Posted: August 14th, 2022

Sociology of Social Stratification and Inequality

Sociology of Social Stratification and Inequality

Social stratification and inequality are two interrelated concepts that sociologists use to analyze the patterns of distribution of valued goods and opportunities in society. Social stratification refers to the system of ranking individuals and groups within societies based on factors such as wealth, income, race, education, and power. Social inequality is the state of unequal access to these valued goods and opportunities across social groups. Sociologists are interested in how social stratification and inequality affect various aspects of human life, such as mental health, well-being, social mobility, social cohesion, and social justice.

One of the topics that sociologists examine in relation to social stratification and inequality is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different segments of society. The pandemic has exposed and exacerbated the existing inequalities in many countries, especially between the rich and the poor. According to a recent report by Oxfam, the world’s billionaires increased their wealth by $3.6 trillion between March 2020 and December 2020, while millions of people lost their jobs, incomes, and access to health care, education, and other essential services . The report also found that women and marginalized groups were disproportionately affected by the pandemic, as they faced higher risks of infection, violence, exploitation, and poverty.

Another topic that sociologists explore in relation to social stratification and inequality is the role of race, gender, and other forms of identity in shaping the experiences and outcomes of individuals and groups in society. For example, sociologists have documented how racial inequality persists in various domains, such as education, employment, criminal justice, health care, and political representation . Similarly, sociologists have analyzed how gender inequality manifests in the gender wage gap, the glass ceiling, the double burden of work and family, and the gendered division of labor . Moreover, sociologists have recognized the intersectionality of different forms of identity, such as race, gender, class, sexuality, disability, and age, and how they create complex and overlapping systems of oppression and privilege .

Sociologists use various theoretical perspectives and empirical methods to study social stratification and inequality. Some of the major theoretical perspectives include functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, feminism, critical race theory, postcolonial theory, and queer theory. Each perspective offers a different lens to understand the causes, consequences, and solutions to social stratification and inequality. Sociologists also employ various quantitative and qualitative methods to collect and analyze data on social stratification and inequality. Some of the common methods include surveys, experiments, interviews, observations, content analysis, discourse analysis, and comparative-historical analysis.

Sociology of social stratification and inequality is a broad and diverse field that aims to understand how society is organized hierarchically and how this affects human lives. By studying social stratification and inequality, sociologists hope to contribute to the advancement of social justice and human dignity for all.

: Oxfam (2021). The Inequality Virus: Bringing Together a World Torn Apart by Coronavirus Through a Fair,
Free And Sustainable Economy. Retrieved from https://www-cdn.oxfam.org/s3fs-public/file_attachments/the-inequality-virus.pdf
: Bonilla-Silva E (2017). Racism without Racists: Color-Blind Racism And The Persistence Of Racial Inequality In America (5th ed.). Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.
: England P (2010). The Gender Revolution: Uneven And Stalled. Gender & Society 24(2): 149–166.
: Collins PH (2015). Intersectionality’s Definitional Dilemmas. Annual Review Of Sociology 41: 1–20.

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