Social Stratification And Inequality Sociology Essay

Social Stratification And Inequality Sociology Essay Social stratification is a sociological phenomenon in which people in the society are placed in different ranks with reference to same economic conditions. Normally, there are those of a high standard and others of a low standard. Social stratification borrows classification from earth sciences and thus it refers to its classes as strata. The difference in economic characteristics of persons leads to domination of power by one group to another. Social Stratification is characterized by four core principles namely; Social stratification has been said to be transferable from generation to another. Every generation adopts the classifications that had been set by a generation that proceeded. Social stratification is a societal characteristic and not an individual view. The society forms a uniform way of grading persons which is not a sole persons objective. Social stratification is said to be universal and also variable. Though this statement seems contradictory, it means that classification is uniform in a certain society but will vary when compared with other societies. Lastly, social stratification is not all about equality of persons, but also the beliefs that they hold. This means that social classes in the society are also based on common beliefs. The classification of the society into various ranks brings about inequality. In the western communities, social stratification adopts three key; the upper, middle and lower class. It is due to these classes that inequality is developed. Those of upper class view themselves as superior and having more prestige compared to their counterparts in lower ranks. Therefore, sharing of common resources in the society is based on the stratification ranks. Inequality is a social evil that emanates from social stratification (Bottero 3-8). Origins of the Social Stratification Theory The above theory is said to have emanated from the Judaeo-Christian Bible which presents the social idea of the Greeks. Though the idea was not extremely straightforward at the beginning, it has gone through various transformations to the present day where it presents itself clearly. The Sociological View of Social Stratification and Inequality Various sociologists have had different views and interpretations on social stratification. For instance, Talcott Parsons who was an American sociologist emphasized that stability of social stratus is partly influenced by universal values. On a different note, Marxism identifies unequal distribution of resources and limited mobility to be factors of stratified societies. However, numerous sociologists have had a uniform view with reference to the fact that the wealthy in the society control the political power. In such a case, the poor ought to submit to orders from the rich. Several sociologists had diverse views on the origin and form of the social stratification theory. Below are some of these sociologists and various discussions regarding each one of them. Karl Marx In his theory of Marxism, Karl asserted that social stratification in the society is based on the way people are related to the factors of production. In such, there exist two different categories of persons; those that own the factors of production and those who labor for the owner of the factors of production. The classification by Karl Marx seems to be inadequate especially in the current view of economics. This is because there exist various aspects of the present economy that have been left unsolved by the Marxism theory. For instance; it does not provide accurate categorization as to productive, occupational and economic aspects of society. Modern scholars of economics have said that the issue of social stratifications requires in depth classifications other than the generalized one provided for by the Marxism theory. In fact, theories behind social stratification need to draw a clear cut between the economic aspects of skilled and unskilled labor, owning and managing a business and also between business and professional occupational roles. Secondly, the Marxism theory appears to be so generalized to the extent that it overlooks various vital social-structural phenomena that are of a great influence in the society. These include ethnic affiliations, kinship and lineage affiliations. Modern sociologists have however not ignored these crucial aspects the way Marx did. Thirdly, the theory of Marx on social stratification seems to be so limited in defining the role of cultural factors in social classification. Cultural factors include legal practices, religious norms and scientific ideas among others. It is crucial to note that science has played a key role in maintaining social classes. In summary, Marx defined the relationship between people and property as the key aspect behind social stratification (Jackson chapter 2). Max Weber Weber was thrilled by the propositions of his predecessor, Marx, and hence he thought of making corrections to Marxs theory. Weber designed a model based on status, class and a more explicit and systematic differentiation with reference to social stratification. Unlike Marx who identified property to be the sole determining factor in social stratification, Weber identified status and class as additional factors. Weber built an interconnected model that would define the relationship between these three factors. Any one of factors can affect the other two, and in any case any of these factors can be replaced with another. In his model, Weber also did not cover several key influencing factors like education, ethnic and kinship factors. Below are the definitions that Weber gave to his three factors of influence; He defined class as an individuals economic position in the society with reference to birth and their personal achievement. Secondly, he defined status as the position occupied by an individual in the society as a result of their social honor, popularity and prestige. Weber also defined power as the ability of an individual to progress despite various factors offering resistance in the society (Rossides, 186). Wright Mills Wright sought to advance Webers thoughts on social stratification with no discrimination whatsoever. Similar to Weber, he identified power to be economic oriented but in addition to be influenced by political and military domains. Through his famous book titled The Power Elite, Mills brings out a clear connection between political power and social status in the society. He asserted that the very power embodied persons occupy a certain class in the society. In order to keep themselves relevant in the society, the power elite tend to develop close ties in ideas, work and marital issues. To him, the power elite are clearly defined in education institutions whereby the persons of the high status group attend prominent schools thus preparing them for high class tertiary schools. Conceptual Model to Social Stratification A conceptual model for the current nature of social stratification ought to be multidimensional. It should have considerable measurement techniques and be flexible to accommodate various ideological biases. There