Final answer:
The Davis-Moore thesis states that stratification is necessary in society, ensuring vital roles are filled by offering greater rewards for more important jobs. Critics argue it does not address inequalities in society fully. A balance between rewards, meritocracy, and social capital plays a significant role in real-life stratification.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Davis-Moore thesis, the answer to the student's question would be that more important jobs must offer enough rewards to draw talent from less important work. This thesis, proposed by sociologists Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore, suggests that social stratification is necessary for the functioning of a society because it ensures that the most important roles are filled by the most capable individuals. Positions that are considered more valuable, like those requiring a higher level of education and skill (e.g., doctors or lawyers), are typically associated with greater rewards. This supposedly functions to motivate people to endure long periods of training and to take on difficult jobs.
However, sociologist Melvin Tumin criticized this thesis, arguing that it does not explain the full complexity of social stratification, including the effects of race, gender, and education inequalities. Tumin suggested that the Davis-Moore thesis overlooks the opportunities and rewards that might be inaccessible to underprivileged individuals who are equally qualified. Furthermore, the reality of meritocracy, a system where hard work and skill are rewarded with upward mobility, is often complicated by the need for social capital, such as connections or networks, to access higher-paying jobs.