In week 3, we discussed social stratification and how it influences what goes on in many social interactions among people. Imagine you are a sociologist who works for an elected official who has no background in sociology or a related field. You have been assigned the task of identifying an important example of social stratification that impacts the elected official's constituency. After you have read the textbook and lectures assigned for this week, draft a 2-4 paragraph memo that accomplishes the following:
• Outlines the definition of social stratification from the textbook and/or lectures in correct APA citation.
• Identifies at least one example of social stratification in your community.
• Identifies one of the sociological explanations of close inequality in the United States and explain why you think it is helpful in understanding the example you discussed in part 2. For example, you could discuss the classical perspectives of Marx and Weber, the symbolic interactionist perspeective, the functionalist perspective or the conflict perspective.
Social stratification and how it influences what goes on in many social interactions among people
Full Answer Section
Example of Social Stratification in Your Community
One example of social stratification in your community is the difference in educational opportunities between children from wealthy families and children from poor families. Children from wealthy families are more likely to attend high-quality schools, have access to tutors and other educational resources, and go on to college. Children from poor families are more likely to attend underfunded schools, have less access to educational resources, and drop out of high school.
Sociological Explanation of Close Inequality in the United States
There are a number of sociological explanations for close inequality in the United States. One explanation is the conflict perspective, which argues that close inequality is the result of the unequal distribution of power and resources in society. The conflict perspective argues that the wealthy and powerful use their power to maintain their position at the top of the social hierarchy, while the poor and powerless are kept at the bottom.
Another explanation for close inequality is the functionalist perspective, which argues that close inequality is functional for society. The functionalist perspective argues that close inequality motivates people to work hard and achieve success, and that it provides a stable social order.
Conclusion
Social stratification is a complex issue with a variety of causes and consequences. The example of educational inequality in your community illustrates how social stratification can have a significant impact on people's lives. The conflict perspective and the functionalist perspective are two sociological explanations for close inequality in the United States. These perspectives offer different insights into the issue of close inequality, and they can help us to understand how it impacts people's lives.