Social Stratification and Inequality - 1093 Words

Whether society likes it or not, inequality occurs in America. It is a matter that has been discussed in the past and present, yet not many measures have been taken to help take care of the problem. I closely read an article by a senior organizer and research associate at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington which touches upon the topic of a black and white split in our country. â€Å"Sociologists have long documented the fact that the class system is more rigid for African Americans than it is for members of other racial groups† (Schaefer 143). This issue dates all the way back to slavery in America and unequal treatment towards people of color. All this strain on our nation has lead us to believe that we are moving toward two†¦show more content†¦Sociologically, the conflict approach would be one to look at when referring to social stratification and inequality in a dividing of two groups. â€Å"The powerful, such as leaders of government, use limit ed social reforms to buy off the oppressed and reduce the danger of challenges to their dominance† (Schaefer 131). The government cannot make the proper strides towards eliminating the dominant group because they are bias. It is hard to see the problem unless it is personal, and many government figures do not understand the concept for that reason alone. They do not want to give too much power to people in society; they would rather make small strides and keep their authority. â€Å"†¦In the view of conflict theorists, such maneuvers can never entirely eliminate conflict, since people will continue to demand equality, and the powerful will not give up their control of society† (Schaefer 131). This is true and unfortunately will be true until someone stands up for it, such as Martin Luther King did. However, I would have to say that the black community should make more of an initiative to show their concerns. In addition, powerful white Americans should not o nly take notice of these issues, but take action to them. Today’s society needs to understand the importance of not only now, but our future. They need to know that it is not impossible to overcome the issues of inequality. Yes, it is going to create tension and conflict but it willShow MoreRelatedSocial Stratification And Social Inequality1772 Words   |  8 PagesSocial stratification exists in almost all societies. On a global scale, countries are arranges in a stratified hierarchy of positions, with some possessing economic prosperity and political dominance while others experience social crises and financial hardships. The dimensions of both social class and inequality offers insights as to why social stratification persists. Social inequality is indicated by a high degree of disparity in income, wealth, power, prestige and other resources. It is characterisedRead MoreSocial Stratification And Gender Inequality Essay1486 Words   |  6 Pagesmultiple forms of social stratification whether it may be social class, caste, slavery, race or even gender. Social stratification places groups of people in a hierarchy depending on their social status which is respective to their economic income. 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