Sociology

Sociology Study Guide

Many social researchers realize that stratification systems tend to rank a person as more deserving of power, wealth, and prestige, which then ensures that hierarchical thinking and modelspersist. The inequality rests in the fact that individuals are treated according to their social status, not their merit or conduct, in many cases. Marxists see wealth as the only key to social class stratification. They view societies as only having two distinct classes, those who ‘have’ and those who ‘have not.’ The bourgeoisie, or ruling class, land owners, ‘haves’, monetary controllers, are the upper and dominant class. They exploit the lower, or proletariat, class, the workers who make up the majority of a population. Class conflict erupts because of the differences between the two factions. An ideology is a set of beliefs that helps to explain the arrangement of society. Marx’s ideology then relies on the ruling class and its justification of theirown economic gains. 4.2 Social Mobility In some societies, it is possible to move or adjust one’s social status. In a closed system, ascribed statuses are primary and there is very little chance for a person to change their status. In thistype of system, individuals have very little influence on their ranking. In an ope system, however, achieved statuses allow individuals to have influence over the social status that they attain. Opensystems offer the opportunity to change statuses. Sociologists have categorized three main types of stratification systems. These systems vary in their mobility. • Caste system: A closed for that utilizes clearly defined class boundaries. o Status is determined at birth (ascribed status) and remains for the duration of life. o Endogamy, marriage within the same social class, is required. o Ritual pollution, contact between members of different castes, is avoided as much as possible, ensuring that castes stay physically and socially separate and distinct. • Estate system: Popular in the Middle Ages during feudalism, members of each ‘estate’ or class are given more privileges than those in lower estates. o Offers slightly more mobility than caste system, but is still determined based on the ascribed status of being born as a landowner or not. Status based primarily on land ownership; highest estates own land and all lower estates work for those. • Class system: Primarily based on economic status, dependent on income and occupation. o This is the most commonly utilized socialization structure in today’s modernworld. o It offers the most mobility since membership is based on achieved statuses. o Generally the availability of education and inheritance among wealthy families ensures that the inequality that exists perpetuates.

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