Theories of Social Stratification
Social stratification is the way society is divided into a hierarchy of layers, or strata, with unequal access to wealth, power, status and opportunity. AQA's specification asks students to compare three competing explanations of why stratification exists and continues.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Learn the definition of social stratification as a hierarchy with unequal access to wealth, power, status and opportunity, and note that it can be closed (fixed at birth) or open (based on merit).
- Learn the Functionalist argument (Davis and Moore) in three linked steps: some roles are functionally more important, they require scarce talent and long training, so unequal rewards motivate the right people to fill them.
- Learn the Marxist argument: capitalism creates two main classes defined by ownership of the means of production, and the ruling class (bourgeoisie) exploits the working class (proletariat) to extract surplus value (profit).
- Learn Weber's three-dimensional model - class, status and party - and be ready to give an example of status and economic class not matching (e.g. a member of the clergy who has high status but modest income).
- When a question names a perspective, use its correct key term (e.g. 'surplus value' for Marxism, 'meritocracy' for Functionalism, 'life chances' for Weber) rather than a generic synonym, since exam boards credit precise sociological vocabulary.
- For a 'discuss' or 'evaluate' question, plan one paragraph applying and supporting the named perspective with named sociologists, one paragraph applying a rival perspective as a counter-argument, and a final paragraph giving a supported conclusion that directly answers the question.
Worked example
Explain, using material from Item A, one criticism a Marxist sociologist could make of the Functionalist explanation of stratification. Item A: Functionalists Davis and Moore argue that doctors are paid more than cleaners because being a doctor requires many years of training and is functionally more important to society.
- Identify the claim in Item A that needs criticising: Davis and Moore say unequal pay reflects a role's importance and the training it requires.
- Recall the Marxist alternative: inequality exists because the bourgeoisie who own the means of production exploit the labour of the proletariat, not because roles are objectively 'more important'.
- Turn that theory into a direct criticism of the Item: a Marxist would ask who decides that a doctor's role is more important than a cleaner's, since cleaners' labour is also essential to society but is poorly rewarded.
- Add a supporting example: many essential jobs, for example care work or cleaning, are low paid despite being vital to society continuing to function, which challenges the claim that reward always reflects functional importance.
- Conclude the point: this suggests pay reflects power and ownership within capitalism rather than a neutral judgement of a role's usefulness, which is the Marxist criticism of Davis and Moore.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1Define social stratification in your own words.Show answer
Answer: The division of society into a hierarchy of layers, or strata, that have unequal amounts of wealth, income, status and power.
Q2According to Davis and Moore, why are some roles rewarded more highly than others?Show answer
Answer: Because they are functionally more important to society and require scarce talent and long training, so higher rewards are needed to motivate the most able people to take them on.
Q3What are the two main classes in Marx's theory of capitalist society?Show answer
Answer: The bourgeoisie (the owners of the means of production, such as factories and capital) and the proletariat (workers who sell their labour to survive).
Q4Name the three dimensions of Weber's model of stratification.Show answer
Answer: Class (economic position), status (social prestige) and party (organised political power).
Q5Give an example of someone who might have high status but only moderate economic class, to illustrate Weber's point that the two do not always match.Show answer
Answer: For example, a religious minister or a university professor, who is often given high social respect despite a modest salary.
Q6Explain why Marxists reject the Functionalist claim that unequal rewards are necessary for society to function.Show answer
Answer: Marxists argue the 'importance' of a role is not objective; instead, wages are set by the ruling class in a way that keeps profits high and workers dependent, so inequality reflects exploitation, not a fair reward for social value.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Sociology exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Explain two ways in which Weber's view of stratification differs from Marx's view.
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Discuss the view that inequalities in wealth, income and status are necessary for society to work well. In your answer you should refer to sociological theories and evidence.
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See real GCSE Sociology past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
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