Perspectives

Tutor: Elspeth Cordell

Outcomes for the lesson

Structural theories

• Structural theories- handout1 • Theory can be said to be like looking at society through different

lenses – each give it a different perspective or appearance.

• The society and its structure is more important than the individual

• There is no individual- just roles!• Society makes us who we are• Society is structured either through Consensus or conflict • The power of the society over us happens through

socialisation…

Socialisation

• What is it?• How does it work?

Recap questions

1. Structural theories is like looking through a …….?

2. Is there any individual in this perspective?3. What are the two theories in this

perspective?4. Which one is which?

Functionalism

• Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)

• Division of labour- people have different functions, skills and abilities which are worth more or less in terms of financial gain, power, prestige, education level

TASK: Can you list jobs that are ‘valued’ more?

Value consensus (key term)

• Members of society : happy to take their place within this division of labour because they believe in it’s ‘moral worth’ – this comes from Stratification

• Hence there is a common agreement- a consensus about how a society is formed

• Therefore we accept that occupations should be graded in terms of their value to society and those occupying the most functional or most valued should have more rewards (Moore 2004)

Therefore

• A Stratification system is a moral stratification system embodying and reflecting common values and beliefs (Durkheim)

Values and beliefs

• We believe in a meritocratic society • This inspires us to keep going- training,

education. • We see our rewards increase as we work

harder and train more• Hence the system is seen as fair and just so we

keep functioning within it!

Summing up functionalism

• lets break it down again • Functionalists believe that society FUNCTIONS as a

whole and works by social consensus, in which members of the society agree upon, and work together to achieve, what is best for society as a whole- harmony and social order.

• Social consensus- agreement on core values, norms and roles.

• Thus happens neatly and with order – as it happens through socialisation

This agreement (Consensus)Happens..

• This agreement happens through the process of socialisation

• Parents, school, work, religion, media

• Teach people the ways of the culture- norms, values, roles.

• Remember a baby learns the way of life from the parents!

Gapped handout

Class inequality

• Inequality benefits the society…• T What do you think?

Davis and Moore (1955)

• 4 points – Handout • Work through the hand-out and answer the

questions Saunders (1996) New right thinker…‘ Economic growth has raised the living standers of all members of society, and social inequality is a small price to pay for society as a whole becoming more prosperous’ …

Weaknesses of functionalism • Are all underpaid jobs ‘nonessential?’ • For example - Nurses vs Doctors• Earning from £15,000 to £10,000 per annum:• Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants: £14,826• Sales assistants and retail cashiers: £14,598• Cleaners and domestics: £14,436• Sales and retail assistants: £14,326• Playworkers: £14,142• Nursery nurses and assistants: £13,910• Kitchen and catering assistants: £12,904• Bar staff: £12,847• Waiters and waitresses: £12,429• Hairdressers and barbers: £12,138

Weakness of functionalism

• Unequal distribution of wealth and rewards – ‘ Fat Cat pay’ http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2727299/Britains-fat-cat-pay-gap-hits-new-heights.html

This disparity of rewards and income is one of the major causes of deviance and crime..

Marxism and social inequality

Marxism: Karl Marx“You must have doubts about everything”

• Born 5th May 1818• German• Founder of Marxism• Was on the German £100 pound note until he fall of the Berlin wall• Died 1883• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8bdndigRA8

Marxism

• Marxism – society is structured so that some groups do better than others

• Marxism is a belief that capitalism allows the owners of capital (the ruling-class or bosses) to exploit the workers (employees) and this causes conflict between the two classes

• Fixing workers in their place • Thus society is structured through disagreement and

conflict• If everyone got power= less wealth, control!

Happens by…• Lower classes sell their

labours for little money (to live on)

• Ruling class makes big profits selling off the products produced by the workers!

• See cartoon hand-out• In industiralisation:

“Transformed the living worker into a mere accessory of the machine” (Marx, 1862)

The hierarchy of the workplace

• Socialisation happens through obedience to higher social classes

• It is the struggles of rich people holding onto their money whilst the poorer get poorer…

• Only way to get social equality is through revolution…

• Any evidence for this?

The social Class

• Focus on social class• Difference between the

classes is what causes conflict

• Society is structured around this

• So that the powerful classes get to keep this power

• Middle class is just another ploy to give the perception that society is fair

Evidence to back up Marxism…

Comparison of the two

Education from both perspectives• Functionalism:• People have the opportunity to be

anything if you work hard enough• Socialises children and prepares

them for society- norms, values, beliefs etc.

• Education serves social control or the regulation of deviant behaviour as it keeps people off streets, by keeping them busy and getting them achieving.

• teaches confidence, knowledge and self esteem, thus raising the whole society.

• Marxism:Louis Althusser (a Marxist) (1971) the reproduction of an efficient and obedient work force.1. transmitting the ideology that capitalism is just and reasonable (school teaches you to compete with your fellow pupils by trying to do better than them) 2. train future workers to become

submissive to authority (schools teachers you to accept as normal to do as you’re told, this way when your boss orders you what to do, it seems perfectly normal)

3. if not born into wealth then chances of getting power is not real, just painted like this to make lower classes have hope.

Healthcarewhat would these perspectives say??

• Functionalism • Marxism

Summing up

• Gapped handout• But has this theory got any weaknesses?• Are you happy that the structural theories

discount YOUR contribution to society?