social stratification
relatively fixed, hierarchical arrangement in society by which groups have different access to resources, power, and perceived social worth
-system of structured social inequality
stratification systems
-estate
-caste
-class
estate systems
the ownership of property and the exercise of power is monopolized by an elite who have total control over societal resources
-most common on agricultural societies
caste systems
one's place in the stratification system is an ascribed status
-hierarchy of class is rigid
social differentiation
the process by which different statuses develop any group, organization, or society
social class
social structural position that groups hold relative to the economic, social, political, and cultural resources of society
most common indicators of social class
-education
-occupation
-income
-wealth
class consciousness
the perception that a class structure exists, along with the feeling of shared identification with others in one's class--others with whom one perceives common life chances
social class an important system of stratification
-determines access to valuable resources
-regulates life chances and opportunities
-places individuals in positions of privilege and disadvantage
social mobility
a person's movement over time from one class to another
-can be upward or downward
two primary social classes under capitalism (Karl Marx)
-bourgeoisie (owners)
-proletariats (workers)
3 dimensions of social stratification (Weber)
-class
-status
-power
class
the economic dimension of social stratification which defines one's access to material goods, as indicated by income, property, and financial assets
status
the social/cultural/symbolic dimension, which defines the social recognition given to a person or group
power
the political dimension, which defines one's capacity to influence individuals and groups even in the face of opposition
stratification & inequality Weber
-class, status, and power are often related, but not always consistent
-person can be high on one or two dimensions and low on another
-e.g. lawyer can have great wealth (class), political influence (power), and yet a bad reputation (status)
functionalist perspective on inequality
inequality serves an important purpose, it motivates people to fill the different positions that are needed for the survival of the whole
conflict perspective on inequality
-unequal distribution of rewards reflects the class interests of the powerful, not the survival needs of the whole society
-more stratified a society the less likely that society will benefit from the talents of all of its citizens
race
a social category that is treated as distinct on the basis of physical characteristics (e.g. skin color and hair texture) that have been assigned social significance
sociological study of race
emphasizes how race categories are socially constructed and maintained by powerful groups in society
-race categories are not fixed
ethnicity
a social category that is treated as distinct on the basis of shared cultural and historical characteristics, including:
-language
-religion
-norms
-customs
-immigration experiences
-nationality
stereotypes
oversimplified sets of beliefs about members of a social group
salience principle
states that we categorize people on the basis of what appears initially prominent and obvious (e.g skin color)
racial-ethnic stereotypes
stereotypes based on race and/or ethnicity
prejudice
the evaluation of a social group based on conceptions involving both prejudgment and misjudgment
discrimination
refers to overt negative and unequal treatment of individuals on the basis of their membership in a socially distinct group or category
racism
the perception and treatment of a racial or ethnic group, or member of that group, as intellectually, socially, and culturally inferior to one's own group
-implies a belief in the superiority of one's own group
institutional racism
refers to negative and unequal treatment of racial or ethnic groups within the context of society's institutions
psychological theories of prejudice
-scapegoat theory
-authoritarian personality
scapegoat theory
argues that, historically, members of the dominant group in the US have harbored various frustrations in their desire to achieve social and economic success
authoritarian personality
-are more likely to be prejudiced against minorities than other non authoritarian individuals
-a tendency to rigidly categorize other people, as well as tendencies to submit to authority, rigidly conform, be very intolerant of ambiguity, and be inclined t
sex
refers to biological identity
e.g. male, female
hermaphrodite
have one testis and one ovary
male psydohermaphrodite
have testes and some aspects of female genitalia, but no ovaries
female psydohermaphrodite
have ovaries and some aspects of male genitalia, but no testes
gender
refers to social identity and learned expectations and behaviors associated with members of each sex
(e.g. trans)
gender socialization
the process through which we learn the expectations and behaviors associated with being men and women
agents of gender socialization
-parents
-schools
-religion
-media
gender stratification
refers to the hierarchical distribution of social and economic resources according to gender
overt discrimination explanation
argues that dominant groups will use their position of power to perpetuate their advantage
human capital explanation
assumes that the economic system is fair and competitive, and wage differences reflect differences in the individual characteristics that workers bring to jobs
human capital
refers to expenditures on education and training
dual labor market
argues that women and men earn different incomes because they tend to work in different segments of the labor market