W9. POSTING KIMJIEUN(김지은)

2016014293 KIMJIEUN(김지은)

 

#SUMMERY

-Stratification-

(By Kwj2772 Disc. kowiki. (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or CC BY-SA 2.0 kr (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/kr/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons)

This link is about "stratification" Stratification means the hierarchical arrangement of people in society. About stratification, this link discusses "inequality". The example is economic inequality, racial/ethinic inequality, gender inequality and inequality about the ability to influence government policy. Also, there is how capitalism is an important context in inequality in this link. Max Weber proposes three main dimensions of stratification. It is class, status, party. In addition, contemporary sociologists often define stratification in term of socioeconomic ststus. A variety of ways to measure this are educational attainment, income, wealth and occupation prestige. These measures reflect three characteristics of individuals: power, property, and prestige. "Power" refers to someone's ability to got others to do his/her will. This power divide to legitimate and illegitimate. Legitimate power is the power like authority. Illegitimate power is the power like coercion. Next, "Property" refers to the sum total of one's possessions as well as their regular income and accumulated wealth. "Prestige" refers to the reputation or esteem associated with one's position in society. And, two sociologists(Dennis Gilbert and Joseph Kahl) developed a model of the American class. It is social class structure. The upper class is 3%. Upper-upper class(1%) of the upper class earns hundreds of millions to billions in income per year. On the other hand, Lower-upper class(2%) of the upper class earns millions in annual income. As follows, the extra parts are presented. (The middle class: 40%/ The working class: 30%/ The lower class: 27%). Also, there is origins of inequality and private property in link. This link say the origins of inequality can be found in the transition from hunter/gather societies to horticultural/pastoralist societies. Hunter/gather societies didn't have many inequality. But as people settled down in one place in horticultural societies, there was surplus of goods. The groups then traded with each other. This led to inequality. Because some people accumulated more possessions than others. Sociologist Joel Charon offers a few reasons why inequality continues in society. First, the rich and powerful protect the system of inequality. There is inheritance to descendants. Second, culture teaches the acceptance of inequality. Third, people are socialized to accept their position in life. Finally, police, courts, and prisons work together to protect the system of inequality. In addition, this link say "if the conditions that generate social inequality are conscious and intentional creations of human actions, they can be changed." Moreover, There are stratification according to structural-functionalism on stratification and conflict theories in link. And finally, race and gender class/ privilege and oppression class/ Micro-Meso-Macro views/ global equality. 

 (By BanzaiTokyo ([1] [2]) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

#MENTION

I am interested in the second theory “culture teaches the acceptance of inequality” of a sociologist Joel Charon's theories. Because, I also have taken these inequality for grante so far. For example, I took the discrimination by school's grade for granted. In my highschool, there is discrimination for students who received high grades in school. The high grades students accepted personal study desk in personal study room. I also tried to raise the grades to receive such treatment. But now, I think that time again. I realized I take for granted these culture that refers to inequality in small society(school). We are socialized to have education(unequal) from childhood. And that culture is naturally take for granted. And they accept the position. This is a sociologist Joel Charon's third theory “people are socialized to accept their position in life.”

 

#QUESTION

Many sociologists are interested in many controversies and questions about inequality. For example, where did inequality come from? Why does it continue? Do we justify inequality? Can we eliminate inequality? Can we make a society in which people are equal?

I am going to write my thoughts about these questions. I think that inequality comes from education and culture like link's say. Why does it continue? It is because people take for granted these inequality through education and culture. But these inequalities can not be justified. We should be changed from the inequality that we take for granted. Of course it will be so difficult that all people are equal. However, we have to decrease the gap between inequality and be away from the current capitalist polarization society (United States, Korea). What do you think about this?