SOC305 Social Stratification
2011 Spring
Instructor:
Nana Oishi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology
Office:
Building 10, Office#501
Phone:
03-3238-3564
Email:
nana_oishi@sophia.ac.jp
Office Hours:
Monday 15:15-16:45 & Friday 11:00-12:30 (By appointment)
Course Description:
This course will examine the classical and modern sociological explanations of social
stratification and inequality. Which factors cause socioeconomic and political inequality? Which
factors sustain inequality by preventing some people from upward mobility? This course will
cover social stratification by class, race, ethnicity, and gender by analyzing patterns of
socialization, family structure, and the processes of social mobility. By examining case studies
in the US, Japan, and some developing countries, this course will reveal the complexities of
social stratification at both domestic and global levels.
Grading Policy:
This course requires weekly reading assignments and expects active class participation from
students. The course grade will be based on the following components:
1. Pop Quizzes

5% x 4 = 20%
Each quiz will contain 5 questions (multiple-choice questions) on the weekly reading
and the lecture of the day.

There will be no announcement about the day on which the quiz will be conducted.

No make-up quiz will be offered. If you missed any of them for a medical reason, job
hunting, or family emergency, you can submit a proof document and a response paper
(12-point font, double-spaced, 3 pages) on the weekly reading for the day that you
missed. The reaction paper should include a one-page summary of the reading followed
by two-pages of your own reactions.
2. Mid-Term Exams
25% x 2 = 50%

Each exam will contain both short-answer questions and multiple-choice questions.

You can only enter the exam room during the first 30 minutes, and cannot take an exam
after that (except for the transportation delay – in that case, you need to submit a proof
from the train station.) You cannot enter the exam room and thus will not be able to
take an exam after that.

You cannot leave the exam room for the first 30 minutes. You need to remain seated
even if you finished your exam.
3. No make-up exam will be offered. If you missed either of them for a medical reason or a job
interview, you can double the percentage of one mid-term exam result after submitting a
medical certificate from a doctor.
4. Final Essay

30%
In the first part of the essay, choose one concrete phenomenon (or a case study) of
social inequality or stratification, and explain it by using any theories that you learned
in the class.

In the second part of the essay, in relation to the topic that you chose in the first part,
present your opinion on how the society could ameliorate the current trend of growing
inequality – either domestically or globally. Substantiate your opinion with at least one
theory or concept.

Please DO NOT SUMMARIZE the readings in your paper – I would like you to
APPLY the concepts and/or theories to a concrete phenomenon.

You must cite at least three ACADEMIC articles or books (other than course readings)
in your paper. Wikipedia should not be used for academic papers.

You need to provide proper citations and reference, including the author’s name,
publication year, and the page number that you are citing. For example, it should look
like (Oishi, 2005:104). You need to provide a reference at the end of your paper. The
absence of proper citations or inappropriate citations will result in one grade
deduction.

You cannot use the content of the papers that you have written for other courses.

Length: 1,600-1,800 words (12-point font, double-spaced)

Deadline: July 25 (To be submitted in class).

The paper needs to have a reference which is not counted as the number of words.

Plagiarism will result in a grade “F” not only for the paper and also for the entire
course.

No late paper will be accepted.
Main Readings (All articles will be uploaded onto Moodle.)

Scott Sernau. 2010. Social Inequality in a Global Age. Third Edition. Sage.

Michael J. Sandel. 2009. Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? Penguin Books.

Harold R. Kerbo. 2008. Social Stratification and Inequality. McGraw-Hill.

David Grusky ed. 2008. Social Stratification: Class, Race, and Gender in Sociological
Perspective. Third Edition. Westview Press.

Douglass S. Massey. 2007. Categorically Unequal: The American Stratification System.
Russell Sage Foundation.

