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Social Stratification vs. Social Class

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Social Stratification vs. Social Class

Anzhelika Estrina

Sociology 1
Dr Anthony Clark
December 5, 2015

Social Stratification vs. Social Class
Inequalities exist in all types of human society. Even in the simplest cultures where variations in wealth or property are non-existent, there are inequalities between individuals, men and women, the young and the old. To describe inequalities, sociologists speak of Social Stratification. Social Stratification lies at the principal of society and of the discipline of sociology. Social inequality is a fundamental aspect of virtually all-social processes and a person's position in the stratification system is the most consistent predictor of his/her behavior, attitudes, and life chances. An individual's class status can be harder to identify than race or ethnic differences. However, I believe class status is an important indicator of what kind of opportunities lie ahead for people in various class systems. Class places people into a type of structure which goes against the principal belief that in America all are shaped equal, or that even the poorest child can become President someday if he or she applies him/her self.
I believe that social class remains largely invisible because our society doesn't want to believe that poverty exists in America. If Americans acknowledged poverty, then they would have to take some kind of action and do something to remedy it. Such action, of course, would create a huge flow effect involving the whole classified system. This can be very complicated subject when one begins speaking of finances, more government funding, more education, or more taxes. It's much easier to ignore the needs of the poor, homeless, and hungry rather than give up the government funding for some useless project that is so insignificant to the needs of our human society. I realize in order for a society to

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