SOCIOL 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Institutional Racism, Asian Americans, Social Class
Document Summary
Newman, the architecture of stratification: social class and inequality: Social class systems differ from the others because they raise no legal barriers to social mobility. It often takes 5-6 generations to erase the advantages/disadvantages of a person"s economic origins. Structural functionalist approach: higher rewards (prestige and high salaries) are afforded to the most important positions in society, ensuring that the most qualified individuals will occupy the highest positions. Conflict theory approach: stratification reflects an unequal distribution of power in society and is a primary source of conflict and tension. The official us poverty line may actually be set too low, thereby underestimating the proportion of the population that is suffering financially. Stratification also exists among different societies within a global community: wealthy nations are better able to control the world"s financial resources. Fussell, a touchy subject, an anatomy of classes, and appearance counts:
