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Chapter 13

Chapter 13. Social Inequality and Stratification. Chapter Outline. Systems of Equality and Inequality Castes in Traditional India Classes in Industrial Societies: The United States Maintaining Inequality Theories of Inequality. Inequality.

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Chapter 13

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  1. Chapter 13 Social Inequality and Stratification

  2. Chapter Outline • Systems of Equality and Inequality • Castes in Traditional India • Classes in Industrial Societies: The United States • Maintaining Inequality • Theories of Inequality

  3. Inequality • The extent to which culturally valued material and social rewards are allocated disproportionately to individuals, families, and other groups.

  4. Basic Types of Inequality • Egalitarian - few differences in the rewards received by families or other kinds of kin groups within a society. • Ranked - limited number of high-ranking positions or titles. • Stratified - major differences in access to rewards between families or kin groups. 

  5. Egalitarian Societies • Example: mobile foragers • Frequent seasonal movements make it difficult to transport possessions. • Reciprocal sharing prevents individuals from becoming wealthier than their band mates. • Families have the right to visit and exploit the resources of many areas. 

  6. Ranked Societies • Example: Tikopia • Tikopia's 1,200 persons were divided into four patrilineal clans, each with it's own chief. • Each clan was divided into patrilineages. • The chief and nobility of each clan had little more wealth than any one else and no power over land or ocean resources.

  7. Stratified Societies • Marked inequalities in access to wealth, power and prestige. • Inequality is based on unequal access to resources such as the land and tools people need to make their living. • Unequal access to rewards has a strong tendency to be heritable throughout the generations.

  8. Class and Caste • Class - System of stratification in which membership in a stratum can be altered and intermarriage between strata is allowed. • Caste - Stratification system in which membership in a status is hereditary, strata are endogamous, and contact or relations between members of different strata are governed by laws, norms or prohibitions.

  9. Castes in Traditional India • Brahmins (priests and scholars) • Kshatriyas (nobles and warriors) • Vaishas (merchants and artisans) • Shudras (farmers, craftspeople and laborers) • Untouchables

  10. Wealth As the Basis of Class Ranking in America • Wealth is more measurable than other indications of class membership. • Wealth is the single biggest indication of benefits citizens are receiving.

  11. Wealth As the Basis of Class Ranking in America • Extremely high wealth is correlated with ownership of productive resources. • Wealth determines people’s access to political power.

  12. Distribution of Household Income in the United States, 2003

  13. Maintaining Inequality - Theories • The elite use wealth and power to organize armed forces stronger than that of the opposition. • Ideologies that justify the status quo of inequality.

  14. Ideology • Ideas and beliefs that legitimize and reinforce inequalities in stratified societies. • Secular ideology • An ideology that does not rely on the will of supernatural powers but justifies inequality on the basis of its society wide benefits.

  15. Theories of Inequality • Functionalist • Societies offer unequal rewards to individuals with the scarcest talents. • Conflict • Inequality is based on control over productive resources.

  16. Quick Quiz

  17. 1. An egalitarian society: • refers to the fact that all men are created equal • refers to few differences in access to rewards between families and/or kin groups • means that females and males receive equal or nearly equal rewards • all of the above

  18. Answer: b • An egalitarian society refers to few differences in access to rewards between families and/or kin groups.

  19. 2. The major difference between class and caste is that the latter: • are endogamous groups • are theoretically hereditary • prevent intercaste contact • all of the above

  20. Answer: d • The major difference between class and caste is that castes are endogamous groups, are theoretically hereditary, and prevent intercaste contact.

  21. 3. In the U.S., the most widely accepted approach to stratification uses the concept of: • economic class • status groups • religion • occupational prestige

  22. Answer: a • In the U.S., the most widely accepted approach to stratification uses the concept of economic class.

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