Social Stratification

Question 1

Social Stratification

Answer 1

A system by which society categorizes people and ranks them in a hierarchy.

Question 2

From a Structural Functionalist Perspective

Answer 2

• Structural functionalists believe that social stratification exists because it helps society function.
• Society rewards people, with prestige and money, for taking on important positions in society.
• More important/high paying positions often come with trade offs such as…
• Expensive and difficult education
• Long working hours (no work/life balance)
• This is to wean out the people who don’t have what it takes and entice those with the best qualifications

Question 3

From the Perspective of Conflict Theory

Answer 3

• social stratification benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor.
• a system of wealthy and poor is maintained by those who are on the top. Those with money control who gets jobs, the laws, the news, the things we learn in school, etc.
• The people who are at the bottom do not get a fair chance to compete, and are stuck on the bottom
• rather than organizing and overthrowing those in power, people seek to gain this power for themselves, rather than questioning the systems in place.

Question 4

closed system

Answer 4

• you can not leave ur position
• extremely ridgid
• social posution based on ur given status
• allow for ittle social mobility
• caste

Question 5

open system

Answer 5

• allows for more social mobility
• mobility to move up and down
• social position to achived
• class

Question 6

acheived staus

Answer 6

position that we have earned or hcosen
- jobs

Question 7

ascribed status

Answer 7

poistion we are given
- race
- gender
- family
- birth order