Psychology & Sociology
Social stratification occurs when a society places people into groups that each receive different treatment based on their status. Statuses can be ascribed, which are involuntary, or achieved, which are earned. Socioeconomic status often contributes to social stratification and confers power, privilege, and prestige. The concept of intersectionality comes into play when a person has multiple statuses, influencing their mix of privileges.
There are different types of capital that contribute to status. Social capital refers to the advantages a person gains from their social network, while cultural capital encompasses the advantages a person gains from having knowledge and skills valued in a culture. In sociology, a role is the set of behaviors expected of someone with a given status. Role conflict occurs when a person struggles to maintain multiple roles, whereas role strain occurs when a person struggles to fulfill the roles of a single status. When the stress of a role causes a person to drop that role, it is called role exit.
Lesson Outline
<ul> <li>Introduction to Social Stratification</li> <ul> <li>Definition of social stratification - placement of people into groups receiving different treatment based on status</li> <li>Explanation of statuses and their role in social stratification</li> </ul> <li>Types of Statuses</li> <ul> <li>Ascribed status - those that are obvious characteristics or beyond an individual's control</li> <li>Achieved status - statuses earned that determine treatment in society</li> <li>Master status - the status a person is most strongly identified by</li> </ul> <li>Socioeconomic Status</li> <ul> <li>Definition of socioeconomic status</li> <li>Factors determining socioeconomic status - wealth, education, prestige</li> <li>Connection with social classes</li> <li>Effects of higher socioeconomic status - power, privilege, and prestige (or PPP)</li> </ul> <li>Intersectionality</li> <ul> <li>Review of intersectionality - the idea that people often have multiple statuses affecting their power, privilege, and prestige</li> </ul> <li>Capital and its Relation to Status</li> <ul> <li>Economic capital - wealth that enhances status</li> <li>Social capital - advantages gained from knowing others and having connections</li> <li>Cultural capital - knowledge or skills that are valued by a culture</li> </ul> <li>Roles and their Influence on Status</li> <ul> <li>Definition of role: set of behaviors expected of someone with a given status</li> <li>Role conflict - difficulties in fulfilling the roles of multiple statuses</li> <li>Role strain - struggles to fulfill the roles of a single status</li> <li>Role exit - the phenomenon of dropping an important role due to role conflict or strain</li> </ul> </ul>
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FAQs
Ascribed status refers to a social position that a person is born into or assigned, such as social class, gender, and race. These are statuses that individuals do not have control over. Achieved status, on the other hand, is a social position earned through personal effort, education, and accomplishments, such as one's occupation or degree. In social stratification, achieved status provides an avenue for upward mobility while ascribed statuses may create barriers to social mobility.
Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important factor that influences health outcomes, as it encompasses aspects such as income, education, and occupation. People with higher SES tend to have better access to healthcare, greater health literacy, healthier lifestyles, and less exposure to environmental hazards. This generally leads to better health outcomes and longer life expectancies, whereas people with lower SES tend to have poorer health outcomes due to lack of access to healthcare, limited resources, and poorer living conditions.
Social capital refers to the network of relationships and resources available to an individual within their community. Cultural capital encompasses non-economic assets such as education, language skills, and knowledge of cultural norms and practices. Both types of capital play a role in social stratification and can influence a person's access to and experience of healthcare services. For example, an individual with greater social capital may have better access to healthcare resources and support from their community, while someone with higher cultural capital might have higher health literacy and be better equipped to navigate the healthcare system.
