Social Stratification
a process by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy
4 Principles of stratification
a) A societal trait, not a reflection of individual differences
b) Universal, but varies within each society
c) Carries over from one generation to the next
d) Justified
Social Darwinism (Herbert Spencer--structural functionalist)
Survival of the fittest, adaptation to the environment.
Functionalist theory of social stratification (Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore)
Some roles in society are more important than others. Jobs that require special skills and talents should be paid more.
Social stratification according to the conflict theory
Society is an arena of inequality due to constant competition for scarce resources. The affluent/powerful control the resources.
Max Weber (symbolic interactionist)
agrees with Marx, but expounds:
Income--wages-all moneys obtained. How much are you worth?
Wealth--money that generates more money-assets, investments, stocks, property.
Privilege--degree of respect-automatically given based on one's status/position in so
Max Weber
first to categorize the class system in the U.S.
5 primary U.S. class categories
a) upper-upper: 1%-wealth, surname (gives status), ascribed, inheritance (old money), through investment, assets, powerful
b) upper-middle: 14%, own home, investment, vacation, tend to have earned the highest level of degree in their profession--Law, MD,
Race
Biological features that environmentally adapt. Becomes socially constructed when certain features are singled out.
Ethnicity
learned--linked to culture "norms & tradition, rituals, language, religion
Nationality
nation of origin
Minority
Any distinct group in society that is forced to occupy a lowers status due primarily to prejudice and discrimination (subordinate positions)--share common characteristics with each other.
Characteristics of minorities
a) forced to occupy a lower status
b) characteristics (physical or otherwise) that differ from dominant culture
c) "membership" is generally involuntary--characteristics are ascribed
d) shared social experiences
e) tend to marry others of the same "catego
Prejudice
learned--attitudes & beliefs based (primarily) on hearsay rather than direct experiences or evidence.
5 primary sources of prejudice
a) family--come to see others as their family members perceive them
b) community--environment. The less diverse the community you are raised in, the more likely the chance that one will be prejudice
c) media--portrays "ideal image" & projects stereotyped
Discrimination
the unfair treatment of people because of their group membership (category)
Structural functionalism and stratification
a) assimilation--"blend in". adopt dominant cultural ideology and relinquish some/all of their cultural identity/ideology--language, last names, material culture, etc.
b) segregation--the spatial & social separation of a group from the dominant group--2 t
Sex
innate, ascribed, based on anatomical differences--reproductive organs, genitalia, chromosomes that differentiate between male & female
Gender
socially constructed. Learned sets of expected behaviors that are consistent with how a society defines masculine or feminine
Sexuality
expressions of attraction that are deemed socially appropriate
Sexual orientation
innate--emotional, intimate, physical. Attraction, connections
sexuality is on a continuum
all human beings by nature are bisexual, having the emotional, psychological, & physical capacity to be with any other human being.
biological determinism
a theory that explains human behavior and ideas as shaped mainly by biological features such as genes and hormones. Argument that gender differences are innate or natural.
Variables of gender stratification
a) degree to which "women's work" is central to that country's economy
b) degree to which the country has access to formal education for girls
c) degree of religious/ideological support for gender equality
d) degree to which men contribute directly to chi
Gender stratification
the hierarchial distribution of social and economic resources according to gender. Built upon the assumption that gender inequality is "natural".
4 Primary arguments that justify gender inequality
Human capital theory
Dual labor market theory
Gender segregation
Human capital theory
looks at individual differences--women have higher job turnover rates that their male counterparts, more periods of interrupted work history, they are perceived to be less dependable as a category, less reliable, etc.
Social Darwinism was founded by...
Herbert Spencer
Came up with a functionalist theory of social stratification
Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore
Dual labor market theory
women and men do not work in the same sectors of the labor market, therefore they shouldn't get pain the same wages--equal pay may not be possible because equal work is not possible
Gender segregation
pink collar" occupations (jobs predominantly held by women) not essential to economy--devalued in status and wage
Feminist theory
linked to conflict theory--inequalities for women can be based on/originate from traditions of the past--status quot justifies barriers to advancement and achievement, etc. Legislative changes are argued to close the gap.