"All social groups and societies contain differences amongst their members. Some groups have more access to the resources of society than others. This means the daily life experiences of the various groups will be different. Since there exists an unequal distribution of resources between group members, social stratification then, looks at the structured social inequality. This unit will look at how groups of individuals, as well as nations, can be organized around a system of inequality.
This is a picture of the Titanic sinking.Social Stratification refers to a system in which people are divided or ranked into layers according to their relative power, property, and prestige. This hierarchical arrangement in society allows different access to power and resources. Every society stratifies its members. Some societies have greater inequality than others, but stratification is universal. Social stratification persists over generations and involves not only inequality, but an established belief system to support it. Social stratification is an important element in our daily lives, and it can even determine if we live or die. At the bottom of the page I have recommended the movie "Titanic". An assessment of the survivors found that 60% of first-class passengers survived, 36% of second-class passengers, and only 24% of third-class passengers survived. There have been three main systems of stratification throughout history: slavery, caste, and class. Each is explored in greater detail..."
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