Social Stratification
Four systems of stratification
Social stratification is defined as a pattern in which groups of people in the society are categorized in a hierarchy. It is noted that there is a high rate of social inequality in terms of unequal distribution of resources in many different countries. These inequalities are sometimes caused by differences within individuals’ ability and energy and societal structures. There are four systems of social stratification and these include slavery system, caste system, estate system and social class system. A caste system is a system that is closed, meaning that it has no social mobility. It focuses on certain characteristics such as color of the skin, identity of the family that describes individual’s occupation, place of residence, and social relationships (David, 2009). Estate system comprises of groups of people from high-status who tend to be the landowners and have the authority based on birth. In this system, there is small degree of mobility that is permitted to take place.
On the other hand, slavery system describes that economic forms of inequality are because of being other people’s property. However, slavery system differs in the way the status is determined and whether mobility is permitted. Finally, social class system consists of individuals that share a common economic position in the community focusing on their wealth and income. Despite the fact that there are no limitations on mobility legally, the real mobility is very limited. Therefore, every class system differs from the other depending on the level of mobility limitation.
Why it is difficulty for anyone at the bottom layers of social class to move up
There are people in the society who encounter richness, whereas others experience a significant disadvantage or inequality. The difficultness of moving from the bottom layer of social class to the top is because of lack of enough financial support to secure the necessities of life such as food, health care services, education, and other vital basics. These people at the bottom layer lack enough knowledge and skills that can help them rise up to the top. Thus, because of limited resources, it becomes hard for such people to change their status.
Factors that make it harder for them to move up than someone already in the upper middle class
According to research, education is known to be the major factor that makes life hard for those people who are at the bottom layer to move up than those already in the upper middle class (Marvin, 2007). For instance, when it comes to earnings and wages, it is noted that people with higher education earned more than those with lower education levels. Therefore, those with less education background are likely to border on the line of poverty. This is because they are mostly working in areas that do not need morel skills hence lower pay, while those with high education are employed in high positions and earn high salaries. Therefore, the education factor contributes a lot in the social mobility in the society.
Another factor includes gender and race factors where in most cases, it is very rare for a woman to get promotion or earn a lot than the male counterparts. This thus makes it hard for those women who are at the bottom to move up because of discrimination at their workplaces. Studies show that women and other minorities have low paying jobs, have less power and little chances for advancement. Despite the fact that the numbers of the blacks and women have increased currently, a very small number have the opportunity to work at the top positions.
How would a conflict theorist account for why the poor are unable to get out of poverty?
According to a conflict theorist, poverty is necessary because it provides services in economic, social, cultural and political areas for different people in the society. Due to these services, it has become hard for some people to get out of poverty. Poverty creates opportunity for dirty jobs to be done and it ensures that the middle class people are uplifted. Therefore, because of the services that the poor people are able to provide to the society, it is not easy for poverty to be eliminated.
References
David, L. (2009).The college calculation, comparative income chart, and life chances. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/magazine/27fob-wwln-t.html.
Marvin, T. (2007). Social stratification: the forms and functions of inequality. New York, NY: Prentice-Hall.
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