Social Stratification (Essay Sample)

Table of Contents

Introduction

A social stratification is a system that a society uses to categorize several aspects of social issues that concern the community’s needs and activities. Stratifying concepts and activities that represent individuals, groups, or organization is important for the society. The reason behind is to create a systematic way of creating an identity that creates a symbol for a certain category being implemented by the operating institution. The level of efficiency of this categorization is a routine task applied by each local government units and private organizations to ensure the accessibility and accuracy of research, reports, and identities of an involved group. This is to prevent any risk of confusion that the society experiences whenever they are in the position of strategizing new concepts and goals for having a productive system.

In every country, social stratification indicates a group of people belonging to a certain classification. One of which is the race, in which residents, as well as visitors in a certain country have their own ethnic belongingness that represents their identities. Examples are Africans, Americans, Europeans, Asians, and Middle Easterners. This social stratification reflects the culture and their ethnic identities that are distinct to their activities and culture. As for the economic-based social stratification system, you will observe that there are three different issues that can classify a certain system. These are the upper, middle, and lower class societies where the upper is the highest when you categorize it in a hierarchical model. It has been observed that upper-class societies are the elite members of the society while the lower class is populated by individuals living below or within the poverty line in the community.

A social stratification is also based on the achievements of a person within the community. If the person is a professional, they are looked up or considered one of the most important figures that people approach. People with a regular or no job represents the lower half of the population because they have a lesser influence to other individuals. Another is the position of government officials that socially stratify their role in the society. An eExample is the power that is always represented by the government officials. Every official has their position that works for their role in the community. If the official occupies the highest position in the community, this means that they are invincible and untouchable because they can control every single aspect of the society. As for officials who occupy the lower positions, they are being controlled and manipulated by corrupt leaders.

Stratifying the roles and the presence of the leaders and residents of the community presents a new measure that could help the community to recognize the roles of prominent leaders, businesses, and celebrities. If you happen to be one of the most influential symbols of the community, you have the luxury to become inspirational to other individuals or communities. Being influential sets an example to other individuals or groups to create a passion and inspiration by sharing your accomplishments that are a product of hard work. However, failure to stratify certain activities and roles could lead into a catastrophic challenge to the community. The reason behind is that the community will not be able to recognize and appreciate the roles and identities of the leaders and inspirational individuals who could make a change to their actions of visions in life.

References

  • Domhoff, G. William (2013). Who Rules America? The Triumph of the Corporate Rich. McGraw-Hill. p. 288. ISBN 978-0078026713.
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