Some people have more resources then others within a society. Some professions are high paid while other are less paid. Few people have more wealth than others. People with specific education and skills earn more compare to others. One might wonder why there is in equality in society? Why people are divided in to different groups based on acquisition of resources? Sociologists answer these question by, studying the area of social stratification from three different sociological perspectives, structural function perspective, conflict perspective and symbolic interaction perspective.
Structural Function Perspective
According to structural functional perspective, different parts and aspects of society exist to serve a purpose within a society. Each individual, institution and group has its own roles and objectives, which contribute to the organization of social structure. Therefore, functionalist believe that, social stratification serve a purpose too, for the sustenance of society.
What Are The Functions Of Social Stratification?
Wilbert Moore and Kingsley Davis published; “Davis-Moore thesis” in, 1945. In which they argued, the roles which have greatest functions within a society, should be rewarded highly. According to the thesis, different roles, qualification and skills have different values. Those skills or education; which are valued, play an important role within a society. The person who acquires those skills and education must be valued and should be highly rewarded.
Different professions require different training and education; some of them need less effort compare to others. Education, skills and training which need more efforts and time to learn are highly valued in society. The person whose job requirement is based on these valued professional traits are rewarded highly than others. For instance, doctors are paid more than childcare workers because, for entering in the field of medicine require high intelligence. The education and training which is required for the profession, need more efforts and time. In order to motivate people to become doctors; they should be highly rewarded. On the other hand, skills which are required to become childcare worker; does not need that much effort to learn. Many people can enter into the profession because it is easy; it does not need much skills and education. Therefore, doctors are paid more than childcare workers.
Conflict Perspective
Conflict theorist view differ from functionalists; they think stratification do not fulfil any need and function of society. However, inequality is the product of class conflict.
According to Karl Marx inequality exist in society due to the private ownership of property. People who owns means of production; they exploit workers for profit maximization. Workers do not have any means to earn their livelihood except to sell their labor. All the efforts which are required for the production are invested by, workers in factories. However, they do not get the fair share of wealth which is earned through those products. Owners of the factories give workers minimum wages in order to maximize their profits. Therefore, conflict theorist believe that, stratification does not benefits the society but it only benefits the rich. Modern conflict theorist believe that, not only the economic sources of power are used to suppress weak but, non-economic sources of power too. Many people in the society are exploited on the basis of gender and race. Most organization pay less to women compare to man for the same job.
Symbolic Interaction Perspective
Interactionists view society from micro level, they use social interaction to define society as whole. This perspective explains how social stratification affect social interaction among people. Mostly people interact with those who share similar social class within a society. Because people who belong to similar social class, have same income level, similar jobs, education, taste in food and clothing. They associate with one another on many levels. These associations bring people and groups together within a society. The social status of people are reflected through their appearance i.e. clothing, transportation, hairstyle and accessories.
Written by; Khudhdil Khan Kasi
