Sociology 319
Social Stratification
Spring 2004
Dr Scott Schaffer

Handling Theories of Stratification

Theoretical Position	Process Theory Describes	Operation of Stratification System	Attribution of Responsibility	Reproduction of Strat System	Possibility of Subversion
Functionalism (Blau and Duncan, Davis and Moore)
Marxism/Post-Marxism (Marx and Engels, Olin Wright)
Feminism (Hartmann)
Weberian (Weber, MacLeod)
Split Labor Market (Bonacich)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitions:

Process Theory Describes: The process of stratification discussed by the author(s) – the particular category it works on or utilizes (and how it defines it), how it comes about in society, the kinds of goods/resources/abilities/power distributed within that category, etc.

Operation of Stratification System: How it is that the stratification system actually works – the mechanisms it uses to produce inequality, how it allocates goods/resources/abilities/power, how it legitimates itself

Responsibility Attribution: Deals with the question of who or what is responsible for inequality in a society

Reproduction of Strat System: How the system reproduces forms of inequality across generations

Possibility for Subversion: How you (or the author[s]) see the possibility for subverting this stratification system or process

Note:

This breakdown only includes the articles listed in Part II of Great Divides as “theoretical” works, mostly because they are the main theoretical positions stratification scholars use. Each of the particular categories of classification also has its own key theories; these are generally the ones listed in the first section of Parts III, IV, and V of Great Divides. You should also write up notes on these theories using this framework.

Remember:

A theoretical position (or analytic framework) includes the following things:

Ø     Concepts: These are the big key ideas each theory is examining;

Ø     Operational definitions/criteria: Ways of defining the concepts so that one can observe them in the social world, as well as criteria for recognizing something as meeting the operational definition of a concept;

Ø     Relations between concepts: The theorist will build up a set of relationships between the concepts they’re examining – this is the most crucial element;

Ø     Statement of an overall process: Theorists will often say, “This is how this thing works in general” – that’s the process;

Ø     Reasons for examining this particular thing in the way they do: Theorists have a reason for approaching these issues in the way they do – some kind of program or agenda they would like to see implemented. Your job is to interpret the theory to figure that out;

Ø     Basis for evaluating the phenomenon as “beneficial” or “detrimental” (and for whom).