Social Stratification (20617)

Year: 1
Term: 3
Number of ECTS credits: 6
Student hours: 150

 

Syllabus

This course aims to introduce students to the systems of social stratification in Catalonia and Spain and to encourage them to reflect on the mechanisms which maintain or weaken the systems of social hierarchy and social differentiation.

During the course students should form their own ideas about the following key social stratification issues:

   How did stratification originate and what are the most important factors in understanding the opportunities individuals have in life?

   To what extent do individuals' opportunities change when ethnic origin and gender are taken into account?

   How are social inequalities measured and what minimum levels of inequality are we prepared to accept?

   To what extent have opportunities been democratised in our societies in recent years?

   To what extent can social policies and institutions alter these structures or facilitate social mobility?

There is no single and irrefutable answer to the issues broached on the course; on the contrary, they can be interpreted in many different ways and definite answers are unlikely to be found. For this reason, it is hoped that students will be willing to participate actively in class and to question the theories and empirical evidence presented. To stimulate debate and aid study, a compulsory reading list has been compiled for each of the theory sessions.

PART I: Introduction to the study of social stratification

Topic 1. What do we understand by social stratification?

 

PART II: What are the main inequality-reproducing mechanisms?

Topic 2. Social classes: empirical analysis of the class structure

Topic 3. Poverty and social exclusion: the 'promise of social mobility' 

Topic 4. Social exclusion, crime and 'deviant' behaviour

Topic 5. Inequality between the sexes

Topic 6. Inequality according to ethnic origin

Topic 7. Inequality according to generation and age

 

PART III: How can social stratification mechanisms be altered?

Topic 8. Three practical cases to debate: the USA, Japan and Germany.

Topic 9. Human capital as a mechanism of social mobility

Topic 10. Social stratification social in a globalised world: the world's poor