GENDER ROLE SOCIAL STRATIFICATION 1

WHAT ROLE DOES GENDER PLAY TO SOCIAL STRATIFICATION? Wajiha Haider Ali Nassau Community College DR. Lynn A. Van Every-Sigircik

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ABSTRACT Social stratification is social inequalities. The social stratification system have three component; wealth, prestige and power. Main types of social stratification in todays era are social, slavery and caste system. Unlike caste and slavery, social class have social mobility. Social class is used in industrialized countries like USA. Social class have three status; high, low and middle; their measure stick is money. Role of a gender is set at birth by nature of sex organ. From age 2-5 is critical nurturing and development gender role. The different roles of each gender itself are gender stratification. In the history of USA, out of 44 presidents, there have been no female President. In US statistics, women are more in population and bachelor graduates, yet still make less then male because they pick lower paying careers.

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WHAT ARE THE MEANINGS OF SOCIAL, STRATIFICATION AND GENDER? Social stratification are two words that are combined on a common term. Social is referred to society of humans interacting with each other. Stratified are layers that build a formation. When these two words are placed together, Henslin (2006) states social stratification is the hierarchical structures of class and status making a society.(p.96) In the history, the feudal system is an example of social stratification which had peasant to nobility relationship. Stratification is layers such as socio-economic, social political, religious ideology of a society, etc. In modern western society, the stratification is based on socio-economic system such as the upper, middle and low class. Each class is dependent on occupation which determines their economic status. Gender is a major factor that affects social stratification but lets define what gender is? Gender roles tell us what is the appropriately gendered way to express anger or sadness, when to be aggressive or passive, and when to speak or be quiet. http://web.uncg.edu/dcl/courses/sociology101/content/episode8/pdf/Overview.pdf Illene (2002) Gender is predetermined by the biological built up of physical sexuality. Gnder-role development starts crucially at age two. This is when nurturing is what decides the gender role. Gender difference creates an inequality in wealth and privileges. Henslin (2006) In any society, gender is an essential part of distinction within each layer creating differences mostly favoring the male. This inequality is traced throughout the history of mankind. Slavery is a form of social stratification in which many of the first slaves were women who were captured after defeat of their village. (p. 97) In any major system of social stratification, gender

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exists in each layer. Disregarding the role of their gender; the society imposes its value on them. Social stratification exists in every society that gives the standard of living based on sexuality and much more.

SOCIAL STRATIFICATION INCLUDES WHAT Henslin (2006) In todays era, three major systems of social stratification are slavery, caste and class system. Slavery and caste system are a bit old school but they still exist. Slavery and the caste system are closed and structured. If youre a slave or peasant, more likely thats what youll be for life. Social class system is affiliated with industrialized society such as the USA. The class systems have social mobility. There is a chance for you move through the stratification system. Three class system aka three-component theory of stratification was developed by German sociologist Max Weber. Social stratification reflects the interplay among wealth, power and prestige. Wealth is capital (money) but what is power in social stratification? Weber said there are two main types of power; possession and exercise. Possession of power is having control or monopoly of certain social resources. Exercise means action; getting what you want over others. Other type of powers are social, class and political. Class power is determined by money or material resources. Social power is when you have respect for someone based on their social status and youll follow their command out of respect. Social status in America is mainly based on income.

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America is a socio-economic class with three categories; upper, lower or middle class. The American social class system is measured by capital. Marger (2007) The social class system is categorized by the relationship of education to income and wealth. (Chap.7) Social stratification treats everyone fairly with its inequalities but only within same gender. Gender discrimination is a topic of not only social stratification but the physical appearance of mind set.

