Social Stratification

3 units

To the extent that sociology has a “core,” it lies in the study of the complex processes that generate inequalities of power, privilege, and prestige in human societies. This course introduces this core by surveying the major classical and current approaches to social stratification and inequality. Who gets what, and why? How are resources distributed across individuals and groups, and why is it that some enjoy more than others? We consider how different dimensions of inequality have evolved over time, with special focus on inequalities across race, class, and gender. We assess how inequality shapes the lives of individuals in society, how and why inequality persists, and how people have worked to both challenge and reproduce their places in society.