...Ryan Furlow Argosy University Atlanta Social Stratification June 10, 2014 Social Stratification and social mobility are important factors in our personal development. In the current US economic situation, class ranking or social status can be a critical inhibiter to your personal growth as well as gender, age, or ethnicity. Social mobility and success are important motivators to the people living in a monetary society, without success labels and social stratification work as a deterrent to success. Very few people are able to rise out of the situation they were born into and create different of better situations for them selves. In most situations, those of us born into poverty will more than likely remain so for the duration of their life. The following are personal accounts of two men and their experiences with social stratification during their professional journey. Chef Larry Powers is the Executive Chef at an Irish Fine Dining Restaurant in Roswell GA, he is 46 and a proud Irishman, from Dublin. Despite his parents immigrating to Georgia from Ireland at age six, Chef Larry remains a proud Irishman. Chef Larry describes his child hood as normal middle-class environment, three bedroom house two cars and a dog. When questioned about his teen years the Chef was hesitant, he went on to explain that his teen years are what shaped his life. Being an overweight kid, Chef endured teasing and ostracizing from his peers. His only acceptance came as a football player...
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...Social Stratification | [Your Name]Sociology | “Social stratification is a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy, so that some people have more money, power, and prestige that others.” (Macionis, 2012, p. 242) Like all societies, the United States is stratified, and this stratification is often based on a person’s socioeconomic status. The number of years a person spends in school, plus the prestige of his or her occupation, plus the amount of money he or she makes, determine one’s social class. While this method of dividing up the population into classes might be useful, it has several shortcomings. One determinant of socioeconomic status is education. People with a high school degree are classified in one group. People with college degrees are put into another. Using educational attainment levels to indicate SES is problematic for two reasons. School systems in this country are not uniform in quality and not everyone has equal access to primary, secondary, and higher education. The reliance on educational level as an indicator of social class becomes more problematic when one considers the huge variety of colleges in the United States. There are vocational schools, junior colleges, four-year colleges, and universities. Some colleges prepare individuals for specific careers, whereas others emphasize the development of intellectual and life skills. Occupational prestige is very subjective and varies from country to country. “In the United...
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...we will be discussing the topic, Social Stratification. In this presentation we will define Social Stratification and compare and contrast the functionalist and conflict perspectives on this topic. We will also discuss some of the major problems associated with Social Stratification as well as some of the major agents that teach our gender roles and social class. So what is Social Stratification? Social Stratification refers to a situation in which people are divided into distinct groups ranked at different levels. In other words it is the hierarchical arrangement of social classes within a society. An example would be the Hindu caste system, where different castes have different levels of status depending on their supposed degree of religious purity. Social Stratification is patterned social inequality, by saying that inequality is patterned indicates that differences occur on a wide-scale, with regularity and along the lines of certain specific, identifiable characteristics. For example race, class or gender. And it is also the unequal distribution of societal resources. Stratification is based on three major premises; power, prestige and property. Power which refers to the ability to impose one’s will on others. Prestige, the respect given to others and then there is Property which is the different forms of wealth. There are four fundamental principles of Social Stratification. The first is Social Stratification is a characteristic of society not...
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...What is Social Stratification? Social Stratification Is a sociological term for the hierarchical arrangement of social classes, castes, and strata within a society. It refers to differential access to resources, power, autonomy, and status across social groups. Social stratification implies social inequality; if some groups have access to more resources than other; the distribution of those resources is inherently unequal. Societies can be stratified on any number of dimensions. In the United States, the most widely recognized stratification systems are based on race, social class, and gender. Social Stratification on Health Jamaica Throughout history and even today Race and Class has placed a major impact on the identity of Jamaicans. “Race has been used to render ethnicity” (Austin-Bross, D.2006 Pg 213). Class, however is a social construct that is used to group people into a hierarchy of social stratification. Included are upper, middle, lower and newly stratified ‘working class’. Due to such stratification, persons of the ideal race and class are viewed as superior. Jamaicans have lost their identity and it has also encouraged low self esteems and confidence. Black persons from the lower class has been discriminated against and put to shame. This was the case during the slavery period and even today. Ideologies of the ‘right’ class and race originated from white plantation owners who viewed black people as ‘property. Between 1658 and 1798, approximately 281,000 slaves...