appears to be two factors that have led to the resistance of such a conceptual model. These are ideological and methodological oriented. Looking at ideological issues, we find sociologists who still hold on to the traditional ways of classifying people. They want to maintain definitions that are straightforward, clear and self explanatory. However, straightforward definitions have proved to be incompetent in the current nature of society that presents changing and complex situations. With reference to methodology aspects, scientists have had fear of exploring a multidimensional concept because they fear the complex resources and methods that could be involved. The more differentiated a model is the more involving it will be in terms of equipments needed to analyze and the processes that will be involved. Researchers have committed themselves in exploring models that are multidimensional however significant success has not been realized. Studies by the Hindu caste society show that a multidimensional model is necessary. Various dimensions of stratification are closely related to one another, but this does not mean that they are not exclusively autonomous. For instance, such dimensions as power, prestige, income and education are in a way related to one another. However, in some cases, it can be noted that power is independent of the other factors. In fact, in certain circumstances, power may be attained irrespective of occupational prestige. Again, a certain level of education grounds may not be strong enough if not accompanied by money. The key role of a multidimensional model is to address issues of interdependence and independence of social stratification factors. Key Dimensions of Social Stratification Power As defined earlier in this paper and with reference to Karl Marx, power refers to the ability to pursue goals despite resisting factors. Power will be addressed with reference to size and various natures of societies. The degree of division of labor in the society is related to the way typical social classes will be formed. Power exists in two diverse forms; legitimate and illegitimate and hence there cannot be established a direct relation between power and social stratification. Occupational Prestige The various productive roles in the society are accorded different level of prestige. It has been evident that though societies may be different, there will always exist a similarity in the way they accord prestige to various occupations. For instance; some professions like law, medicine and pilot, are given a high level of prestige because they are associated with good amounts of money. The variability of the way occupations are valued is dependent on the way the society values those occupations. Therefore, it is vital to note that prestige accorded to various occupations will differ with reference to the values of the societal setting. Income/Wealth Wealth plays an extremely significant role in social stratification. Whether earned or inherited, wealth will impact the class that a person will occupy in the society. Various profession and business roles in the society offer diverse opportunities in accumulating wealth. Sometimes, the so high ranked roles have proven to accumulate low wealth when compared to low prestige roles. Looking at the example of a professional doctor who uses intellect and professionalism to accumulate his wealth yet he may not gather a lot like a bandit. The latter can accumulate in one night, money equal to that a professional doctor earns in an entire month. When money is used as the determining factor in social stratification, business and professional roles lack relevance. Social stratification on the basis of income influences to a significant extent other dimensions of societal classification. For instance; the level of education gained by a person may be determined by the relative amount of income they have. Disposable income has also not been left out in studying how it influences social stratification. Family and Ethnicity The status of kinship groups and family lineage plays a vital role in determining the social classes in the society. Not once and not twice have persons being seen as wealthy and hence prestigious because their fore fathers were wealthy. The role played by a family in the society in terms of monetary contribution and influence holds a significant support as to why it holds a certain class in the society. The class occupied by a certain family in the society determines the social class it occupies and hence the treatment they will be accorded by the entire society. Family and ethnic position do not however hold a one to one relationship in far as social stratification is concerned. Local Community Status Individuals and families do not live in isolations or islands in the society. Their day to day activities are influenced by norms set by the nature of the community. Families and individuals by extension are given placed under certain social classes due to the way the society operates. The position of the local community in the society is determined by the nature of influence it has on the entire community (Andersen 216-220). Modern Stratification Systems In the contemporary world, there exists three key systems of stratification which are; slavery, the caste system and the class system. Despite various laws disregarding slavery, many people in the world today live in conditions that can be classified as slavery. Slavery Slavery is still eminent in nations such as Ghana, Benin and Mauritania among others. Also, Asia has been mentioned numerously for prevalent cases in sex slavery. Caste System The above is a social system that is based on characteristics and traits those persons posses by virtue of their birth. These traits include body type, race, gender and age among others. The caste system is said to be a rigid one. This means that it assigns various unchangeable castes to persons which cannot be varied. However, persons have in various situations tried to change their ascribed statuses by lying about their age, changing nationality or performing plastic surgery, but not at all times do these attempts yield positive results. Class System Class system classifies individuals in reference to statuses earned and not those individuals were born with. Persons born in a certain social class can choose their careers, education level and spouses. The class system is characterized by social mobility nature. Social mobility refers to the act of moving either up or down the various social strata (Levine) Conclusion Every society has various classes that are assumed by members of the society based on various factors. Common held belief in the society model the way a society sets up these classes. Most common factors that determine classification are education and knowledge, power, prestige, and religion among other factors. Sociologists have formed various theories to address the determining factors of social stratification though no one theory seems to have provided comprehensive coverage. Every society exhibits unique factors and believes, but there exists a close relationship between the way these diverse factors influence social stratification.

