Macro-Level Stratification

Examples of Macro-Level Stratification in the following topics:

• Stratification

  • Stratification is generally analyzed from three different perspectives: micro-level, meso-level, and macro-level.
  • Thus, stratification based on levels of physical attractiveness is analyzed as a micro-level process.
  • Meso-level analysis of stratification focuses on how connections to organizations and institutions produce inequality.
  • Macro-level analysis of stratification considers the role of international economic systems in shaping individuals' resources and opportunities.
  • A global structure, or a macro-level phenomenon, produces unequal distribution of resources for people living in various nations.

• Global Stratification and Inequality

  • Stratification is generally analyzed from three different perspectives: micro, meso, and macro.
  • Meso-level analysis focuses on how connections to organizations and institutions produce inequality.
  • Macro-level analysis considers the role of economic systems in shaping individuals' resources and opportunities.
  • Macro-level analyses of stratification can include global analyses of how positions in the international economic system shape access to resources and opportunities.
  • A global structure, or a macro-level phenomenon, produces unequal distribution of resources for people living in various nations.

• Points of View: Micro-Meso-Macro

  • Stratification occurs in small groups and face-to-face interaction.
  • At the beginning of the chapter, we looked at how stratification begins when we are young.
  • As mentioned earlier, parents, teachers, and friends show us our position in society and teach us to expect that same level.
  • The police, courts, and prisons reinforce the stratification system.
  • Macro level factors such as policies implemented by the World Bank and International Monetary fund impact the job opportunities, prices of food, water, and electricity, and day to day life for citizens in Cape Verde and around the world.

• Studying Sociology

  • Its subject matter ranges from the micro level to the macro level.
  • The traditional focuses of sociology have included social relations, social stratification, social interaction, culture, and deviance, and the approaches of sociology have included both qualitative and quantitative research techniques.

• Weber's View of Stratification

  • Classic sociologist Max Weber was strongly influenced by Marx's ideas, but rejected the possibility of effective communism, arguing that it would require an even greater level of detrimental social control and bureaucratization than capitalist society.
  • Instead, he developed the three-component theory of stratification and the concept of life chances.
  • Weber differs from Marx in that he did not see this as the supreme factor in stratification.
  • Using Weber's theory of stratification, members of the U.S.
  • Recall the three components of stratification in Weberian theory, including their definitions

• Overview of networks and actors

  • The social network perspective emphasizes multiple levels of analysis.
  • In between the individual and the whole population, there is another level of analysis -- that of "composition. " Some populations may be composed of individuals who are all pretty much alike in the extent to which they are connected.
  • Differences in connections can tell us a good bit about the stratification order of social groups.
  • If individuals differ in their closeness to other actors, then the possibility of stratification along this dimension arises.
  • Such differences may help us to understand diffusion, homogeneity, solidarity, and other differences in macro properties of social groups.

• Integration Theory

  • Recently, some sociologists have been taking a different approach to sociological theory by employing an integrationist approach - combining micro- and macro-level theories to provide a comprehensive understanding of human social behavior (while these studies rarely cite Symbolic Interaction Theory, most of their models are based heavily upon Herbert Blumer's initial elaboration of Symbolic Interaction in relation to social institutions).
  • Ritzer proposes four highly interdependent elements in his sociological model: a macro-objective component (e.g., society, law, bureaucracy), a micro-objective component (e.g., patterns of behavior and human interaction), a macro-subjective component (e.g., culture, norms, and values), and a micro-subjective component (e.g., perceptions, beliefs).
  • This model is of particular use in understanding society because it uses two axes: one ranging from objective (society) to subjective (culture and cultural interpretation); the other ranging from the macro-level (norms) to the micro-level (individual level beliefs).
  • The model also shows that individual level values, beliefs, and behaviors influence macro-level culture.
  • This would indicate that there are multiple levels of influence involved in art tastes – both broad cultural norms and smaller level occupational norms in addition to personal preferences.

• The Feminist Perspective

  • Feminist theory analyzes gender stratification through the intersection of gender, race, and class.
  • In sociology, social stratification occurs when differences lead to greater status, power, or privilege for some groups over others.
  • Members of society are socially stratified on many levels, including socio-economic status, race, class, ethnicity, religion, ability status, and gender.
  • Gender stratification occurs when gender differences give men greater privilege and power over women, transgender, and gender-non-conforming people.
  • Conflict theory posits that stratification is dysfunctional and harmful in society, with inequality perpetuated because it benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor.

• Levels of Analysis: Micro and Macro

  • Sociological study may be conducted at both macro (large-scale social processes) and micro (small group, face-to-face interactions) levels.
  • The macro-level study of widespread social processes has been the more dominant approach, and has been practiced since sociology's origins in the founding work of figures like Emile Durkheim.
  • Micro- and macro-level studies each have their own benefits and drawbacks.
  • Sociological analysis can take place at the macro or micro level, and can be subjective or objective.
  • Analyze how symbolic interactionism plays a role in both macro and micro sociology

• What is Sociology?

  • Its subject matter ranges from the micro level to the macro level.
  • Its traditional focuses have included social relations, social stratification, social interaction, culture and deviance, and its approaches have included both qualitative and quantitative research techniques.