SOCI 1010 Lecture 2: Global Stratification
Document Summary
Social stratification is the hierarchical arrangement of large social groups based on their control over basic resources. Stratification involves patterns of structural inequality that are associated with membership in each of these groups, as well as the ideologies that support inequality. Weber"s term life chances refers to the extent to which individuals have access to important societal resources, such as food, clothing, shelter, education and health care. All societies distinguish among ppl by age. Young children have less authority and responsibility than older persons. Older persons without wealth or power, may find themselves at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Women are treated as subordinate to men. System of stratification is based on the degree of flexibility. In an open system, the boundaries between levels in the hierarchies are more flexible and may be influenced (positively or negatively) by ppl"s achieved statuses. Open system has more degree of social mobility.
