Chatper 7 Flashcards
WHAT IS STRATIFICATION?
System for ranking categories
of people in a hierarchy
Structured inequalities among
different groups in society
If the hierarchical positions
within the system are fixed at
birth and there is
no chance of change over your lifetime,
If the hierarchical positions in the system change over time your position is more likely
based on achievement
SYSTEMS OF STRATIFICATION(name two)
Caste based inequality
Class based inquailty
If the hierarchical positions in
the system change over time
your position is
more likely based on achievement
Upward social mobility refers to
individual or group movement from
a lower to a higher position within
the hierarchy
Downward social mobility refers to
individual or group movement from
a higher to a lower position within
the hierarchy
Absolute poverty refers to the
deprivation of resources that is life
threatening
Relative poverty refers to the
perception of deprivation of in
relation to others
CONCEPTS FOR UNDERSTANDING CLASS BASED
INEQUALITY
Working Class vs. Capitalists (Marx)
Income vs. Wealth (ownership)
Socioeconomic Status
-Income & Wealth
* Power—the ability to accomplish goals
despite resistance (politics)
* Status/Prestige—a social estimation of
honor
* Occupational prestige
* Other Status Symbols (social
markers)
THEORIES OF
STRATIFICATION: Structural Functionalism
Stratification as necessary
* Some occupations are more
important
* Some occupations require
extensive training
* Some occupations require special
skills/talent
* How to recruit/keep the best and
brightest
* Need for differential income and
perksstratification
CONFLICT THEORY
Society is characterized by competition over scarce (limited) resources and therefore may become unstable
CONFLICT THEORY: Individuals and groups attempt to
Individuals and groups attempt to maintain their position or advance themselves in the hierarchy at the expense of others; this creates competition and conflict
The poor are at a disadvantage due to their lack of resources
Values and beliefs rarging ecomic inquatilty tend to
reflect the interests of the
more powerful members of society
WHICH THEORY IS BEST?
Ideally, you want to use multiple
theories to understand issues in all
of their complexity
Decide which theory is best suited
to the task
Good theories should help us
understand things such as
- The current economic & political
crisis and debates around the
causes and possible solutions - The role of the educational
system in relation to
stratification, etc. . .
which theory you
adopt will probably depend on
the specific kinds of questions
you want to answer and will also
influence your conclusion
