism

Question 36

Which 2 social classes does Marx say have class inequality between them?

Answer 36

Marx

Question 37

According to Marx, which 2 classes are unequal to each other?

Answer 37

The Proletariat and the Bourgeoisie

Question 38

What does Marx say is the solution to bringing an end to class inequality?

Answer 38

The proletariat should rise up and overthrow the bourgeoisie

Question 39

What did Parsons say about the structure of society in relation to working hard?

Answer 39

Society is meritocratic

Question 40

What does Parsons argue about the impact of class on education if it is meritocratic?

Answer 40

If students work hard enough then they can all succeed

Question 41

How many points lower in Attainment 8 score do students entitled to FSM have according to DfE Data (2020)?

Answer 41

14 points lower

Question 42

Which class would Functionalists argue work hard in education?

Answer 42

Middle class students

Question 43

What do Functionalist studies on cultural deprivation for working class pupils suggest?

Answer 43

If working class pupils worked harder, they would achieve success in school

Question 44

Who created the concept of status frustration?

Answer 44

Cohen

Question 45

What did Cohen find initially with a group of working class boys?

Answer 45

They worked hard

Question 46

Why did the working class boys in Cohen's study stop working hard?

Answer 46

The work became to difficult

Question 47

When the boys in Cohen's study failed in education, what did they experience?

Answer 47

Status frustration

Question 48

What is status frustration?

Answer 48

When working class students feel they cannot improve their position in their society due to their ascribed status

Question 49

What did the boys in Cohen's study do in response to the status frustration?

Answer 49

Joined an anti-school subculture

Question 50

Name 2 behaviours of the boys in the anti-school subculture in Cohen's study

Answer 50

Vandalism, Violence

Question 51

What would Functionalists argue for the working class boys in Cohen's study?

Answer 51

If they worked harder, they would have succeeded in education

Question 52

Which Functionalist argued working class students have inferior norms and values to middle class students?

Answer 52

Sugarman

Question 53

What are the 4 values Sugarman identified that are inferior working class values?

Answer 53

Fatalism, Immediate gratification, Collectivism, Present time orientation

Question 54

Explain how Fatalism leads to lower attainment for working class pupils

Answer 54

They will think they are unable to improve their social position so will not work hard in education to try and improve it

Question 55

What would Marxists say about capitalist societies in relation to meritocracy?

Answer 55

They are not meritocratic

Question 56

Which Marxists argued the myth of meritocracy was enforced on working class pupils?

Answer 56

Bowles and Gintis

Question 57

According to Bowles and Gintis, who will working class students blame when they do not do well in exams?

Answer 57

Themselves

Question 58

Who would Bowles and Gintis say working class students should blame for their failure?

Answer 58

Capitalism

Question 59

According to Bowles and Gintis, what form of deprivation do working class students experience?

Answer 59

Material Deprivation

Question 60

What is material deprivation?

Answer 60

When students are unable to afford things that are necessary to succeed in school