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Conflict theory
Inequality in modern society
Features of Conflict theory in simple words
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Online Activity 3 Inequality is very complicated. To eliminate this complexity, we must consider the interrelationships between inequalities. Considering class, race, and gender is important because we may find inequality in the interrelationship between these dimensions. Functionalists believe that behavioral patterns that characterize society exist because they are useful to society. They believe that because social inequality is universal, inequality must help society to survive. This society provides more rewards for its more responsible, more demanding and more responsible positions. If the most qualified people have the most important positions, society will be better. For example,if you finish high school, go to college, and then enter law school and become a lawyer, your income and status should reflect the skills required by your profession. On the contrary, if you withdraw from high school and work as a janitor, you will still contribute to society, but your contribution is not so important and therefore not worth as much as the lawyer's income and status. …show more content…
They emphasize that conflict rather than function is the basis of social stratification. In each society, groups fight with each other in order to obtain a greater share of limited social resources. Whenever a group gains power, it uses that power to extract its content from the group below it. It also uses social institutions to keep other groups vulnerable and self-possessed. According to conflict theorists, class conflict is the key to understanding social stratification because society is far from a harmonious system and it is good at allocating more resources to more qualified members. Unlike functionalists, conflict theorists believe that there is a clear conflict under the surface of seemingly calm societies - usually through political concessions such as minimum wage laws, workplace safety legislation, employment equality
...to be achieved, years, decades, lifetimes, conflict is intended to fulfill this need. Ultimately, conflict theory is about the struggles, ideologies, representations, and power that the haves possess and the have-nots want to exert. These concepts come into play causing conflict between the groups which ends in social change.
Society is constantly undergoing change as a result of competition over scarce resources. According to conflict theory, inequality exists because those that have more control have a disproportionate share of society’s resources and actively defend their advantages. This would be considered as the upper class and the lower class. For example, when working at a clothing store, one will immediately notice the inequality between a sales associate and the head manager. A sales associate has to overcome many obstacles for a low salary. For example, a sales associate has to help everyone in the store for long periods of time and late at night, while struggling with many other different tasks. The head manager can sit in the back of the store, and get paid twice as much as the hard-working sales associate. This is a perfect comparison to society. This exploitation of the lower class by the upper class demonstrates how the upper class has more control and can use their control to their
Echoing the structural strain theory is the differential opportunity theory, which states that learning environments and opportunities are not equally distributed in the social system and gender, class and ethnicity affects conformity and deviance (Deutschmann, 2007). Taking both theories into account, those susceptible to joining gangs would be people that are deprived of opportunities and resources to succeed, mainly people of the lower class and racial minorities as exemplified by the high volume of emergence of racially exclusive gangs in the past. In the 1970’s, the United States of America lifted its quota on immigration based on nationality and this saw the influx of immigrants from Asia and the West Indies coming into the USA in hopes of getting rich or simply to flee from their war torn native lands. Instead of assimilating into the American culture, these immigrants brought along their own cultural practices and religions, which were rejected by the Americans and resulted in resentment between both parties. Racial discrimination was rampant and these once hopeful immigrants soon found themselves being isolated in the outskirts, jobless and helpless. Members of racial minority groups like the majority aspire to possess material success in life but are void of the means to achieve those (McNulty & Bellair, 2003). The same can be said of the lower class, whose low socio-economic status limit their opportunities for tertiary education which could potentially be imperative in securing lucrative jobs (Curry & Spergel, 1988). Therefore, to satisfy their appetite for success, these people adapt to strain by treading the path of innovators- using illegitimate means to actualise their positively valued goals. Moreover, with global...
“Social Stratification is the hierarchal organization of social statuses.” Where certain people will have more power over themselves and sometimes others. This power can come from different social statuses, which is the position in a social network or relationship. With these statuses come certain behavior expectancy and role. Class is one of the social statuses that one can obtain, whether that class be upper class, middle class, working class, or the poverty level. Depending on which class you are in, can have a great influence on how you are treated within the criminal justice system.
First, the chapters cover stratification. According to study.com “Social stratification refers to a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy. In the United States, it is perfectly clear that some groups have greater status, power, and wealth than other groups.” According to the textbook “Stratification is unequal distribution of valued
Functionalism is the oldest and most commonly used theoretical approach used to understand social issues. Functionalism is a macrosociological perspective that presents the idea that society consists of different components working together to help a society function as one. Sociolog...
