10 Questions
According to the Conflict Theory, what is the primary cause of social stratification?
The struggle among people for scarce resources
Which social theorists proposed the idea that stratification serves an important function in the society?
Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore
What does social mobility refer to in sociology?
The movement of an individual or group within the social hierarchy
Which of the following best describes the concept of symbolic/social inequality?
Inequality based on social status and power
What is the primary cause of social exclusion for individuals with disabilities according to the text?
The lack of access to adequate facilities and accommodations
What is social stratification a reference to?
The division of a society into levels or positions
Which dimension of stratification is associated with the esteem or respect gained by an individual?
Inequalities of prestige
What determines an individual's access to resources and opportunities?
The hierarchy that delimits their access
What is transmitted from one generation to another in social stratification?
Social stratification itself
What is the combination of three dimensions that indicate someone's social class or socioeconomic status?
Wealth, income, and prestige
Study Notes
Theories of Social Stratification
- Conflict Theory: views stratification as the result of the struggle among people for scarce rewards, where the "haves" dominate and exploit the "have-nots".
- Advocate Karl Marx believed that all history has been the story of class conflict over material privilege and power.
Functionalist Theory
- Elaborated by Kingsley and Davis, who believed that stratification serves an important function in society.
- Wilbert Moore joined Davis in arguing that societies must motivate people to seek important positions and fill them conscientiously by rewarding them with sustenance, comfort, humor, diversion, self-respect, and ego expansion.
Social Mobility and Social Inequality
- Social Mobility: the movement of an individual or group within the stratification system, changing their status in society.
- Social Inequality: refers to uneven opportunities and rewards accessible to different positions or statuses of people in society.
Dimensions of Social Inequality
- Economic Inequality (Karl Marx): class-based, institutionalized in the form of property rights.
- Symbolic/Social Inequality (Max Weber): power/hierarchy-based, institutionalized in the form of title and nobility.
- Cultural/Knowledge Inequality (Bourdieu): status/recognition-based, institutionalized in the form of title and nobility.
Ethnic Minorities and Persons with Disability (PWD)
- Social Exclusion: refers to alienating or dividing individuals or groups in a certain society, often experienced by PWD due to lack of accessibility.
- Establishments should provide PWD-friendly facilities to promote inclusion.
Gender Inequality
- Violence against women and children, discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals.
Global Inequality
- Unequal distribution of scarce resources and values across territories, resulting in developing (poor, agricultural) vs developed countries (industrialized).
Nature of Stratification
- Social stratification refers to the ranking of individuals and groups in any given society.
- Based on the hierarchy, people are ranked, which delimits their access to resources and opportunities.
- Social stratification tends to be transmitted from one generation to another.
Dimensions of Stratification
- Wealth and Income: unequally distributed in society, affecting access to resources and opportunities.
- Inequalities of Power: personal power (control over one's own life) and social power (influence over others).
- Inequalities of Prestige: esteem, respect, or approval gained for exceptional qualities or performance, often associated with position, luxury, and material possessions in the Philippines.
Learn about social stratification, which involves ranking individuals and groups in society into different levels. Explore how social rewards are unequally distributed and how this hierarchy is transmitted across generations.
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