Presentatie titel Rotterdam, 00 januari 2007 Social Behaviour and Management IBMOM208R2 Rotterdam, November 2009 Week 4 Chapters 6 & 7

LECTURE SCHEDULE Week TopicReq’d Reading Week 1 Introduction. Developing a Sociological Consciousness (Ch1). Ch1 Week 2 Culture and Social Structure (Ch2). Socialization (Ch3). Choose topic and Group work consultation Ch2 Ch3 Week 3 Social Groups and Formal Organizations (Ch4). Deviance and Crime (Ch5). Workshop. Ch4 Ch5 Week 4 Social Stratification (Ch6). Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity (Ch7). Workshop case work. Ch6 Ch7 Week 5 Gender Inequality (Ch8). Political and Economic Power (Ch9). Workshop conducting research. Hand-in draft essay. Ch8 Ch9

Chapter 6 Social Stratification Patterns of Social Stratification Social Mobility Explanation of Social Stratification Unreported world India - "the broken people” (3 parts of 8 minutes each): Part 1: Part 2: Part 3:

The Indian caste system

Social Stratification Social stratification: ranking or grading of individuals and groups into hierarchical layers Social differentiation: process by which society becomes increasingly specialized over time Although statuses that make up social structure may be differentiated, they need not be ranked

Patterns of Social Stratification Open and Closed Systems Open system: people change status with relative ease Status typically achieved Closed system: difficult for people to change status Status typically ascribed Hindu caste system

Patterns of Social Stratification Dimensions of Stratification (continued) Weber identified 3 components: Class (economic standing) Status (prestige) Party (power)

Patterns of Social Stratification Economic Standing Wealth: what people own at a particular point in time Income: amount of new money people receive within a given time interval Power: ability of individuals and groups to realize their will in human affairs Power affects ability of people to make world work on their behalf Prestige Much interaction with others consists of subtle negotiation over just how much deference, honor, respect, and awe we extend and receive

Chapter 6 “Ranking the stars”: let’s rank a number of occupations based on the Weber components: Power Prestige Economic standing

Chapter 6 “Ranking the stars” : between 1 and 5 (5 = highest score) PowerPrestigeEconomicTotal College teacher Actor Waiter/Waitress Investment banker Dentist Social worker Farmer

China ranking on prestige of Occupations in 2007 Occupationranking teacher1 scientist2 physician3 U.S. ranking

The American Class System The Significance of Social Class Life chances: likelihood that individuals and groups will enjoy desired goods and services, fulfilling experiences, and opportunities for living healthy and long lives Style of life: magnitude and manner of consumption of goods and services

Social Mobility Social mobility: individuals or groups can move from one level (stratum) to another in the stratification system Vertical: movement from one social status to another of higher or lower rank Horizontal: movement from one social status to another of approximately equivalent rank Class discussion in pairs: What social class system do you live in? What are your chances with respect to social mobility? Discuss social mobility from the functionalist and conflict perspective.

Explanations of Social Stratification Functionalist perspective Stratification benefits society Society must instill in certain individuals the desire to fill various positions Society must instill desire to carry out appropriate roles Highest statuses held by most qualified and most necessary Many exceptions (dysfunctionality)

Explanations of Social Stratification Conflict perspective Stratification exists because it benefits individuals and groups who have power to dominate and exploit others Capitalists extract worker’s surplus value False and class consciousness Wright: capitalists, managers, workers, petite bourgeoisie

Topic for group discussion Why are people poor? Of the reasons you can think of, which ones tend to reflect personal short-comings and which ones reflect problems with the structures of society? Is poverty primarily an economic problem, a personal problem, a political problem, or a problem of values? Do you believe in the “American Dream”; that is, if you work hard, do you believe you and/or your children can become more economically successful than previous generations in your family?

Chapter 7 Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity Racial and Ethnic Stratification Prejudice and Discrimination Sociological Perspectives on Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity The Future of Ethnic and Minority

Racial and Ethnic Stratification Race: social construct; group of people who see themselves, and are seen by others, as having hereditary traits that set them apart 94% of genetic variation is within races Racial formation occurs at both micro and macro levels

Racial and Ethnic Stratification Race, Ability, and Culture Common to believe that race is associated with personality, moral character, competency, intelligence, and other characteristics Biological factors of race do not cause race differences in intelligence Environmental factors, particularly culture, can exercise strong influence on group differences in measured intelligence

Racial and Ethnic Stratification Ethnic groups: identified culturally: language, folk practices, dress, mannerisms, religion Sense of peoplehood or nationhood Shared history and/or fate Ethnic identities often “constructed” by their bearers

Prejudice and Discrimination Prejudice: attitudes of aversion and hostility towards members of a group because they are presumed to conform to negatively stereotyped description of the group Cognitive component Affective component Behavioral component

Prejudice and Discrimination Discrimination: process in which members of one or more groups or categories in society are denied the privileges, prestige, power, legal rights, equal protection of the law, and other societal benefits available to members of other groups Example:

Sociological Perspectives: Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity Functionalist Perspective Dysfunctions Inequalities reduce consensus, increase conflict, destabilize societies Needs of stability will eventually eliminate ethnic stratification

Functionalist Perspective (continued) Functions Inequalities promote group formation and cohesion Conflicts act as safety valve (scapegoating) Conflict between multiplicity of groups is conducive to democracy Sociological Perspectives: Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity

Conflict Perspective Three components of racism –Ethnocentrism: out-group is object of loathing –Competition motivates systems of social inequality, ethnocentrism channels competition along racial and ethnic lines –Unequal power: determines which group can institutionalize the racism Split labor market: economic arena in which large differences exist in the price of labor at same occupational level

Sociological Perspectives on Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity Interactionist Perspective Ethnic group a social construction, not genetic construction Ethnocentrism arises from communication channel restrictions and local differences in meaning systems Stratification intensifies from same restrictions operating within a stratum