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...Social Stratification Betrayed in a Movie In every society, there is inequality. There are people that have better education, more power, and more money than other (Macionis, 2010). Social stratification ranks people in different categories based on social class. It is much like the feudal system in Europe where you are born into Nobility. The movie Trading Places shows the differences in social class. Trading Places is a movie about an upper class commodities broker, Louis Winthorpe, and a homeless street hustler, Billy Ray Valentine, whose live cross paths when they are unknowingly become a part of a huge bet. Mortimer and Randolph Duke, the owners of the commodities company where Louis Winthorpe worked, are responsible for putting the elaborate plan together to switch places with the two of them. The bet was that neither one of them would be able to function outside of their normal elements and lifestyles. Louis Winthorpe came from high society and was well educated. He also looked down upon those who were less fortunate than himself. Billy Valentine was an uneducated homeless hustler from the streets. He spent his time trying to get quick money through schemes and crime. He wanted to live like Winthorpe. Throughout the entire, Winthorpe got to experience how it felt to be poor. He was subjected to drugs, prostitution, jail and a theft. It gave him a chance to see how it felt to be on the lower end. He saw how he treated other people. Valentine on the other...
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...Social Stratification Social Stratification-‐ a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy. 1. Social stratification is a trait of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences. • Children born into wealthy families are more likely than children born in poverty to experience good healthy, achieve academically, succeed in life’s work and live a long life. 2. Social stratification persists over generations. • To see stratification as a trait of society rather than one of individuals, we need to only look at how inequality persists along generations. In all societies, parents pass their social position on to their children. • Social Mobility-‐ change in one’s position in the social hierarchy. 3. Social stratification is universal but variable. • In some societies, inequality is mostly a matter of prestige; in others, wealth or power...
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...Jenn King Sociology 204 Winter 2012 Social Stratification The word stratification is defined as the building up of layers. To stratify is to separate. In the World we live there is social stratification. This social separation or stratification exists everywhere on earth. People of societies are separated on the bases of social class, race, ethnicity, and gender. Let us examine these different kinds stratification. Social stratification is the ranking of people and the rewards they receive based on objective criteria including wealth, power, and/or prestige. All societies have social stratifications, but the how people are divided varies. In the U.S people are divided not only by political, corporate, and government elites, but also by income and wealth. Race and ethnic stratification occur when people are divided into groups according to their race and/or ethnic backgrounds. Race refers to one’s physical appearance and ethnicity refers to one’s cultural heritage. The groups are majority, minority, and dominate groups. Majority groups represent the group with the largest numbers and they have significant power and privilege in a society. Minority groups are less in numbers and have less power. Dominant groups are groups with power and they use their power to discriminate against others. Gender stratification occurs because society constructs what is appropriate for a girl and what is appropriate for a boy, therefore people are separated based on gender identity....
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...Chapter 3: Stratification, Class, and Inequality 1 2. Social stratification • Social stratification refers to the ranking of members of a society in groups on the basis of their status. • This ranking may be on the basis of occupation, power, economic resources, prestige, caste, education. • It is structured inequality between groups. 2 3. Determinants of Social stratification a) Power – The degree to which a person can control other people. More power more respect in society. b) Economic resources – The level of income from all resources is an important indicator of one’s place in society. – Economic resources in rural and urban areas. c) Prestige – The degree of respect, favorable regard or importance accorded to an individual by members of society. 3 4. Determinants of Social stratification d) Occupation – High class professionals include big businessmen, industrialists, landlords and high class government and semi-government officials. e) Caste – It is permanent, having its status ascribed as birth. Some castes are believed to be higher in status while others as low. f) Education – The standard of education also determines a social class. 4 5. Characteristics of Stratification Systems • Social structures hold certain groups in ranked order and where it is difficult, if not impossible, to change that order. • Where people rank in stratification system influences every part of their lives in profound ways. 5 6. Systems of Stratification Three basic...
