SOCIAL STRATIFICATION - section B

Question 1

INTRO

Answer 1

• Social inst: “structures which provide for patterned relationships” (Carl et al, 2012)
• Funct and essential for soc, but also create + enforce social stratification: “ranking of people and the rewards they receive based on objective criteria, often including wealth, power and prestige” (Carl et al, 2012)
• F, E + W
• Using alt. soc. persp (func, conf, int + fem) stratification in CAS can be evaluated.
• T/f, whilst soc inst benefit some social groups - inequalities = others disadvantaged + socially stratified

Question 2

FAMILY

Answer 2

• ABS (2021) “two or more persons… related by blood, marriage, adoption, step or fostering, and who are usually resident in the same household”.

Func: Talcott Parsons
- Specific functions: socialisation, the teaching norms, values, + beliefs, eco regulation
- Nuclear family best fit for fulfilment of these
- Expressive/homemaker vs instrumental/ breadwinner roles
- Still the most dominant family type in CAS (43.7%, ABS 2021)
- However: = other family types (esp single-parents) soc stratified

Int: Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim
- despite this, ‘Individualisation’ has arisen resulting from change
- However, leads to a ‘risk society’ (wide diversity of choices = greater conflict/dispute)
- eg. Family Law Act 1975 (no fault divorce = increase in single mothers)
- 14.7% families in CAS single parent, 81% single mothers (ABS 2021)
- Now expected to take on both breadwinner + homemaker roles, Aus soc experiencing ‘fem of poverty’ = stratification

Fem: Arlie Hochschild
- ‘Second shift’
- Even w/i fams. conflict b/w the functionalist roles = women burdened with both a paid job and household responsibilities

Question 3

EDUCATION

Answer 3

• Edu: “systematic, formalised transmission of knowledge, values and skills” (Robertson, 1989)

Func: - Emile Durkheim
- education necessary for society to function
- Rewards-based + meritocratic: > need in CAS for tertiary education = gain permanent, stable employment.
- Supported by rise of Credentialism 1990s (require quals to enter certain professional fields)

Conf:
- this meritocratic system results in stratification
- Pierre Bourdieu (capitals - cultural, social, symbolic)
- Basil Bernstein (elaborated and restricted codes of speech)
- Graetz (reproduction of privilege)
- INTERACTIONISTS: Rosenthal & Jacobsen (self-fulfilling prophecy)

Michael Tzanakis - criticises Bourdieu
- Not all academically successful families have access to capital
- Family values education = children succeed

Question 4

WORK

Answer 4

• Work: “productive act that creates or achieves something… however it is generally considered as “paid employment” (Germov & Poole, 2007)

Func: Durkheim
- Work necessary, provides (economic regulation, stability + social solidarity)
- Achieved through capitalism: an economic system, private ownership of the means of production which operate for profit.

Conf: Marx
- Disagrees: in capitalist societies (CAS), owners of the MoP reap benefits, while workers experience soc strat
- = “alienation”: workers struggle to find purpose in their labour + participation in soc
- furthered by tech + cult changes: eg. intro of the computer in 1951
- casualisation of workforce (increasing no. of people choosing to work casually or part-time.

Int: Ulrich Beck
- Casualisation of the workforce = work to be “fragile” (decreased job security) = stratification.

Fem: Sylvia Walby
- While the workforce is becoming increasingly feminised
- Public Service Act 1966, allowing married women to return to work…
- Walby: work is still ‘gendered’ (part-time, casual roles, nurturing/humanities over STEM)
“Glass ceiling” - hinders women from achieving professional success