GENDER STRATIFICATION Scholars argued that gender played a central role in the formation and functioning of stratification systems. (Stratification. International Encyclopedia Of Tthe Social Sciences, 2008) Gender inequalities have been in history since mankind can trace back. To prove my point of gender discrimination, Im going to go off the topic and give some facts. On August 18, 1920, The 19th Amendment to the US Constitution: Womans Right to Vote was rectified. From 19th Amendment to our current President Obama, there have been 15 presidents; in which not even one was a female. In 2011, USA is known as the land of freedom, figuratively speaking, and womens rights are parallel to men. Fitzpatrick (April 20, 2010) wrote an article on the reason for female earning less than male. Female tends to pick lower paying jobs comparatively to male. Women will go for nursing and teaching occupation where as men will be businessman, doctors and lawyers. (TIMES MAGAZINE) The human have highly developed brain that can create complex social structures and think rationally and still be unfair morally. The law is with them and the opportunity is there, still a glass

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ceiling of inequalities barrier exist. Gender discrimination will have an impact on social structure.

NEW ERA AND CHANGES IN THE GENDERS ROLE Extending the gender subject, transsexual people suffer from both end of the bargain. In much society they are not accepted with equal opportunity. There are more layers of inequalities for these kinds of people. Amanda Simpson is the first transgender presidential appointees to the federal government. If Amanda Simpson was a male or female, this news wouldve never hit the media, newspaper and make history or a movement for transgender. Homosexuality and homophobia are social psychological factors. In larger picture, the pay is same by law for all genders but, due to social support, female have the benefit of maternal leave. . There are unequal distribution of rewards between men and women reflecting their position in the society The definition of gender role changes over time. We can summarize this by saying as the gender role changes, so does the society. The male role have changed where a man dont have to be violent or strong to be a man. In fact, the children are learning new ways to solve conflicts without being physical.

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WHAT ROLE DOES GENDER PLAY IN SOCIAL STRATIFICATION? Gender is a building block in social stratification. There is the unequal distribution of wealth, prestige and power between men and women. The starting point of inequalities is gender differences. Social stratification is a concept of society being divided into different layers. Human beings are divided at birth in two layers; boy and girl. Boys must be active, masculine and aggressive and girls are be soft, sweet, and submissive. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 11/2010, it shows that more women get their bachelorette than men; yet still men make more money. Gender roles are the activities and attitude that society imposes to each sex. Society encourages more violence against men than women. Gender stratification shapes the workplace, family lives, education, and politics. Physical differences between a male and female are visual noticeable, other differences are created socially. Pornography symbolizes women as a sex object giving the power and dominance to male. Gender roles are constantly changing throughout
time, especially due to things like womens liberation and equal rights. Gender inequalities is not the

only issue here, its also about wealth, power and prestige. (Rowell, 2006) Primary caregiver teaches child about gender role followed by media, toys, etc. (pg. 44)

CONCLUSION: WHAT ROLE DOES GENDER PLAY TO SOCIAL STRATIFICATION Gender has a major impact to social stratification. Social stratification in simple words are social inequalities and gender is where these inequalities start. Social stratification is based

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on power, wealth and prestige. Social class system in USA are divide into three categories mainly based on income; upper, lower and middle class. Women earn less than men in life time. Pornography is an international industry where female are sex object and male are the dominant. USA is a modern western country with all female rights equal to male; yet politically speaking, there isnt even one female president. Social class in USA is based on socio-economic status. There are much discrimination of wealth, power and prestige between men and women. Gender roles are constantly changing throughout time,
especially due to things like womens liberation and equal rights. The indifference in gender role is the

basic cause to social stratification.

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REFERENCE

Stratification. International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. 2008 Retrieved by

by Dec. 31, 2011 http://www.encyclopedia.com Rowell K. R (2006) Inequalities of gender and age. A Study Plus for Henslin Essentials of Sociology A Down-to-Earth Approach, ed 6, 44. Fitzpattrick L. (April 20, 2011) Why Do Women Still Earn Less Than Men? Time. Retrieved . by Dec. 31, 2011. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1983185,00.html#ixzz1iEWlTTPe Henslin, J.M. (11/2008) Social structure and social interaction. Sociology: A-down-to-earth Approach pg.96 `Noppe I.C. (2002) Gender role development. Retrieved by Dec. 31, 2011 http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/chdv_01/chdv_01_00122.html