Incidents in The Life of a Slave Girl Essay -- essays research papers

Using the pseudonym Linda Brent, Harriet Jacobs wrote Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, to alert Northern white women to the dangers faced by enslaved African American women in the South. The narrative details her experience of slavery, emphasizing the sexual harassment she experienced working in the home of Dr. Flint (Dr. James Norcom). Because Linda Brent's Aunt Martha (Molly Horniblow, Jacobs' grandmother) was well known and respected in the community—and lived nearby—Flint was afraid to force himself on Linda where it might be discovered and relayed to the rest of the community. When he tried to secretly sell Aunt Martha to eliminate her interference, she forced him to do it at public auction; he was humiliated and her freedom was purchased by one of her many admirers. Flint th...

Cultural Considerations Essay

The Mexican culture has been characterized by their values, importance of family heritage, folk healing, religion and spirituality. There is also the relation of demographic features associated with the Mexican such as: low income, lack of education, and ethnic segregation. These characteristics have been known to cause cultural differences that can become barriers that can affect the communication between the patient and the healthcare provider. Mexicans are less likely to use the available health resources, because of their strong cultural differences with American Medicine. They also pose a higher rate of poverty related health issues such as diabetes and obesity (Latino culture and health). When they do use the healthcare system, they fear of experiencing discrimination. Their language and cultural become factors in the treatment they are given. Within the Mexican culture family support is important. They provide each other with a support system consisting of extended family, fol k healers, and religious institutions (Latino culture and health). When they choose to use the American medical services, it is influenced by their cultural and spiritual value and by folk theories of disease, remedies, and curers passed down from their ancestors (Latino culture and health). The specific issues between the Mexicans and the American healthcare include language and immigration (Estrada et al., 2010). Most instructions and messages are communicated by mouth, and many Hispanics feel embarrassed because they could not speak or understand English. The relationship between the physician and the Hispanic patient is problematic because of social differentials by inequality on institutional levels, cognitive, and linguistic Mexican cultural practices can and do influence healthcare use however the relationship is complicated. Curanderismo, folk-healing practices continues to be an important aspect of Mexican American culture because of distrust in medicines that are not natural. (Estrada et al., 2010).This may lead to treatment which may worsen their condition. The Mexican culture has been characteristically known to have cultural differences that can develop barriers which affect the communication process with health care providers; therefore health care professional need to have a complete understanding of the principles of cross-cultural communication within the community that they serve.

