Social Stratification In The United States

Socially constructed groups of individuals define society. These groups are placed into a social hierarchy, known as stratification. According to Newman (2014), “stratification [is] the ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal rewards and life chances in a society” (316). Stratification can be broken down into four different forms, each with their unique rules. These forms can be explained by the major sociological theories, including conflict, functionalist, and interactionist. To understand where individuals are on the stratification spectrum and how to address the inequalities associated with each strata one must look at their own position within society. While being a part of the United States’ stratification system allows

“The four main forms of stratification that sociologists have identified are slavery, caste, estate, and social class systems” (Newman 2014:316). The first form of stratification is a caste system, which is prominent in India and African countries. In this system, an individual’s social status and abilities are determined and fixed by birth (Newman 2014). The second form of stratification is an estate system, which is often found in European countries. In this system, an individual’s social status is determined either by birth or ownership of land (Newman 2014). The third form is slavery, which has affected the entirety of the world in some way. This system of stratification was seen in the United States until 1800s. Under slavery some individuals are used as and seen as property. The last form of stratification is a social class system, which is seen in the US today. This system is defined by groups, which are placed in a hierarchical structure, and social mobility. By placing these groups in a hierarchy, society has created inequalities and privileges to certain groups. By living in the United States, I have been placed into differing

The United States is a male-dominated society or patriarchy. As such, being male places me at the top of the hierarchy of sexes/genders in the US. With this position, I have been able to avoid sexism as a system, and the idea of me ‘asking for rape’. I have also been able to view or have more male icons portrayed in the media, while also never been reprehended for talking ‘too much’ in school. Though being a male in a male-dominated society has allowed me to not experience direct discrimination due to my gender, I have experience discrimination because of my gender/sexual orientation. Today’s perception of being male involves being masculine, which includes being heterosexual and strong. I am neither. Due to being ‘weak’ I have been called demeaning terms and looked down upon for not fulfilling the masculinity of being a male. I have also been called demeaning names, forced to hide my true self for acceptance, and looked at differently by peers for breaking the heteronormativity of being male by being gay. This intersectionality of my gender/sexual orientation, gay male, is at the point where being a male has given certain privileges like a higher social status, but has also caused me to be discriminated against for not following the complete masculinity of being a male. This double-sided affect can be explained by conflict theory. According to Newman (2014), conflict