ANTA02 03/17

Weekly Announcements

  • Zoo Trip Announcement

    • Scheduled for Friday.

    • Tutorials may be affected due to this trip.

    • Hosted by the Anthropology Department Student Association.

    • Two anthropology professors (ontologists) will be present.

    • Opportunities for behind-the-scenes insights into monkeys and their behavior.

    • QR code registration available for interested parties.

Key Reminders

  • Exam Details

    • Date: Monday, April 20

    • Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

    • Check schedules to avoid conflicts.

    • Inform the registrar if there are any conflicts with another exam.

  • Gridiron Capital Book Availability

    • No hard copies available at the bookstore.

    • Alternative options include:

      • Purchase from Amazon or Indigo.

      • Copy available on course reserve at the library for a few hours.

      • PDF available online through course modules or library link.

      • Printed copies can be bound at the print hub.

  • Note Taking Assignment

    • Due this Sunday.

    • Submission via Quirkus.

    • Assignment specifics: Take good notes to perform well on future exams.

  • Note Taking Options

    • Several ways to take notes on the assignment:

      • Open PDF viewer on Quirkus and take notes directly.

      • Be cautious as annotations may not save if the tab is closed.

      • Download the PDF for offline note-taking.

Social Stratification Overview

  • Definition

    • Social stratification (or social hierarchy) refers to the ranking of individuals or groups within a society.

    • Creates pervasive systems of inequality that privilege certain classes, castes, races, genders, ethnicities, and religions.

  • Conceptualization

    • Visualized as a layered cake, representing different strata in society.

    • Various forms of stratification can coexist and interweave within a society, affecting how inequality is perceived and experienced.

  • Division of Labor

    • The existence of different strata often relates to the division of labor in society.

    • Certain jobs are valued more than others, leading to unequal distribution of resources and privileges.

  • Organic Development of Social Structures

    • Social structures arise organically rather than being directly imposed by a central authority.

    • Those who accumulate wealth or resources tend to dictate the social and political organization, perpetuating the established hierarchy.

Examples of Social Stratification

  • Hutterite Societies

    • A case study of an egalitarian society amidst industrialization.

    • Hutterites are a religious and ethnic group living in colonies primarily in North America.

    • Each colony consists of approximately 15-20 families (about 150 people total).

    • Unlike many other societies, they maintain collective ownership and discourage individual property ownership.

    • Social hierarchy exists on the basis of gender and age; men hold leadership positions, and decision-making power is generally reserved for older, male members.

    • Extensive use of modern agricultural techniques within a framework that promotes collective welfare rather than individual wealth.

  • Comparison with Stratified Societies

    • While Hutterite societies have achieved a form of egalitarianism, they still face stratification based on gender and age.

    • Thus, boundary conditions exist while still promoting communist agricultural practices.

Forms of Social Stratification

  • Caste Systems

    • In caste-based societies, individuals are ascribed a social status at birth, determining their societal roles and opportunities.

    • Lack of social mobility between castes is a characteristic feature; members remain in their caste for life.

    • Occupational roles are often defined by caste, creating structured communities set up to marry within their caste.

    • Cultural examples include the caste system in India, which persists despite legal abolishment, due to historical legacies.

  • Class Systems

    • Class systems allow for social mobility based on an individual's achievements or failures.

    • Economic statuses can shift, which differs from the rigid nature of caste.

    • Meritocracy is commonly associated with class systems; hard work and individual effort are purported paths to higher social standing.

    • Yet, in practice, familial background remains a strong predictor of future class status, showing that achieving equality is often not a given.

Race and Racism in Social Stratification

  • Race as a Social Construct

    • Race is understood as more of a cultural category than a biological one.

    • Cultural argument: Contemporary anthropologists argue that concepts of race have no solid biological basis.

    • Phenotype cannot reliably segregate race due to genetic variability among populations.

    • Arbitrariness: Drawing lines based off physical traits is subjective and situational.

  • Racial Hierarchies

    • Racial stratification often aligns with historical contexts of colonialism and exploitation.

    • Systems of inequality rely heavily on exploiting groups classified by unscientific racial distinctions.

    • Racial Thinking: Utilizing race as a way of justifying behavioral or intellectual characteristics of individuals.

Conclusion and Further Discussion

  • Scientific Racism and examples of institutional racism illustrate how deeply entrenched beliefs can carry over into modern society.

    • Examples include issues of race norming in cognitive testing and various historical practices rooted in pseudoscience.

  • Upcoming Topics

    • Further discussions on the interplay between caste and class, and existing forms of race in various cultural contexts, including the case of Brazil and its unique position in terms of race and class.

  • Opportunities for exchanges and questions remain open for all students to engage with complex themes within social stratification.