Macbeths Passage Act 2 Scene 1 Essays

Macbeths Passage Act 2 Scene 1 Essays Macbeths Passage Act 2 Scene 1 Essay Macbeths Passage Act 2 Scene 1 Essay Alberto Gomez Block: D Macbeth’s Passage Shakespeare is one of the mayor authors of English literature. Passages created by Shakespeare are known as excellent because of his new techniques of writing in the English literature. On his multiple tragic plays one of the most important is called Macbeth. Macbeth is characterized of having a strong desire of ambition and treacherous. On the trategy of Macbeth, there is more than one famous passage. Passages where they are analytical fundamental for the play, passages where Shakespeare critics human nature, and talks about death. One of the most important passages of Macbeth is when he is deciding whether the dagger that he sees is real or if it is fake (Act 2, Scene 1). This passage is a monologue of Macbeth, it is very important because when analyzed one can demonstrate that it is a summary of the entire play. At first it starts talking about how he sees a dagger, and he doesnt know if it is fake or real but what he do know is that he will use it. By this part of the passage one can allude it to a very important theme of the play, appearance or reality. Which also alludes to â€Å"foul is fare and fare is foul†. Later starts talking about the death of Duncan and how Macbeth will kill him. Here is the first act of concrete evilness. After this act, he will have blood in his hands, blood that cant be taken away with water. Blood that represents the guiltiness of the first act of killing that he will do. It also alludes to the theme of fake versus reality. Shakespeare writes â€Å"Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse the curtained sleep† (Act 2 Scene 1). This means that he doesnt know if his nature and his sleep has ended or not, also brings the theme of reality and appearance. Later he doesnt want anyone to see what he has done, Shakespeare writes this in the passage as â€Å"Hear not my steps, which way they walk† (line 57, Scene 1 Act 2). Shakespeare critics human nature in different ways, in this passage he critics about how humans will do anything for having what they want, this is called being ambitious. Macbeth will do anything for getting and having what the prophecy said. The prophecy said that he will be king sooner or later. Since it is a prophecy, Macbeth doesnt truly know if it is true or not, he comes the theme again of appearance versus reality. To be king, there are many obstacles such as the actual king, and his sons. In this passage Shakespeare writes about how will be the death of king Duncan and the effects of this death. He starts to become insane.

How Authors and Editors Can Work Better Together

How Authors and Editors Can Work Better Together How Authors and Editors Can Work Better Together Reedsy was created with the purpose of allowing independent authors to work with some of the best editorial and design talent out there, and build long-lasting, fruitful collaborations. In this guest post, editor and novelist Andrew Lowe explains how self-publishing has transformed the author-editor connection into a powerful creative partnership.Have a look at this sentence:â€Å"Jim dropped the amulet into the bag and hooked it through his belt.†You could argue that there is a confusion over the object here. Is Jim hooking the amulet, or the bag, through his belt? The ‘correct’ form would be something like:â€Å"Jim dropped the amulet into the bag, which he hooked through his belt.†The object confusion has gone; it’s clear that the bag, not the amulet, is being hooked through Jim’s belt. It’s technically correct, but dead on the page. We’ve fine-tuned the mechanism of the sentence, but murdered it as a piece of flowing prose.A good editor – particularly in the case of fiction – understands that the work is a delicate balance of art and science and that sometimes one has to be sacrificed in favor of the other.In this example, I would keep the original sentence, arguing that the technical imperfection is secondary to the feel of the prose.Other editors might reach for our favorite mantra: never confuse the reader. But it would be fussy to argue that a reader, immersed in the wider narrative, would stop to ponder the amulet/bag question as presented here.It’s a subjective judgment call which, for me, taps into the most important quality that authors should expect from your editor: a passion for collaboration. A "passion for collaboration" is the most important quality authors should expect from their editor @ReedsyHQ When you hire an editor, you are not giving over your precious darling to be defaced and remoulded. You’re paying for a professional eye; a sympathetic assistant who will work to a set of consistent criteria and help you to make your book as good as it possibly can be.* * *So, let’s define terms.Actually, let’s not. If you Google something like ‘book editing copy line structural’ (and you really shouldn’t) then you’ll soon be sucked into a swirl of fuzzy definitions and conflicting concepts.Like most creative disciplines in the digital age, the different types of book editing are ever-changing, mostly because of the connected and collaborative nature of online tools.I was a consumer journalist – mostly at editor level – for fifteen years, and I understand the need for specific publications to adhere to established rules. They face numerous copy-streams flowing in from hundreds of writers to be worked on by a multitude of s ub-editors. A unified house style ensures that the task isn’t tethered to a single individual.Traditional book publishing has generally followed this model, for similar reasons. It is an industry and must operate at industrial scale, with hundreds of titles taking their place on a trusted and cost-effective production line. The editing process is often just another cog in this corporate machine.But the rise of self-publishing has presented an opportunity for the process to be more collaborative; to strengthen the relationship between author and editor.Because self-publishing does not mean ‘do it all yourself’.I believe that all the very best creatives – even those with a reputation as stand-alone auteurs – rely on some form of collaboration to realise their vision. The ‘self’ in self-publishing is more about self-empowerment. You make the decisions – including which editor is right for you. But an editor can now care about the wo rk almost as much as the author. "The ‘self’ in self-publishing is more about self-empowerment. You make the decisions." - @andylowe99

