unit 5 Stratification Flashcards
Stratification
a system by which society ranks its members in a hierarchy.
Unequal distribution of rewards
Status
your position in a society defined socially. Ex. Student, Parent, Job
Ascribed Status
the status you have because of your birth. Something beyond your control. Something you cannot change throughout your life (Ex. Race, Sex, family)
Achieved Status
earned or chosen traits (ex. Education level, job you choose, something that happened to you throughout your life)
Caste System
divides people into classes based upon the ascribed status. Based on the family you are born into (Ex. You keep the same job your parents had)
Class System
Divides people into classes based on achieved status
Role Expectations
behaviors or obligations connected to a particular status. Your role performance is expected to match role expectations. (Ex. eagle scouts are respectful)
Role Strain
conflicting expectations of single status. (Ex. Parents have to find a balance between protecting their children and allowing them to make their own mistakes)
Reciprocal Roles
Corresponding roles that define the patterns of social interaction between related statuses. Sometimes your ability to meet your role expectations can be affected by the statuses within it. (ex. Students all fail a test, the teacher looks bad)
role conflict
the tension caused by competing demands between two or more roles pertaining to different (Ex. teacher falls behind on work because they are busy at home)
Functionalist Perspective
A sociological approach that emphasizes the way in which the parts of a society are structured to maintain its STABILITY and have a positive impact
sociological perspective
understanding of how our history and personal biography impact our unique perspective of the world
status
social position a person holds
class system
social stratification based on both birth and individual achievement
conflict theory
view society as unfair; area of inequality
