STRATIFICATION
POWER, CLASS AND PRIVILEGE
Stratification is ranking of entire groups of
people that perpetuates inequality (unequal rewards and life chances)
DIMENSIONS OF INEQUALITY
Social Class: a group of people who
share a similar economic position
-
Income: occupational wages or salaries
and earnings from investments (In 1993, richest 20% of US households received
46.8% of all income, while the bottom 20% received only 4.2%)
-
Wealth: total value of money and other
assets minus outstanding debt (In 1993, richest 20% owned 80% of country's
total wealth while the bottom 20% actually live in debt)
Social Status: the prestige, honor, respect,
and lifestyle associated with different positions or groups in society.
-
It is influenced by occupation and schooling.
-
Most high prestige occupations require mental
activity and are free from supervision.
-
It is possible for one to have a social class
that differs from her/his social status
STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALIST
PERSPECTIVE
Given that stratification is found in all societies,
SF tries to explain its persistence by asking what functions it performs.
Society rewards its members according to their functional importance in
the society. We always need somebody at the bottom doing the dirty work
with low pay.
Critique:
-
How can we determine that one position is functionally
more important than another? (public health requires sanitation and trained
doctors yet doctors have more prestige and power)
-
supply-demand/replaceability does not explain
why demand is high for some positions (how necessary is the athletic skill?)
-
circular argument... position is important because
it is paid high, and it is paid high because it is important
-
focus is on the functions .... could be interpreted
as "stratification is good/fair" instead of a focus on its dysfunctions
CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE
Argues that inequality is a reflection of the
unequal distribution of power in society and is a primary source of conflict
and coercion. Stratification is based on an unequal distribution of resources
(some have, some don't)
Marxist Class Model: 2 things determine
class position in society: ownership of the means of production, ability
to control or purchase labor.
|
control the labor of others |
do not control the labor of
others |
| owns means of production |
capitalists |
petite bourgeoisie |
| do not own means of production |
workers (managers in Wright's model) |
workers |
The upper class control the lower classes
and prevent revolution by establishing a false consciousness which
is a situation where people in lower classes come to accept a belief system
(created by the powerful) that harms them (i.e. poor people believing in
the American Dream)
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST
PERSPECTIVE
-
looks at how the interpersonal expression of
power is related to the stratified structure of society
-
looks at the signs and symbols of dominance,
threat, submission to examine a person's power over another and how that
fits into the stratification system
-
people in dominant positions are less likely
to find it necessary to take the role of others who are less powerful
-
time: people in dominant positions are more
likely to control the timing, length and nature of interaction
-
conversations: norms can be violated by those
in power (they interrupt more, talk for longer periods of time)
Consequences of Class
Sociologists see stratification, especially
social class, as the most powerful concept they deal with (more so than
religion).
behavior patterns, likes-dislikes, success
in situations (such as college), who you meet, whom you marry, employment
choices/chances are all consequences of class. Likes and dislikes of each
class is different and one needs to learn and apply those in the case of
vertical mobility to be part of that social class. Success in college requires
things like verbal skills (communication skills) which middle and upper
classes take for granted. Stratification is driven by lifestyle. We demonstrate/express
our status through consumer goods and behavior.
All theories conclude that inequality is
normal.
Our life chances will be dictated by our social class position which in
turn, to a large extent, will determine education, income, type of occupation,
and lifestyle.