SOCY 122 Study Guide - Final Guide: Social Stratification, Social Inequality, Meritocracy

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Social Sci, Edu and Soc Work - Sociology
• Course: SOCY 122
• Professor: Rob Beamish

Document Summary

This theory arose from four key social changes within europe and north america. The first was that as the democratic societies developed, as the economy grew, white-collar workforce grew, sociologists managed to explore all of the different levels in a workforce and provide rankings of occupation based on income. Second is that as firms grow and ownership is distributed to multiple shareholders, financial rewards of societies are now based on one"s location and hierarchy. Third is that american and european scholars ensured that their methodologies are free of political influence and their research is more objective based. Stratification is a universal phenomenon found in all societies. It serves an important social function where the unequal distribution of rewards functions as an incentive system to ensure that the most qualified and skilled people maintain their appropriate positions in society. From 1940s to 1960s, the us and canada are seen as increasingly open societies where class is of no major significance.