Essay On Stratification System

711 Words2 Pages

Each society functions by separating groups through different stratification systems. As Larkin (2015) notes, "society organizes itself so that individuals know their place or rank, also called their social position, in society." Stratification places people into different positions, all of which are important, but some offer more power and prestige than others. In this essay, I will examine three types of stratification systems: slavery, caste, and class systems. I will explore both the mobility of the system and how individuals are placed within it. This system was used in both India and European societies, creating a bias that favors the rich and powerful while controlling the poor. Additionally, the class system is the most commonly used system in modern times. People are sorted in this system based on their income and prestige. When a person is born, they are adopted into their family's class, but after they move out, they create their own class. They can either have a higher or lower social class than their parents. This system consists of three main tiers: lower, middle, and upper class. In the US, this system is very popular and can be associated with the American dream, which suggests that a person with dedication, hard work, and courage can live happily and prosper.

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