Transcript Types of Stratification

SOCIAL INEQUALITY
• In almost every society in the world, there is
a division between people according to
things such as: economics, race, ethnicity,
age, sex, education, which all cause: Social
Inequality
-the uneven distribution of privileges,
material rewards, opportunities, power,
prestige, and influence among individuals
and groups-
Social Stratification
Social Stratification, the division of society
into levels, steps, or positions
Types of Systems
• As you now know movement between
castes is all but impossible.
What social practice is used to ensure
this lasts?
Caste Systems
-a rigid form of stratification based on ascribed
characteristics, such as skin color or family
identity, that determines a person’s prestige,
occupation, residence, and social relationshipsIndian society is composed of (4) varnas, or
grades of being (castes). These varnas are
complicated by thousands of subcastes.
Estate Systems
-a closed system of stratification in which a
person’s social position is defined by law and
membership is determined primarily by
inheritanceMedieval Europe is the best example of this system.
1. Nobility
2. Clergy
3. Peasants
4. In time a merchant/craftsman group developed and
essentially turned the estate system into a ……..
Feudalistic Europe
Feudal Japan
South African Apartheid
Means separateness in Afrikaans; s system of legal racism enforced by the
National party in South Africa from 1948-1994
Class Systems
-a social class consists of a category of people who
share similar opportunities, similar economic and
vocational positions, similar lifestyles, and similar
attitudes and behaviors. A society that contains
several social classes and that permits greater
social mobility than a caste or estate system is
based on a class system of stratificationMost industrial societies be it capitalist or communist
are examples of this system.
1. This system is often the result of an occupational structure that is
open to anyone with the proper experience and education.
2. Clearly promotes striving and achieving
Dimensions of Stratification
How is society stratified in the U.S.?
How is society stratified in all systems?
The prizes of a social life in all societies fall into
(3) categories.
Class Systems
• Why can’t or why shouldn’t everyone
have the same rewards or possessions?
Social Mobility
-the movement of an individual or group from
one social status to another1.) open society: equal opportunity to all
despite all personal characteristics and
family history
2.) closed society: the aspects of one’s
life are fixed at birth
Social Mobility
1. horizontal mobility:
2. vertical mobility:
3. intergenerational mobility:
4. intragenerational mobility:
*
status inconsistency:
American Gangster
Determinants of Class
So, what determines class?
E_ O_ O_ I_ S or
_E_L_H
-Stocks, bonds, jewelry, real estate,
automobiles, precious metals and trusts-
Determinants of Class
__W__
-the ability to attain
goals, control events,
and maintain influence
over others– even in the
face of oppositionMax Weber
Determinants of Class
_ R_ _ST_ _ _
-the approval and respect an individual or group
receives from other members of society1. the first form is open to all and is personally
assigned _st_ _ m
2. the second is the honor assigned to specific
statuses or (social positions)
Higher Value?
A policeman
Or a Farmer
Higher value?
A country club
Or the “Y”
Higher Value?
OR
Higher Value?
OR
Where might you fall someday?
-since you were born, the (3) previous
factors have allowed society to calculate
you and your family’s socioeconomic
status-for the rest of your life, this status will
guide how the rest of society interacts
and treats you-Period!
Who will you be?
-will you be a part of the BOURGEOISIE ?
Who are the owners and decision makers.
-or the PROLETARIAT ? Who exchange work
for money.
Why do all societies stratify its rewards?
-in a large corporation you have A CEO
and a custodian-the CEO makes $35,000,000.00 a year-the custodian makes $ 35,000.00-
Is that fair?
Explaining Stratification
• If it is fair/unfair, do we need people to
fill all the roles of society?
• Who tends to fulfill lower roles?
• Are the rewards given fairly?
Functionalist Theory
-social stratification is a social necessity-
-our society needs teachers, engineers, janitors,
farmers, assembly-line workers, textbook
writers, chemists, artists, pilots, athletes
and…
So………
Functionalist Theory
….So
1. different positions in society make different levels
of contributions to the well-being and
preservation of society
2. filling the more complex and important positions
in society often requires talent that is scarce and
has a lot of training
3. providing unequal rewards ensures that the most
talented and best-trained individuals will fill the
roles of greatest importance
Functionalist Theory
-Is Social Stratification according to the
functionalists
MORAL?
-Does this type of system eliminate those will
TALENT and MERIT from
contributing?
Functionalist Theory
- is there truly
FREE COMPETITION
-are the jobs that have the greatest rewards truly the
MOST FUNCTIONALLY
IMPORTANT ones?
Conflict Theory
- stratification is the outcome of a struggle
for dominanceThe following is an excerpt from Karl Marx & Friederich
Engels later adopted by Max Weber:
-the history of all hitherto existing society is the
history of class struggles. [There always has been
conflict between] freeman and slave, patrician and
plebeian, lord and serf, guild-master and
journeyman, in a word, oppressor and oppressed.
(Marx& Engels, 1961)
Conflict Theory
-“the ruling ideas of each age have always been the ideas of its ruling
class”Max Weber expanded Marx’s work on society into what is considered the
“classical” conflict theory on stratification…..
1.
Group conflict is a basic ingredient of society
2.
People are motivated by self-interest
3.
Those with property can defend their interests better than those
without
4.
Economic institutions are fundamental in shaping society
5.
Those in power promote ideas and values that help them maintain
their dominance
6.
Only when exploitation is overt will the powerless object
Conflict Theory
For comparison, the following represents the components
of the“Modern”conflict theory
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Social inequality emerges through the domination of one or more
groups by other groups. Stratification is the outgrowth of this
dominance.
Those who are dominated have the potential to express resistance
and hostility to those in power.
Conflict will most often center on the distribution of property and
political power.
What are thought to be the common values of society are really the
values of the dominant groups. The dominant group establishes
values that justifies their position.
Since those in power reign, they create means of social control to
keep the masses in line. This is often done subtly by keeping a small
amount of mobility available to keep the masses playing by the rules.
Conflict Theory
According to modern theory which of these (2) is in conflict
and to blame for social inequality?
Truck Driver
College Professor
According to conflict theorists which of these (2) is responsible for
attaining the means of control by fighting for it?
Explaining Stratification
• Conflict theorists would say which of these
two are to blame for the inequality that exists
between the rewards each of them receives?
Worker/Labor
Owner/Power
The American Class System
•
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
There are 6 social classes characteristic to
the American class system.
Upper> (old money)1-3% of pop.
Upper Middle> (good careers)10-15%
Lower Middle> (modest achievers)25-30%
Working> (keep the gears moving)25-35%
Working Poor>(often un/under-employed)1520%
Underclass>5 or less%
The American Class System
The American Class System
The American Class System (when
race is controlled for)
The American Class System (when
education is controlled for)
What is Poverty?
• Poverty= a standard of living that is below
what is seen as adequate by society.
OR
• Families with income below what is
considered adequate for a family to
survive.
Who Lives In Poverty?
SEX:
• Women are the largest
segment (over 50%)
• Female-headed households
account for about half of all
poor families
Who Lives In Poverty?
AGE:
• Children are the largest
group (over 1/3)
• 3 Times more Black and
Hispanic children are poor
than White children
Who Lives In Poverty?
Race and Ethnicity:
• Black and Hispanics are far
more likely than white
Americans to be poor
What are the effects?
Effects of Poverty:
• Decrease of life chances
• Decreased life expectancy