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...SOCIAL STRATIFICATION Student: Institution: Social stratification refers to way a society categorizes its people in hierarchical arrangement based on socioeconomic layers such as wealth, gender, power, education or race. In the US, stratification is asserted on a class system recognizing meritocracy, meaning everyone has equal opportunities of success. Stratification therefore appreciates one’s talents, abilities, and hard work (Grusky, 2008). Explain the role that stratification has played in your life Stratification has played a major role in my life; generally, it ensures that society continues to exist. First, I’m employed because I have achieved a particular qualification. My being a student and a youth leader in my community is reflective of my talent and ability. Stratification also maintenance of social order in society and encourages individuals upgrade their knowledge and skills. Examine how different your life would be if you lived in a caste-system instead of a class-system A caste system is categorization that is based ascribed statuses or traits acquire at birth; age, gender or race. This system ranks people rigidly such that a person is condemned to his caste for life and no way one can castes (Grusky, 2008). If I lived in caste system, I would not have been able to achieve my educational qualifications or even career as there is even no motivation to do so. Evaluate the role of racial, ethnic, or gender stratification in your day-to-day life. Categorizing...
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...SOCIAL STRATIFICATION: INTRODUCTION AND SIGNIFICANCE Social strata are levels of social statuses. Members of a society who possess similar amount of wealth, power, and privileges occupy each social stratum. We can see layers of social statuses occupied by members of society. Organized systems of such strata are conceptualized as social stratification system. Social stratification refers to a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy. Four basic principles of stratification: 1. Social stratification is characteristic of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences. Children born into wealth families are more likely than born into poverty to enjoy good health, achieve academically, succeed in their life’s work, and live well into old age. Neither rich nor poor people are responsible for creating social stratification, yet this system shapes the lives of them all. 2. Social stratification persists over generations. In all societies parents pass their social position along to their children, so that patterns of inequality stay much the same from generation to generation. Some individual experience change in their position in the social hierarchy. For most people, social standing remains much the same over a lifetime. 3. Social stratification is universal but variable. Social stratification is found everywhere. At the same time, what is unequal and how unequal people are vary from one society to another. 4. Social stratification involves not...
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...1: Introduction to Sociology – Social Stratification | Slide # | Slide Title | Slide Narration | Slide 1 | Introduction | Welcome to Introduction to Sociology. In this lesson we will introduce and discuss Social Stratification.Next slide. | Slide 2 | Topics | The following topics will be covered in this lesson:What Is Social Stratification?;Caste and Class Systems;The Functions of Social Stratification;Stratification and Conflict; andSocial Stratification: Facts and Values.Next slide. | Slide 3 | What Is Social Stratification? | Social stratification is a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy. The study of social stratification across cultures shows that it has four basic principles.First, Social stratification is a trait of society. While personal ability and achievement play an important role in a person’s position in the stratification hierarchy, it is also a function of the social organization one operates under. As an example, children who are born into a wealthy family are more likely to enjoy good health, do well in school, succeed in a career, and live a long life.Second, Social Stratification persists over generations. We can see that stratification influences society by observing how parents pass along their social position to their children. Social mobility, a change in one’s position in the social hierarchy, is a product of a high-income society, but it is constrained by the social stratification processes. In America we celebrate...