There are three main theories of sociology; functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism. This paper will focus on two of those theories, functionalism and conflict theory. The objective is to delineate the assumptions of two out of the three theoretical perspectives and apply these assumptions to an analysis of social stratification. How this will be accomplished will be by comparing and contrasting their assumptions and by analyzing the two theories affect on social stratification. Then I will state my opinion on which of the two better fits my personal sociological views. Functionalism is many people's way to view the world sociologically. It states clearly that the objectivity of the researcher is necessary and can be accomplished. There are three main points, which make up a functionalist theory on sociological expression. The first point is that culture is made up of interacting, interdependent parts. Each of these parts has a function in maintaining the society as a system on the whole. The second point states that shared values and expectations(or beliefs) among the members of the society help hold the society together. The third point states that these systems have a need for stability and a need to try to keep all the parts working together congruously in a sort of system. Social change in this system is uncommon, and when it does happen, it is a very gradual change. Conflict theory is centered on the tension, or struggle that goes on in everyday life. There are many different parts, which make up the conflict theorist's view on the sociological perspective. The first main part is that society promotes general differences in wealth, power, and prestige. Wealth...
Conflict theory are perspective in sociology psychology that accentuate the social, political, or material inequality of a social group, that analysis the broad socio-political system, or that weaken from structural functionalism and ideological conservatism. With conflict theory, you will see tensions, status, and power are unevenly distributed between groups in society, which these conflicts become the purpose of social change. Conflict theory usually arise due to competition and limited resource that is feed by domination and power, rather than consensus and conformity. This is seen a lot on macro level. As a social worker, you will see and use conflict theory throughout your professional.
Functionalists and conflict theorists have contradictory views on inequalities. Functionalists have a positive outlook on inequalities, whereas the conflict theory believes that any type of inequality leads to a disruption in society.
The theories for the basis of gender inequality all have the same goal, but vary widely. The five main theories, functional feminism, liberal feminism, radical feminism, black feminism, and postmodern feminism all strive to address the causes of gender inequality and work to gain women their desired and inalienable right to be treated equally to a man. The functional theory of gender inequalities is based upon the belief that men and women have innately different biological make ups that naturally divide them. Functionalist believe that men and women are inclined to do activities that best suit their physical and mental capacities. Scholars such as Talcott Parsons uses research from industrial age families to determine that men led stressful
Kerbo, H. R. (2012). Social stratification and inequality: class conflict in historical, comparative, and global perspective (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
The Contribution of Functionalist Sociology to an Understanding of the Role of Education in Society. Functionalists have constructed two questions to help them research. education. The. The first question is, what is the answer?
Apart from the natural differences, human beings are also differentiated according to socially approved criteria that are upheld. Haralambos, Holborn and Heard (2004:p 1) stated that social stratification is a form of social inequality that represents distinct social groups which are ranked about the other in terms of factors such as prestige and wealth. Social Stratification draws attention to unequal positions occupied by individuals in society. In the modern industrial world the stratification system that has been dominant is a class system. Sociologists such as Karl Marx, Max Weber, Davis and Moore have all added their perspectives to social stratification. Perspectives of social stratification include the functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective and Weber’s class stratification. Class stratification proposed by Max Weber best describes social stratification in the English speaking Caribbean. Weber believed that social stratification results for competition for scarce resources in the society. Like Marx, Weber believed that class is based on power and the distribution of that power, Weber proposed that power is not limited to economic dimension but also involves social and political dimensions as well. Empirical studies in the Caribbean have mainly focused on class distinction, status hierarchy and power. Class, status, party and power are dimensions Max Weber class stratification perspective that is most relevant in the English speaking Caribbean.
Structural-Functional Theory is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability (Macionis 16). In laments terms the structural functional theory is the idea that systems in society work together as a body, the idea that customs, traditions, and institutions shape society. This theory is outlined by social structure, social functions, and social dysfunction. Social structure is defined as any relatively stable pattern of social behavior. Social structure shapes and impacts our lives in the workplace, families, college, and classroom. Social functions are the consequences of a social pattern for the operation of society as a whole. Social dysfunction is described as any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society. The main idea of the structural functional theory is its vision of society as stable and orderly.
Not only do functionalists see the various parts of society fulfilling functions they also see them working together. In the case of educational systems, it’s often seen. working together with the economic system as schools develop. skills required for the world of work. Naturally, functionalists have been criticised for their optimism.