Essay on Social Stratification and The Importance of Class

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is a phrase that all Americans are familiar with, for it outlines our American values and sets up our declaration of independence. Many Americans consider themselves part of a nation of opportunity for all, regardless of race, gender or nationality, yet hardly do we ever choose to question whether or not this is actually true. As Americans there are certain values that we hold very dear, for example freedom, equality and opportunity. These are the values our nation is based upon, but are these standards actually held up in our modern society? I will argue that although our nation prides itself on its equality and freedom; in reality we do not hold up these values and are faced with†¦show more content†¦This social stratification also serves as a stepping-stone to more discrimination and inequality, as the wealthier Americans often look down upon those who are in extreme poverty and try to take away or reduce some of the only t hings they have, such as welfare. The money in our American society is so unequally divided it would make our forefathers cringe and if our society were really founded in equality we would not let ones position at birth dictate their entire life. Gender and racial inequality are two more examples of how people can be born at a disadvantage and although they should be given an equal chance, they are often not. Many people view racial inequality as a â€Å"thing of the past† but just because we don’t have slavery or Jim Crow laws it does not mean that there are not systems put in place to keep non-white people at a disadvantage, especially by manipulating the criminal justice system. In this excerpt from The New Jim Crow Michelle Alexander states, â€Å"More African American adults are under correctional control today—in prison or jail, on probation or parole—than were enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civil War began†. It is this type of problem that illustrates how although we live in a â€Å"modern† society we are still chained down by our morally corrupt and imbalanced past. Black Americans are being imprisonedShow MoreRelatedCompare the Functionalist and Marxist Views on Socia l Stratification1740 Words   |  7 PagesPHENOMENON OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION. Social stratification refers to the presence of distinct social groups which are ranked one above the other in terms of factors such as prestige and wealth (Haralambos Holborn, 2004). Those who belong to a particular group or stratum will have some awareness of common interests and a common identity. They also share a similar lifestyle which, to some extent, will distinguish them from members of other social strata (Lenski, 1984). Social stratificationRead MoreCompare the Functionalist and Marxist Views on Social Stratification1734 Words   |  7 PagesTHE PHENOMENON OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION. Social stratification refers to the presence of distinct social groups which are ranked one above the other in terms of factors such as prestige and wealth (Haralambos Holborn, 2004). Those who belong to a particular group or stratum will have some awareness of common interests and a common identity. They also share a similar lifestyle which, to some extent, will distinguish them from members of other social strata (Lenski, 1984)Read MoreRelevance of Social Stratification1272 Words   |  6 PagesSocial stratification is defined as the division of a society into a number of hierarchically arranged strata. Strata are the levels or classes in society which are layered in a structured hierarchy with the least privileged at the bottom and most privileged at the top. (Giddens, 1977) A society, or human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authorityRead MoreSocial Stratification And The Caste System Essay1342 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Stratification Social stratification is an important component of society, as it helps individuals determine their proper place in society by creating a form of social hierarchy (Larkin, 2015). Many analysis use the social stratification system to help determine the inequalities, and this system of organization is found in every society across the world, though it will differ from one society to another (Larkin, 2015). Sociologists group different and diverse people into different levelsRead MoreSocial Stratification1358 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿SOCIAL SCIENCE 101 (Society and Culture with Population Education) Unit IV. Social Stratification Meaning of Social Stratification When sociologists speak of stratification, they are referring to social inequality and social ranking, thus, stresses the differences among people. Is an institutionalized pattern of inequality in which social categories ranked on the basis of their access to scarce resources. Is the hierarchy arrangement and establishment of social categories that evolveRead MoreSocial Stratification Has Good Consequences For Society1061 Words   |  5 Pagesthesis states that social stratification has good consequences for society. They argue societies may have different occupations or tasks that these jobs differ in their importance to society. They believed this encourages people to work harder and be more efficient in their jobs, ultimately benefiting society. 2.  List and define three different systems of stratification in society. The three different systems of social stratification in society are slavery, castes, and social classes. SlaveryRead MoreThe Concept of Social Stratification1290 Words   |  5 PagesSocial stratification can be simply defined by stating that it is a system in which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy (Macionis, page 224). The concept of social stratification is based on four central principles, which are social stratification is a trait of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences, it carries over from one generation to the next, while it is universal, it is also variable, and social stratification involves not only inequality but beliefs asRead MoreSocial Stratification and Class Essay1531 Words   |  7 Pagesbacks of the middle class. To people in the lower class, the promise is held that in a capitalist society, by working hard you can lift yourself out of the lower income bracket to join the middle class. Entrepreneurs who can find a ne ed and fill it can make it into the upper class. The point is that this kind of thinking, a product of social stratification theory, is ingrained upon our minds. As a society, we accept it as a fact that we live in a multi-tiered class system, and thatRead MorePrinciples Of Stratification On Society1547 Words   |  7 PagesThis paper will be discussing â€Å"Some Principles of Stratification† by Kingsley Davis and Wilbert E. Moore, â€Å"Classes in Capitalism and Pre- Capitalism† by Karl Marx, and â€Å"Who Rules America?† by G. William Domhoff. Davis and Moore examine stratification, social class, and positional rank and their effects on individuals and society. Marx examines inequality in society, the relationship between the oppressor and the oppressed or the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, and methods of production and theirRead MoreSocial Stratification And Its Effects On Society1266 Words   |  6 PagesSocial stratification is a way people categoriz e others in a socioeconomic strata. Social stratification has four principles: social stratification has and continues to persist over generations, it involves inequality, beliefs and other economic and ideological standards, it is universal but variable, and it is also a â€Å"trait† of society. Social stratification doesn’t categorize certain individuals by their looks or popularity, but instead categorizes by different aspects such as the job they have