Social Stratification - 1747 Words

Casey Rash, Austin Helms November 11, 2010 SOC 100 General Sociology; 002 Essay Question: 3 The purpose of this paper will be to address what social stratification is, and why sociologists consider it crucial to our understanding of today’s society. In addition it will also be discussing the three dimensions of social stratification and how we think its changed since the 1970s and 80s to today, and which theory we think best explains this change. Along with how the inequality of valued resources impacts America as a whole, and how the recent financial meltdown has made stratification worse in America. Stratification can be defined as a structured ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal economic rewards and†¦show more content†¦The African American middle class has risen since the 1970s and 80s although they are still being paid less than the while males which shows progress since the civil rights movement. In comparison a 2004 study shows that the Latino population is loosing its hold on wealth only controlling 10% of the wealth in the U nited States. Karl Marx’s theory on stratification best justifies the change the United States has faced from the 1970s to present day. Karl Marx’s theory focuses on capitalism in which the owner of a company’s only goal is to produce as much profit as possible for him or herself. The bourgeoisie or capitalist class owns the company and the proletariats work for the company. The bourgeoisie look for ways to lower wages and maximize profit by adding machines that reduced dependence on highly skilled proletariats. This makes no proletariats special because they are easily replaceable. This best explains the change from the 1970s and 80s to now because all the name brand companies are outsourcing and making the product cheaper to make which is giving the owner of the companies more money and taking jobs away from the middle class and working class therefore making the rich richer and poor poorer. The rich stay in power because the working class is forced to work at the wages offered because the job positions require very little skill and are easily replaceable making it impossible to move up in the company. Without questionShow MoreRelatedStratification, Stratification And Social Structure Essay1413 Words   |  6 PagesIn our daily social life, when people meeting together whether with a stranger or a friend, they are likely to classify others by a certain category of characteristics consciously or unconsciously. However, making categories not only applies to individual life, also societies have categories, as what the sociologists called stratification. Stratification which divides people according to social structures refers to bigger areas of factor including gender, age, ethnicity, family lineage, economicRead MoreEssay about Social Stratification 1554 Words   |  7 Pagesclass that you are born into will determine the life chances you ultimately have for the rest of your life. Australian society is highly based upon the concept of so cial stratification which â€Å"refers to the division of the population of a society into strata arranged in a hierarchy† (Aspin, Lois J., 1996: page 39) Sociologists study the social world through paradigms, which are theoretical frameworks such as functionalism and conflict theory. The way that they view society is through these paradigms inRead MoreSocial Stratification1648 Words   |  7 PagesSocial stratification defines any structure of inequality that persists in a society across generations. Social strata are groups of people — who belong to the same social class or have the same social level. 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Class stratification runs on 3 main points: Power (legal ability, capacity or authority granted on a person/persons), Prestige (a reputation or influence arising from success) and Privilege (a special right or immunity) with these being the root of social stratification it’s easy to see why inequality in universal with the bourgeoisie (the elite 2% of the world) controlling the proletariat (working classRead MoreSocial Stratification : Functional Theory, And Conflict Theory1091 Words   |  5 PagesDoes Social Stratification Have a Functional Purpose in Society Social Stratification is considered to be a hierarchy of positions concerning economic production which influences the social rewards to those in the positions (Social Stratification, Definition Social Stratification, n.d.). There are two commonly known theories when it comes to social stratification, the functional theory, and the conflict theory. The functionalist believes that stratification is needed for society to enhance stabilityRead MoreThe Concept Of Social Stratification893 Words   |  4 PagesThe concept of social stratification is quite complex. It involves categorizing a person into socioeconomic levels based upon one’s profession, wealth, social status, and perceived power. Such a stratification makes up a social hierarchy, which involves placing groups of people in a higher standing than another group, with fewer people being included into the ‘higher’ classes. These concepts were not always apparent, only developing as result of human influence. Using Sumer and Uruk as examples,Read MoreThe Origin of Social Stratification5566 Words   |  23 PagesINTRODUCTION Social stratification is rigid subdivision of society into a hierarchy of layers, differentiated on the basis of power, prestige and wealth. It is the hierarchical arrangement of people in a society. Stratification is common in the animal kingdom on the basis of power and gender and some form of stratification has probably always existed among humans. With the development of food and other surpluses resulting from technological advances in agriculture and manufacturing, some peopleRead MoreSystems of Social Stratification2682 Words   |  11 Pagessystems of social stratification. The main aim of this essay is to compare and contrast these systems as well as indicating their advantages and disadvantages to development. The essay begins with defining the key terms which include comparing, contrasting and development. It further goes on to define as well as explain social stratification itself, the caste, the class and the colour-bar systems respectively. The essay further talks about the advantages and disadvantages of these systems of social stratification