ANTHROP 1AB3 Chapter 6: Reading 6
1 Apr 2016
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Reading 6: social hierarchies - class, race and racism. Social strati cation/hierarchy: the ordering and ranking of individuals within society. Those at the top of the hierarchy are generally afforded more power, wealth, prestige, or privileges in a society. Hierarchies can be based on race, gender, class, caste, ethnicity, national af liation, or other factors. Race: a culturally constructed form of identity and social hierarchy, race refers to the presumed hereditary, phenotypic characteristics of a group of people. These physical or phenotypic differences are often erroneously correlated with behavioural attributes. Class: a form of identity informed by perception of an individual"s economic worth or status. It is also a form of social hierarchy. Ascribed status: an identity that is perceived as xed and unchanging because a person is believed to be born with it. In canadian society, race is often assumed to be ascribed at birth.
