Category: Poverty and Inequality
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The Elite: Definition and Identification
Sociology has long examined the concept of “elite” as a group with disproportionate power in society. In this post, we examine classic and contemporary definitions of the elite and methods for identifying them. The literature on the elite is vast. We will only scratch the surface to get at key points of definition and methods…
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Socioeconomic Status: Definition and Measurement
What is socioeconomic status? Socio-economic status (SES) refers to a specific configuration of material conditions that impact how people think and behave; those conditions are income, education, and occupational prestige. In this post, we discuss how social scientists define and measure socioeconomic status (SES). We focus on surveys, but these can be adapted to other…
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Max Weber’s Theory of Class, Status, and Power
Sociologists love to cite and discuss Max Weber. Weber wrote a famous essay called, “Class, Status, and Party.” Weber designed the essay to set him apart from Karl Marx, who had a unidimensional view of classes, inequality, and society. Max Weber had a multidimensional view of classes, inequality, and society. Two main differences between Weber…
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Marxist and Neo-Marxist Theories of Social Stratification
Why does social stratification exist? Karl Marx had a Theory Karl Marx, a social and economic thinker in the 19th century, had a theory of how societies are organized and why inequality exists. His powerful theories inspired the Communist revolutions in Russia and China, and eventually in Eastern Europe and Vietnam. Because of the popularity…
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Classic Theories of Social Stratification
Why is there inequality in society? Social stratification, and inequality, are fundamental concepts in sociology. We defined stratification as the existence of structured inequalities between social groups on the basis of power and resources. But this just defines the term. A crucial question is: Why does inequality exist in society? To answer this question, let’s…
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Basic Sociology Concepts: Social Stratification and Inequality
What are the basic sociology concepts in social stratification and inequality? To understand basic sociological theories in social stratification and inequality, we must first understand basic concepts in this field. This post presents definitions of basic sociology concepts and concepts related to inequality and social stratification. It is based on classic theorists. You may be…
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What is Power? What is a Power Structure?
To define a power structure, we must first define power. Power has many definitions: Power is a relationship We must understand that power is a relationship. Power as a social relationship has two main “agents:” the principal and the subaltern. In this relationship the principal wields power that affects the subaltern. Akin to the power…
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COVID-19 Counts of Cases and Deaths Reveal Social Group Biases
Unequal counts of cases and deaths due to Covid-19 reveals the structures of power that impact social group bias A prominent US example of how Covid-19 reveals the structures of power is racial and ethnic bias. In the US, African Americans are much more likely to die from the virus (Jean-Baptiste and Green 2020; Yancey…
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Racial Discrimination in US Housing: Evidence from the 2000 HUD Study
Racial discrimination is in the real estate market Clearly, there is such discrimination. But how do we know if the discrimination is due to race, or some other factor? The key is to isolate the racial factors from all other possibilities. This can best be done through studies and experiments. The U.S. government periodically commissions…
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Food Insecurity and Political Violence
What is food insecurity? Eating the same food over and over – not because of choice, but because there are few other good options – is food insecurity. A food insecure household has food, but it is of low quality, or there is little variety of it, or it is unhealthily disagreeable. As a result…