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Sociology SOCL1016 MBBCH I Week 3
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Week 3 of SOCL1016 MBBCH 1 Notes for University of Witwatersrand
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Sociology Week 3Focus on social inequalities and how it brings about health disparities
Social stratification
The society’s categorization of people into a hierarchy/rank
The division of people into social categories and groups, within society, according to their
socially determined value and worth
Defining characteristics of social stratification:
- Found in all societies but in different forms
- Endures across time
- Multi-generational + connects generations (caste system, race, gender experiences)
- Shapes life chances + belief systems
Types of Social Stratification:
TIP: use one or more of these in your essay 1
Spatial
- The spatial structure of a community/society and the distribution of
opportunities/disadvantages, spatially
- Based on geography (Sandton vs Alexandra)
Socio-economic Class differentiation
• Ascribed social class
- Involuntary that we are assigned at birth, something we cannot choose.
- Caste system in India/Royal families in many societies → determined role in society
- Examples: Race, ethnicity, and the social class of our parents
• Achieved social class
- Something we accomplish in the course of our lives. To some extent, achieved status
reflects our work and effort.
- Can be off your won accord or family member
- Occupational differences in most societies
- Examples: College student, college dropout, CEO, and thief
Race/Racism
- Prevalent in SA, UK, USA, Australia
- Due to colonisation
Gender and Patriarchy
- A form of social organization and practices of older male domination over women and
children
, Social stratification leads to social inequalities which refer to the differential access to life
chances
Where you lie in terms of social stratification determines your options at different life chances
Life chances → the valued opportunities within a particular society to be a success in society
- work, income, wealth, socio-cultural status, education, health, housing, social capital,
communication, networks of social connections, social mobility, resilience to risk and
adversity
- Example: high education deems an individual more well recognized in society, placing
an individual at a higher rank
Life chances can be a mean to an end or a mechanism to get to the end.
An example would be if your parents save up money to send you to university, when you do
go, their goal has been achieved therefore it is a mean to an end for your parents but for you,
university is not the final goal, getting a job is therefore it is a mechanism or one step closer
to your end goal/lifestyle you seek.
Social inequalities do not occur due to chance, and they are not randomly allocated. Social
inequalities arise due to the generational (social history + interaction) stratified society we live
in which divides people and limits some people’s access to life chances while enhancing the
latter’s.
Spatial Based Inequality
The special structure (geographical) has an impact on a community or society
The spatial distribution of potential, opportunity, advantage, as well as disadvantage,
challenges and/or social threats contribute to spatial stratification and inequalities.
Geographical/spatial analyses enable us to understand how non-biological factors affect health
status within an area, region, or country
- Natural disaster
- Distribution of resources
- Living close to mines, factories
- Greenery
- Home living space
- Water + electricity
- Sanitation + healthcare
Public health specialists are then able to propose specific and targeted health policies and
interventions within those areas. (we are focussing on upstream effects on society and trying
to find solutions)
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