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...Social Stratification vs. Social Class Anzhelika Estrina Sociology 1 Dr Anthony Clark December 5, 2015 Social Stratification vs. Social Class Inequalities exist in all types of human society. Even in the simplest cultures where variations in wealth or property are non-existent, there are inequalities between individuals, men and women, the young and the old. To describe inequalities, sociologists speak of Social Stratification. Social Stratification lies at the principal of society and of the discipline of sociology. Social inequality is a fundamental aspect of virtually all-social processes and a person's position in the stratification system is the most consistent predictor of his/her behavior, attitudes, and life chances. An individual's class status can be harder to identify than race or ethnic differences. However, I believe class status is an important indicator of what kind of opportunities lie ahead for people in various class systems. Class places people into a type of structure which goes against the principal belief that in America all are shaped equal, or that even the poorest child can become President someday if he or she applies him/her self. I believe that social class remains largely invisible because our society doesn't want to believe that poverty exists in America. If Americans acknowledged poverty, then they would have to take some kind of action and do something to remedy it. Such action, of course, would create a huge flow effect involving...
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...Social Stratification in modern South Africa by Jabu Banda 512424 Introduction Max Weber viewed social stratification from three dimensions (Wright, EO): economic class, social status and power (party). According to Weber each of these dimensions had its own stratification: the economic, represented by income and access to goods and services, the social, represented by prestige and honour and the political, represented by power .Unlike Marx Weber paved the way for us to incorporate race and ethnicity dimensions in relation to social stratification. South Africa has always been and still is very much a society divided along racial lines. There has however been a gradual but undeniable shift from a society divided along race under apartheid towards division along economic class post 1994. We can attribute this shift largely to the significant political landscape change but we still need a deeper understanding of the forces driving this shift. This paper will therefore attempt to analyze modern day South African society in relation to Weber’s model of social stratification with the view establish its validity and relevance in a local context. We are presented by opportunity to perhaps explore impact this shift has had economically. In other words what the impact has been on access to products and services, media, health, education and so forth. The dimension of power and politics was very central to Weber’s theory, it is therefore natural that we examine the impact the shift from...
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...* SOCIAL STRATIFICATION Meaning, Nature, and Importance of Stratification * Stratification is an institutionalizes pattern of inequality in which social categories are ranked on the basis of their access to scarce resources * Social Stratification is the hierarchical arrangement and establishment of social categories that evolve into social group together with status and their corresponding roles. * Meaning, Nature, and Importance of Stratification * Social Stratification is a system whereby people rank and evaluate each other as superior and, on the basis of such evaluations, inequality rewarded one another with wealth authority, power and prestige. One result of each differentiation is the creation of a number of levels within society. Meaning, Nature, and Importance of Stratification * Different Views for Social Stratification: * Social Structure – status, social roles into ranked orders * Social Problem – discontentment and social justice * Importance of Stratification * Through S.S., men all over, dispels discrimination, stereotyping and prejudice. * Man will exert great effort in competing with others. * Knowledge of S.S. may enable man to adapt to the social environment * Improvement of man’s standard of living * Effect economic development in a society. * Attainment of a harmonious and stable society. * Types of Stratification System * Caste System * Brahmins...
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...Trajectory of Indian Sari- A study of The Traditional India Sari Un-stitched lengths of fabric draped around the body formed the main garment of men and women in India. This form of attire may be compared to wearing toga’s in Ancient Greece or Rome. The Indian Sari, A length of cloth, sometimes plain and at others highly decorated, has been the source for many fables and a fabric of our imagination as a society and a culture. The Sari is the traditional outfit of women in Indian subcontinent. The word Sari is a derivative of the prakrit as sadia, and originally came from Sanskrit sati, meaning a strip of cloth. This glamorous, yet demure outfit first originated in southern India and today has gained enough popularity to symbolize itself as a part of Indian heritage. The reputation of the Sari has spread so much that even women from other parts of the world, of different nationalities and cultures are also taking an active interest in it. In my paper, I am going to illuminate various aspects of the traditional Indian Sari. Some of the questions addressed are: How the sari has evolved? What is the purpose & meaning of sari in India for Indian people. A sari in not only a cloth to cover the body of women, it’s something which helps them to realize, how important & special they are? In this paper, I will focus on the trajectory of Indian sari, how sari was worn in ancient times? What is the significance of sari for an Indian woman? How was it worn in Colonial...
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