Social Stratification in America

Sociologists are many theoretical approaches to social stratification. Giddens (1992) distinguishes four systems of stratification: slavery, caste, class and properties

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we can find two kinds of slavery in society:

in one way slaves were considered to be mobile and they are the property of their masters, in a different form of slaves were used as workers and servants. The caste system, hard segregation between the groups exists. One group is the greatest possible extent, and has the highest purity, and other groups are in the lowest levels. Estates can be found in societies that have some differences among the people as stipulated by law.

social classes have some differences from other systems of stratification. Database class differences in the economic situation. Most theories of social stratification belonging to Karl Marx and Max Weber.

For Marx, class is a group of people standing together in relationship to the means of production. (Giddens1992). Marx believes that the bases of inequality among individuals in modern societies the economy. Weber argues that the situation is more influential than economic conditions.

According to Stuart Hall today in class societies is not only a determiner and some others such as respect (gender, ethnicity, religion, age), may also be considered important in the U.S.

certain American values, especially private property, free markets and profitability caused by different economic conditions in society. In America and in every historical period there was a clear social class. Today most people are middle class.

in America, despite the concept that "everyone works hard can achieve more awards, and some minority groups may not be able to move the ladder. Many people in America live in poverty-line. In 1993, the fifth richest people got 44 percent of revenues, compared to three fifths of the poorest people received 30 percent of all revenues. (census.gov)

A person who is born in a rich and powerful family, has a fixed state in a hierarchical system. This person was born in the social class of his or her parents.

We can say that despite the American dream in America, only those people who were born in high class inherits a class of their parents.

U "Education and capitalist America" bowels and Gintis point out that the educational system in America, people train their conditions and the legitimacy of existing inequalities: Schools categorize students in educational and academic ways to categorize and finally distribute them in jobs and economic system.

of the media in America ignores equality and social justice and supporting the existing inequality and lack of social justice scrutiny of institutions and the U.S. a certain value.

In 1995, 10 percent of the richest people in the United States owns 68 percent of the total wealth. In fact, in 1986, one percent of affluent populations were in possession of 42 percent of the total wealth.

These statistics show that a large part of the entire wealth in the United States is transported from hand to hand rich people. There seems to be coming trend that increases the difference in wealth, for example in the 20 years between 1963 and 1983, the average wealth of the richest 10 percent rose 147 percent. (U.S. Congress, 1986)

References:

Charon, Joel M. (1997). Ten questions: a sociological perspective, Wadsworth company