Final answer:
Ideology justifies social inequalities by aligning cultural beliefs with the interests of the dominant class, while force ensures compliance with the social order through legal and authoritative means. Conflict theorists criticize these methods as they maintain power imbalances, whereas functionalists see stratification as beneficial for societal progression.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparing ideology and force as means to maintain social stratification, ideologies are cultural beliefs used to justify inequality within the social structure. Ideologies often promote values that benefit the dominant social class, making it seem natural and acceptable for certain groups to have more power and resources.
For example, the capitalist ideology suggests that individuals achieve success through personal effort, thereby justifying the privilege of the wealthy and the lower wages for manual laborers.
On the other hand, force can be understood as a more direct means of maintaining social stratification, often enforced by laws, policies, and government authority. These means ensure that social structures remain intact by preventing subordinate groups from gaining power or resources that could disrupt the status quo.
Conflict theorists critique this system, suggesting that stratification benefits the powerful at the expense of the wider society, highlighting that ideologies and force preserve unequal power distribution and create class conflict. Nonetheless, functionalists view stratification as a necessary system that aligns with societal needs, providing incentives for hard work and innovation.