Essay Questions
1. What are the common systems of social stratification we have seen throughout history? Discuss their associated social positions, their means of self-maintenance, and their prospects for movement.
2. Compare and contrast the Marxian and Weberian views of the dominant system of social stratification in industrial societies. Explain your answer and provide concrete examples.
3. Describe social mobility and distinguish among the different types. Provide examples and discuss how they illustrate different mobility principles.
4. According to Gilbert and Kahl, what are the categories that make up the contemporary American class structure? How are these categories defined? What are the important features of each category?
5. Distinguish between income and wealth. Compare how they are related and how they differently affect lifestyles and life chances. Discuss how they are distributed in the American population.
Answers
1. One of the common systems of social stratification we have seen throughout history has been that of the Native Americans. When Christopher Columbus first came to America and “discovered” that there were Native Americans already living here, he was surprised to see how these people lived. American Indians were not focused on material goods and market transactions, than the institutionalized, materialistic, and totalitarian societies of Western Europe. The differences between these the two societies were vast enough to make for significant misunderstandings and create long-lasting cultural conflicts.
The Europeans tried to “civilize” American Indians and were met with much resistance. Of course, the Europeans exploration and subsequent migration destroyed Native Americans populations and cultures, due to diseases, enslavement, and taking of their land. Native Americans struggled for their freedom and the preservation of their land. Today, Native Americans can be found as nations, tribes, or bands that have...