Track 15

Unit 3

Sociology

Social status; flaunting your success

Page 25

Try it out!

There are a few societies around the world where everyone has equal status. In the great majority of societies though, there exists some kind of social hierarchy, sometimes referred to as social stratification. That’s social stratification, STRATIFICATION, got that?

This stratification means that those occupying high status have more power and privilege than others. Their opinions, ways of thinking, values, needs and feelings are thought to have more value. This situation can lead to what’s called status conflict where people lower down the hierarchy feel that the inequality has become too great, that they have too little recognition, worth or authority and too smaller share in resources.

Essentially, this is a reaction to a kind of injustice and discrimination in favor of the status quo, which is the existing situation. In other words, those who are lower in the hierarchy want change and may be prepared to fight for their own values.