W12.2 May 24 (Fri) - 김명준 Myeongjun Kim

1) Summary

Social stratification is the concept of grouping and classifying people within a society based on socioeconomic factors such as wealth, income, jobs, and social status. It describes the relative social positions among people, and in modern Western society, it is mainly divided into three main classes: the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class. Each class is a group of individuals who share certain social and economic characteristics, with the upper class having a high income and higher lifestyle, the middle class maintaining a more general income and lifestyle, and the lower class showing an economically vulnerable state. Beyond simple economic classification, social stratification is also understood at the cultural and political levels, which affects individuals' social identity, access to opportunities, and social mobility, depending on the class they belong to. For example, people in the upper class can take advantage of more educational opportunities and social networks, which can contribute to their economic success. On the other hand, people in the lower class may have difficulty accessing education and opportunities due to a lack of economic resources. The theoretical approaches to social stratification are diverse, and are addressed in behavioral theory, conflict theory, and technology economy theory. Proponents of behavioral theory argue that social stratification is important for maintaining social stability and order, and conflict theory emphasizes inequality in resource access and lack of social mobility. In addition, technology economics links the expansion of the middle class and the economic difficulties of the downstream to technological development and economic structural changes in modern society. These theoretical approaches help us understand social stratification and play an important role in the development of policies to realize social justice and economic equality.

2) Interesting points/studies

Here's what's particularly interesting about this article:

1. Diversity in Social Stratification: The article emphasizes that social stratification is not limited to economic factors, but is also understood at the cultural and political levels. This shows that social classes are the determinants of various social identities, access to opportunities, and social mobility beyond simple income levels.

2. Theoretical Diversity: It is interesting to note that several theoretical approaches are used to explain social stratification, including behavioral theory, conflict theory, and technological economics. Each theory shows how social stratification is an attempt to understand and resolve the relationship between stability and inequality in society.

3. The Importance of Social Justice and Policy Development: It is interesting that the theory of social stratification plays an important role in policy development to realize social justice and economic equality. This suggests that various effects and consequences of social stratification should be considered when government or social organization makes policy decisions.

These are important factors in understanding the complexity and diversity of social stratification, and highlighting the social consequences and the need for policy responses.

3) Questions or points to discuss 

In the theory of social stratification, it has been explained that in addition to economic factors, cultural and political factors play an important role. Can you explain with concrete examples how these various factors interact in social stratification and affect the determination of an individual's social position?