What is social stratification?
In simple terms social stratification “refers to a ranking of people or groups within a society.” (Kerbo 2006) But social stratification is not a simple subject it is a more complex idea then some may assume. Many individuals may assume that one is simply born into their social class. Although one is born into a social class, their birth doesn’t entirely determine the social class.
When determining the social stratification of an individual there are characteristics of the individual that come into consideration: consumption capital or income, investment capital, skill capital, social capital or social ties, economic power, political power, and social power. Much of an individuals’ power is reflected by the capital that he or she may have. For example, someone may have a high level of skill capital but low social capital …show more content…
In the fact that there are tasks that have to get done everyday. Some tasks such as brain surgery require a large about of skill that not everyone has, while waiting tables at a restaurant doesn’t require all that much skill. Because of this difference it has allowed our society to create a “rewards system”. The more schooling and training a task requires the higher the reward. It allows us to pin point the more important tasks in society.
Although these theories are significantly different there are four main principles to understand social stratification.
1. Social stratification is a trait of society
2. Social stratification is passes from generation to generation
3. Social stratification is universal but differs among society’s
4. Social stratification involves not only inequality but also beliefs.
These four principle are the key to understand why social stratification exists, where it came form and the future for social stratification.
Why do we have
In simple terms social stratification “refers to a ranking of people or groups within a society.” (Kerbo 2006) But social stratification is not a simple subject it is a more complex idea then some may assume. Many individuals may assume that one is simply born into their social class. Although one is born into a social class, their birth doesn’t entirely determine the social class.
When determining the social stratification of an individual there are characteristics of the individual that come into consideration: consumption capital or income, investment capital, skill capital, social capital or social ties, economic power, political power, and social power. Much of an individuals’ power is reflected by the capital that he or she may have. For example, someone may have a high level of skill capital but low social capital …show more content…
In the fact that there are tasks that have to get done everyday. Some tasks such as brain surgery require a large about of skill that not everyone has, while waiting tables at a restaurant doesn’t require all that much skill. Because of this difference it has allowed our society to create a “rewards system”. The more schooling and training a task requires the higher the reward. It allows us to pin point the more important tasks in society.
Although these theories are significantly different there are four main principles to understand social stratification.
1. Social stratification is a trait of society
2. Social stratification is passes from generation to generation
3. Social stratification is universal but differs among society’s
4. Social stratification involves not only inequality but also beliefs.
These four principle are the key to understand why social stratification exists, where it came form and the future for social stratification.
Why do we have