Chapter 9 Global Stratification Define social stratification and then explain modern theories of stratification in the United States using functional theory (Davis and Moore). “Social stratification is a system in which groups of people are divided into strata based on their relative property, power and prestige. It is important to emphasize that social stratification does not refer to individuals. It is a way of classifying large groups of people into a hierarchy based on their relative privileges.” Stratification is worldwide and every society stratifies its members, the only difference is that some societies have greater inequality than others, the main point to make here is that it is universal. Equally important is the fact that in every society in the world, gender forms a basis for stratifying people. Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moor explained that stratification exists through a functionalist point of view by stating that stratification is necessary and provided four main points. The first point is that for society to function, all positions must be filled. Naturally it would follow that some positions are more important than others. The third point highlighted is that the most important positions must be filled by qualified people. The final point is that to motivate more qualified people to fill these positions, they must offer greater rewards. The criticism of functional theory (dysfunctions) by conflict theorists (Tumin). Melvin Tumin supported the above theory stating that the theory is wrong. He has three points with which he supports functionalist theory. The first example he gives is stating that whoever has to judge which positions are important and which are not, gave the example of a heart surgeon and a street cleaner both equally impo... middle of paper.... ..lth is accumulated . In these societies they will fight to win and become the elite. So you have the elite who get the surplus, and the losers at the bottom are controlled by those who are now in power. “The dominant group rules from above, controlling the groups below.” As you can see, this part of the argument is clearly a conflict theory of fighting for resources and those at the bottom being controlled by those at the top. Where one is born in that society is not important to personal merit. Lenski's synthesis theory is a blend of function theory and conflict theory that work together to cause social stratification. To conclude, social stratification exists globally and divides groups between those in power and those at the bottom of the pyramid, some are more unequal than others, but in all societies gender is the basis in all cultures for stratifying its members.