Social Stratification Case Essay Example for Free

Social Stratification Case Essay * Refers to the ranking individuals and groups in any given society * Tends to be transmitted from one generation to another * Is the hierarchical arrangement and establishment of social categories that may evolve into social groups as well as of statuses and their corresponding roles * May be viewed as a social structure, as a social process, or as a social problem Basic Concepts of Inequality 1. Attributions – attributions play a very vital role in social stratification. It assigns to people different attributes as a result of differences 2. Stereotype – one assumes that persons who fall into a particular category on the basis of certain characteristics also have many characteristics that we assume to belong to that category 3. Self-fulfilling prophecies – once we categorize people through assigning a stereotype, our perception of their behavior if filtered through that stereotype 4. Self comparison – social scientist find that people need to compare themselves with others in order to establish for themselves what kind of people they are. 5. A fair world – related to the key of comparison in social life are beliefs about justice or the fair distribution of rewards. 6. Just world hypothesis – according to this, people like to believe that there is justice, that people get what they deserve. Social Stratification System * Differentiation refers to how things or people can be distinguished from one another. * Stratification refers to the ranking of things or people or objects. Dimensions of Stratification 1. Wealth and income – the income of any family depends on what its members earn and what they own. 2. Inequalities of power – sociologists define power as the ability to control one’s life (personal power) and to control or influence the actions of others (social power). 3. Inequalities of prestige – prestige of individuals and groups may be defined as the social recognition that a person or group receives from others. The Theories of Social Stratification * The conflict theory maintains that the result of the struggle among people for scarce rewards and that it persists in society because the â€Å"haves† are determined and equipped to preserve their advantage by dominating and exploiting the â€Å"have nots.† * Conflict theorists consider stratification unjust and unnecessary. Karl Marx – believe that all history has been the story of class conflict over material privilege and power. 4 ways of distributing wealth 1. To each according to need – the basic needs of all the people are satisfied. 2. To each according to want – wealth is distributed according to what people desire and respect. 3. To each according to what is earned – people who live according to this system become themselves the source of their own wealth. 4. To each according to what can be taken – by using whatever means. * The functionalist theory – Kingsley Davis elaborated the idea that stratification serves an important function in society. He was joined by Wilbert Moore. Comparison of the two theories: The Functionalist View The Conflict View * Stratification is universal, necessary, and inevitable * Stratification facilitates the optimal functioning of society and the individual * Stratification is an expression of commonly shared values * Task and reward are equitably allocated * Stratification system generally change through evolutionary processes| * Stratification may be universal without being necessary and inevitable * Stratification impedes the optimal functioning of society and the individual * Stratification is an expression of the values of powerful groups * Tasks and rewards are inequitably allocated * Stratification system often change through revolutionary processes Open and Closed System * Open system – this is also known as a class system. It has a few impediments to social mobility. There is a difference between equality of opportunity and equality of results. * Closed system – this is also known as caste system. In the caste system, ascribed characteristics determine social position, and individuals’ opportunities are limited accordingly. * Estate system – it is a closed system stratification in which a person’s social position is based on ownership of land, birth, military strength. Not included. (pampam lang) Methods of Determining Class Division 1. The subjective method – researchers using this method simply ask a random sample population to name the class they belong to. 2. The reputational method – the researchers select a small town and ask a number of residents to assist them in their study. 3. The objective method – the researchers divide people into social classes according to their income, occupation, education, and type of residence.