Social Inequality

 Choose one of the following questions: 

1.  Compare and contrast the functionalist view of social stratification and the conflict theory's view of social stratification. How does social stratification influence the daily interactions of individuals? How do systems of class, based on factors such as prestige, power, income, and wealth, influence your own daily routines, as well as your beliefs and attitudes? Illustrate your ideas with examples.

2.  Describe the theories of global inequality addressed in the reading this week, examining the existence and persistence of inequality between countries and regions. Also address the strengths and weaknesses of these perspectives as analytical tools.  What is the most accurate theory to address global inequality?  Explain why you selected this perspective using specific examples.

The Week 4 Forum meets the following course objectives:

• Apply a sociological perspective to the social world
• Analyze contemporary social issues using the sociological imagination and use sociological theories and concepts to analyze everyday life.
• Describe global stratification.
• Explain social class in the United States.

Instructions for all Forums:

Each week, learners will post one initial post per week.  This post must demonstrate comprehension of the course materials, the ability to apply that knowledge in the real world.  Learners will engage with the instructor and peers throughout the learning week.  To motivate engaged discussion, posts are expected to be on time with regular interaction throughout the week.  All posts should demonstrate college level writing skills. To promote vibrant discussion as we would in a face to face classroom, formatted citations and references are not required.  Quotes should not be used at all, or used sparingly.  If you quote a source quotation marks should be used and an APA formatted citation and reference provided.

Dr. Avant 100 word response required:

Greetings, class. The introduction of Durkhiem's theory coincides with major changes in modernization throughout the world in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Individuals in a rural setting may have completely differing norms than the city societies they were introduced to in search of jobs. With this merger of societies, the interpretation of deviant behavior outside of social norms would have needed to be changed. What do you think are some examples of deviant behaviors that rural people moving to the city landscape would have displayed? ~ Dr. Avant

Troy 100 word response required:

"Social Inequality"

 Compare and contrast the functionalist view of social stratification and the conflict theory's view of social stratification. How does social stratification influence the daily interactions of individuals? How do systems of class, based on factors such as prestige, power, income, and wealth, influence your own daily routines, as well as your beliefs and attitudes? Illustrate your ideas with examples.

     Social Stratification refers to a society's categorization of its people into rankings of socioeconomic tiers based on factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power (OpenStax, 2017). 

     The functionalist perspective examines how society's parts operate stating that different aspects of society exist because they serve a needed purpose, while the conflict theorists are deeply critical of social stratification, asserting that it only benefits some people, not all of society.  

 The daily interactions of individuals in regards to social stratification is one where systems have been formed to basically keep individuals closely associated with the factors that involves social stratification such as, power (where all the power players intertwine with power players only, wealth (where the wealthy are only interested in collaborating with other rich individuals), gender (where women are paid considerably lesser salaries than men even though both are doing the same job), and education (where teachers are paid lower salaries even though they have one of the most important job to mankind). 

The systems of class are intriguing because they are based solely on an individual's economic position in a society, and on birth and individual achievement. My daily routines are surely influenced in the area of being the best that I can be and knowing what factors are involved in achieving such greatness pushes myself harder and harder to appease MY appetite and not trying to be like other classes of individuals instead establishing my own trailblazing path. That's a huge no-no concerning most individuals in society, trying to be like other individuals and not being the best that they can be. Society cares nothing about anyone so why sweat trying to impress others when in turn an individual can truly impress oneself.  

References

Introduction to Sociology 2e (2017). OpenStax.

Jessie requires 100 word response:

Question #2: Describe the theories of global inequality addressed in the reading this week, examining the existence and persistence of inequality between countries and regions. Also address the strengths and weaknesses of these perspectives as analytical tools.  What is the most accurate theory to address global inequality?  Explain why you selected this perspective using specific examples.

Good evening Professor and Class: 

The two theories of global inequality addressed in the reading this week include the modernization theory, and the dependency theory. Sociologists use these two theoretical approaches to view the issues and conflicts of social inequality.

The modernization theory is a theory that focuses on countries of lower income levels that are affected by the absence of industrialization. This theory focuses specifically on improving their economy by altering their work attitudes, and cultural values. The low-income countries have the potential for economic success with the use of technology and industrialization to improve their economy by using their resources. 

The dependency theory is focused on a cycle of dependency, following the modernization theory. Theorists believe that the cycle of dependence in global inequality is caused by core higher class nations manipulating the middle and lower-class nations. The lower-class nations are essentially dependent on the higher-class nations, which makes the lower-class nations relying heavily on the higher-class nations for economic success. 

Both the modernization theory and the dependency theory have both strengths and weaknesses. Some strengths of both perspectives as analytical tools are that both theories can determine each country by its economic needs and demands. This makes it easier to decide which countries to do business with and partner with to be successful. It also helps identify which countries need help to provide economic assistance. Some weaknesses of both perspectives as analytical tools are that these theories give the higher-class countries power. Unfortunately, this can cause a major disadvantage to the middle and lower-class countries as power can be abused and misused. If power is misused, or not used appropriately the lower-class countries can struggle without assistance or help to become economically stable.

In addition to these two theories, there are three perspectives that also contribute to the issue of global inequality, functionalist perspective, conflict theory, and symbolic interaction. The functionalist perspective believed that society is a whole and with the issue global inequality they direct on the social purposes within their views. The conflict theory focuses directly on the formation and continued forms of inequality. Finally, while using the symbolic interaction perspective, theorists focus on the daily impact of global inequality, the issue of poverty and global stratification. Global stratification is the specific arrangement of individuals and their groups within their societies around the world. For example, global stratification associates the status, wealth, economic status and power with countries around the world. 

I believe that the most accurate theory to address global inequality is the dependency theory. The dependency theory was based off the modernization theory, and I believe that this theory identifies that lower-class nations are economically unstable because of their lack of social, economic and cultural values.