Editing Social Stratification (section)

== <span style="color: #FFFFFF;">Understanding</span> ==
Sociologists study stratification through several lenses.

'''1. The Functionalist View (Davis & Moore)''': Inequality is necessary. Some positions (like a surgeon) are more difficult and important than others (like a janitor). To ensure the most talented people fill these roles, society must offer them higher rewards (pay and status).

'''2. The Conflict View (Marx & Weber)''': Inequality is the result of power struggles.
* '''Marx''': It's all about '''Class''' (your relationship to the means of production).
* '''Weber''': It's more complex. It's about '''Class''' (wealth), '''Status''' (prestige/honor), and '''Power''' (political influence). You can be high in one and low in another (e.g., a poor but highly respected priest).

'''3. The Interactionist View''': Stratification is something we "do" every day. We use "Status Symbols" (luxury cars, designer bags) to signal our position to others. This is called '''Conspicuous Consumption''' (Thorstein Veblen).

'''The "Stickiness" of Class''': While we like to believe in the "American Dream" (perfect mobility), research shows that social class is often "sticky." Your parents' income is one of the strongest predictors of your own future income.
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