Social Differentiation & Social Inequality (Chapter 1)

Social Differentiation & Social Inequality (Chapter 1)

1. Social Differentiation

   • Classification of Individuals into socially recognizable groups
     • Natural (gender, age)
     • Man-made (Economic, religion, culture)

2. Sociological Mode

   • Objectivity: open perspective without personal opinion
   • Empirical Substantiation: data subject to inspection & investigation

3. Individuals & Social Forces

   • Achievement makes inequality
   • Fate determined by structural factors
     • Social institutions, organizations, and groups we are part of

4. Social Stratification

   • A system of ranking individuals in terms of their access to, and possession of, the things valued by their society
   • Ranking of persons/groups based on social and sometimes physical characteristics
   • Dimensions of Stratification
     • 1) Wealth, 2) Prestige, 3) Power
     • Those who have: Superior
     • Those who don't: Inferior

5. Structured Inequality: Government ensures social institutions

   • Inequality of condition (living standard)
   • Inequality of opportunity (acquiring education, phyical/mental, residence)

6. Stratification Systems

   • Caste System
     • Hindu
     • Separation of God's body created humans
     • Brahmans (mouth), Kshatriyas (arms), Vaisyas (thighs), Shudras (feet), Harijans (outcast)
   • Estate System
     • Nobility, Clergy, Peasants
       • Landlords/Royalty, Priests/Religious leaders, farmers
     • Social Class System
       • After industrial revolution
         • Wealth, Education, Occupation

7. Social Stratification of the US

   • Economic: - Occupation, - Income, - Wealth
   • Status: - Personal Prestige, - Association, - Socialization
   • Political
   • Equity vs. Liberty
     • Equity: distribution of societal rewards in a just manner
     • Liberty: freedom to pursue personal interests (reap benefit from one's effort)
     • Distrubutive Justice
       • Robert Nozick (1974)
         • "All persons entitled to what they receive"
   • Gilbert & Kahl Model
     • Capitalist (1%), UpperMiddle (14%), Middle (30%), Working (30%), Working Poor (13-15%), Underclass (10-12%)

8. Davis & Moore (1945)

   • No sociey is classless
     • Special skills/training for more important jobs
       • Motivation to succeed
   • Stratification is functional necessity
     • Assign occupational positions
   • Criticisms
     • Functional significance is a phenom
       • Leads to status quo
         • Conflict rather than integration
     • Structural ineq lead to uneq access to resources
       • Favorable Self-Images