Social Structured Inequality

Social stratification is an important concept in sociology and has many definitions which revolve around it being ‘a socially constructed concept’ which is based on ‘structured inequality’; ‘the inequality may be in the form of income and wealth, an individual’s biological or ethnic make-up, or may be as a result of age or disability’ (Scottish Further Education Unit, 2006). In addition, the inequalities exist ‘among persons and between social groups with respect to the access, acquisition and distribution of scarce and valued resources’ (Giddens et al 2003; Lenski 1966; Sanderson 1999; Slomczynski and Shabad 2000) resulting in a somewhat ‘rigid subdivision of a society into a hierarchy of layers’ (Business Dictionary.Com, 2011). The effects
One will agree that social stratification is largely determined by factors which are economically related such as class since a person’s economic position will determine his education, occupation, associates and sometimes his position in society. Generally, there are three main classes in society known as the upper class (wealthy), middle class (average incomes) and lower class (poor) and sometimes there are representatives of each group within a class although this is highly unlikely as rich parents tend to send their children to private or prestige schools as opposed to mainstream schools. This is because they want to minimize their children socializing with children from poor homes who are viewed as inferior with brash behaviours and language. For example, it is a fact that schools like San Fernando TML and St Gabriel’s Girls RC only admits students whose parents have a high social standing and are wealthy. Therefore teachers in these ‘prestige’ schools, which are generously funded by parental donations, will have more access to educational resources and technologies and will expect a certain caliber of students which will encourage them to provide a high level of education for their students. In contrast students from schools like Princes
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