SOC101Y1 Lecture 7: SOC101 Stratification pt 2 Week 7
Document Summary
Contrary to functionalist theory, high levels of inequality are not necessary (know the functional theory of stratification and its critique) Contrary to marx, classlessness is not inevitable (know marx"s theory and critique) Weber"s theory of stratification: understand that one of weber"s most important insights is that inequality is shaped in part by government policy, and as citizens elect governments, we have the capacity to shape inequality. As private property became an increasingly important stratification principle, inequality rose. After early industrialization, merit became an important stratifying principle, and inequality fell. In the second half of the 20th century, with the rise of the modern welfare state, government policy increasingly influenced the level of inequality and accounted for much of the divergence in inequality. Private property and merit still exert a powerful influence but a new stratification principle was added with the creation of the welfare state. Horticultural/pastoral small hand tools, grazing, permanent settlements.