Encounter point Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Encounter point - Essay Example The ownership claims over Jerusalem by Muslims and Jews seems to be the major issue involved in Israel-Palestine dispute. â€Å"Encounter point† is a 2006 award-winning film directed by Ronit Avni and Julia Bacha. It is about people, who have dedicated their lives to trying to resolve the Israeli Palestinian conflict through non-violence means. Non-violence was the ideology through which Mahatma Gandhi succeeded in removing British colonialism from Indian soil. The film â€Å"Encounter point† discusses the possibility of implementing that ideology in settling the issues between Israel and Palestine. This paper analyses various dimensions of the Israel-Palestine conflict as portrayed in the film encounter. In my opinion, the film is not portraying the conflict as between two equal or symmetrical parties. In fact the film describes Israel as the dominant party and the Palestinians as the receiving party. There are many scenes in the film in which wounded Palestinians express their bitterness against the Israelis. At the same time there are no scenes which describe any wounded Israeli blaming the Palestinians at the rehabilitation center. The above fact clearly suggests that the intention of the director of this film was never to portray the clashes between Israel and Palestine as a clash between two equal forces. The film is definitely unbalanced even though some perceive it as favoring the Palestinian side while others as favoring the Israeli side. â€Å"In one scene a Palestinian makes the claim the IDF put poison on their bullets. There is no Israeli to rebut that unlikely claim, nor to mention the fact that suicide bombers add metal bolts and screws to their explosives to maximize civilian casualties† (Gates). In other words, the film says many things about the massacres of Israeli soldiers. At the same time, it says nothing about the suicide bombers from the Palestinian side. The director seems to be taking the side of the

Resolving Performance Problems with the Network Essay

Resolving Performance Problems with the Network - Essay Example In addition, the paper will make necessary assumptions, draw the appropriate printer topology, and propose the best network connection in the company. With all honesty, most printers with low-performance rates print files slowly. Sometimes, windows may send requests to the wrong printer. Such issues commonly occur in companies that work in large stores such as XYZ Inc. Moreover, some manufacturers happen to supply very spotty and light printers with horizontal lines. Other printer devices may send false messages considering the level of ink in their cartridges. Most likely, XYZ Inc could not have provided an interface to enable customers print their files from their mobile devices to the company’s printers. Other assumptions may include expenses involved in printing files, lousy output files, production of paper jams, and the breakdown of multifunction printer (MFP). According to Hoffman (2013), there exist several ways of solving common printer problems. For instance, administrators should ensure proper connection of all printers to the servers. The administrators need to install the printer driver and software on the printer that a client needs to use. In the case of a low-ink warning, a technical representative should not rush to replace the cartridge because some printers send false signals. Instead, the person in control should continue running the printer until the output degrades. Besides, administrators should install Wi-Fi printers to enable by using third-party apps that provide a wide range of printing options. The topology of a printer network depends on the volume of data or allowable bandwidth transferred across a given network. On the other hand, the topology influences the speed and efficiency of data transfer across the network. XYZ Inc should implement the Bus Topology for its printer network. To illustrate, clients can send request messages to one terminal on the entire network. Therefore, none of the terminals gets affected should