Unit 2486: Social Stratification

1. Introduction to Social Stratification

• Definition of social stratification
• Types of social stratification systems (e.g., caste, class, estate)
• Significance and functions of stratification in society

2. Theories of Social Stratification

• Functionalism
  • Social roles and system stability
  • Davis-Moore hypothesis
• Conflict Theory
  • Power struggles and inequality
  • Marxist perspectives on class conflict
• Symbolic Interactionism
  • Social interactions and identity formation
  • Everyday experiences of stratification

3. Social Class and Inequality

• Defining social class
• Class structures and models (e.g., Marxist classes, Weberian classes)
• Mechanisms perpetuating inequality
  • Economic capital
  • Social capital
  • Cultural capital

4. Race, Ethnicity, and Social Stratification

• Concepts of race and ethnicity
• Intersectionality and layered inequalities
• Barriers faced by racial and ethnic minorities
• Impact on social mobility and access to resources

5. Gender and Social Stratification

• Gender roles and social expectations
• Gender-based discrimination
• The gender pay gap: causes and consequences
• Patriarchy and its influence on social hierarchies

6. Global Perspectives on Social Stratification

• Comparison of stratification systems worldwide
• Effects of globalization on social hierarchies
• Economic factors influencing global inequality
• Case studies from different regions

7. Mobility and Meritocracy

• Types of social mobility
  • Intergenerational mobility
  • Intragenerational mobility
• The concept of meritocracy
• Critiques and limitations of meritocracy

8. Poverty and Social Exclusion

• Causes of poverty
• Consequences for individuals and society
• Mechanisms of social exclusion
• Policies and interventions to reduce poverty and exclusion

9. Social Stratification and Education

• Education as a social stratifier
• Access and quality disparities
• Education’s impact on life chances and mobility
• The role of cultural and social capital in education

10. Social Movements and Social Change

• Historical social movements challenging stratification
• Strategies for addressing inequality
• Role of activism and policy reform
• Prospects for creating equitable societies