As mentioned in our textbook, the social stratification of various societies means that, “they contain social groups such as families, classes, or ethnic groups that have unequal access to important advantages” (Ember 138). These advantages that stratified individuals have unequal access to include economic resources, power, and prestige, which can limit individuals from gaining and retaining wealth, individual control, and respect from others. Therefore, one of the specific consequences of social stratification on people in such societies is that it creates and sustains the concept of inequality. Inequality seemingly sets some groups up to fail while giving others everything they need to succeed, and is a direct consequence on individuals
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For example, the textbook mentioned that wealthy individuals, “may live in remote or isolated houses with long driveways out of view protected by complex security. They socialize in private clubs, private resorts, and exclusive parties” (Ember 143), physically separating themselves from the lower economic classes by only spending time with other wealthy people. Unable to access these same clubs, resorts, and parties, lower class individuals have no choice but to physically be around other low-class individuals because they are the only other people available, limiting the interaction between individuals coming from different social groups. This physical separation of social groups furthers the overall existence of inequality within the class society, because lower-class citizens are not privileged enough to go to the same places as wealthy citizens, while wealthy citizens can go anywhere they want (although most choose to stay in wealthy areas). Additionally, this lack of interaction between various social groups caused by this physical divide essentially keeps lower-class citizens “trapped” within their own social group, and because elites tend to only spend time with other elites, the emergence of an air of “superiority” can also …show more content…
By separating groups and creating inequality, the whole mentality that one group, such as the wealthy, is better than any of the others is created as a result, which can cause social tension because the “less-worthy” individuals want to either become a part of that group (and unfortunately fail because of inequality) or aim to dismantle it. Additionally, the emergence of this mentality can also lead to damaging social practices such as racism. As defined in our book, racism is, “The belief, without scientific basis, that some ‘races’ are inferior to others” (Ember 150), and sometimes, when society is divided into groups based on appearances (or perhaps even similar ethnic backgrounds), this can easily emerge. As an example, as mentioned in video eleven, “Grouping by Gender, Age, Common Interest, & Class,” the negative consequences of social stratification, specifically when it comes to racism, can be seen by the government’s response to Hurricane Katrina. In 2005, the infamous storm hit the city of New Orleans, and left the city and surrounding areas in shambles. Devastated, its citizens turned to the one entity they felt they could count on for help: the state and federal government. However, there was a, “lack of immediate or effective governmental response to the region”
For example, the textbook mentioned that wealthy individuals, “may live in remote or isolated houses with long driveways out of view protected by complex security. They socialize in private clubs, private resorts, and exclusive parties” (Ember 143), physically separating themselves from the lower economic classes by only spending time with other wealthy people. Unable to access these same clubs, resorts, and parties, lower class individuals have no choice but to physically be around other low-class individuals because they are the only other people available, limiting the interaction between individuals coming from different social groups. This physical separation of social groups furthers the overall existence of inequality within the class society, because lower-class citizens are not privileged enough to go to the same places as wealthy citizens, while wealthy citizens can go anywhere they want (although most choose to stay in wealthy areas). Additionally, this lack of interaction between various social groups caused by this physical divide essentially keeps lower-class citizens “trapped” within their own social group, and because elites tend to only spend time with other elites, the emergence of an air of “superiority” can also …show more content…
By separating groups and creating inequality, the whole mentality that one group, such as the wealthy, is better than any of the others is created as a result, which can cause social tension because the “less-worthy” individuals want to either become a part of that group (and unfortunately fail because of inequality) or aim to dismantle it. Additionally, the emergence of this mentality can also lead to damaging social practices such as racism. As defined in our book, racism is, “The belief, without scientific basis, that some ‘races’ are inferior to others” (Ember 150), and sometimes, when society is divided into groups based on appearances (or perhaps even similar ethnic backgrounds), this can easily emerge. As an example, as mentioned in video eleven, “Grouping by Gender, Age, Common Interest, & Class,” the negative consequences of social stratification, specifically when it comes to racism, can be seen by the government’s response to Hurricane Katrina. In 2005, the infamous storm hit the city of New Orleans, and left the city and surrounding areas in shambles. Devastated, its citizens turned to the one entity they felt they could count on for help: the state and federal government. However, there was a, “lack of immediate or effective governmental response to the region”