Harold R. Kerbo. 2006. World Poverty: Global Inequality and the Modern World System.
McGraw-Hill.
Course Schedule
Part I:
What is Social Stratification?
What is social stratification? What kind of inequality/stratification do you see in our society? Is
stratification/inequality good or inevitable?
4/14
Course Introduction
4/18
What is Social Stratification?
Kerbo, Chapter 1, pp.1-9 (up to line7)
Giddens, pp.203-207
4/21
Social Stratification: An Overview
Giddens, pp.207-223
4/25
Social Stratification in Historical Perspective
Sernau, Chapter 1, pp. 3-13, 67-80
Part II: Social Stratification: Theories and Concepts
How can we explain social stratification? Which theory did you agree with and why?
4/28
Classical Theories of Social Stratification I: Karl Marx and Conflict Theory
Kerbo, Chapter 4, p.90-100
Sernau, pp.13-19 (up to line4)
5/2
Classical Theories of Social Stratification II: Max Weber
Sernau, Chapter 1, pp.19-20
Kerbo, pp.102-108
5/9
Classical Theories of Social Stratification III: Emile Durkheim
Modern Theories of Social Stratification: Functionalism
Sernau, pp.20-26
Kerbo, pp.108-110, pp.117-130
Part III: The Dimensions of Social Stratification
1. Gender Inequality
How is gender inequality manifested in our social life? How do you feel about it? How do you
think we can improve it?
5/12
Gender and Class I
Sernau, pp.139-155
5/16
Gender and Class II
Sugimoto, pp.146-172
5/19
Gender and Class III: Explaining Gender Inequality
Giddens, pp.306-315
2. Ethnicity and Race and Stratification
How is ethnic/racial stratification manifested in Japan and other countries? Are the types of
stratification different according to each country? If so, how? How can you explain
ethnic/racial stratification?
5/23
Race, Ethnicity, and Class I
Sernau, pp.107-128
Massey & Denton, pp.349-359
5/26
Race, Ethnicity, and Class II
Portes & Zhou, pp.658-669
Waters, pp.669-672
5/30
Midterm Exam I
6/2
Race, Ethnicity, and Class III
Sugimoto, pp.183-211
Part IV: The Processes of Social Stratification
How does social stratification emerge? How is it maintained? How did your own social/cultural
capital help you attain your current socioeconomic position?
6/6
Social Mobility I: An Overview
Kerbo, pp.385-414
6/9
Social Mobility II: Education and Mobility
Kerbo, pp.419-425
Giddens, Chapter 19, pp.830-845
Chapter 19, pp.848-855 “Social Divisions and Education”
6/13
Social Mobility III: Networks, Social Capital, and Cultural Capital
Granovetter, pp.576-579
Giddens, “Social Capital” pp. 817-820
Giddens, “Education, Cultural Capital and the Formation of Habitus”
pp. 846-848
Part V: Poverty and Welfare Programs
Why can’t some people get out of poverty? What kinds of programs are needed to help them?
6/16
Poverty: An Overview
Kerbo, pp.253-271
Giddens et al. “Explaining Poverty” “Combating Poverty” pp. 233, 236-238
6/20
Poverty and Welfare II: Social Exclusion
Kerbo, pp.271-291
Giddens et al. “Social Exclusion” pp. 238-241
6/23
Poverty and Welfare III: Poverty in Japan
Sekine, “The Rise of Poverty in Japan”
Part VI: Global Inequality
Social stratification and inequality exist not only among individuals or social groups but also
across countries around the world. Why are some countries rich and others poor? How can we
explain global inequality and what can we do about it?
6/27
Global Inequality I: An Overview
Sernau, Chapter 2
Kerbo, pp.1-10
6/30
Global Inequality and Stratification II: Explaining Global Inequality
Giddens et al. “Theories of Global Inequality” pp.262-275
7/4
Global Inequality and Stratification III: The Gender Dimension
Ehrenreich & Hochschild, Introduction and Chapter 1
7/7
Midterm Exam II
7/11
Global Inequality and Stratification III: Challenging the System
Sernau, pp.295-320
Part VII: Fundamental Debates
After having learned many theories, concepts, and practical issues, what is your position
towards social stratification and inequality now? Is it something good or bad? Is it inevitable or
something to be rectified? If so, why? Substantiate your arguments with existing literature.
7/14
Returning to the Fundamental Debates I: John Rawls
Sandel, pp.140-166
7/18
Returning to the Fundamental Debates II: Who Deserves What?
Sandel, p.184-207
7/21
Returning to the Fundamental Debates III: Justice and the Common Good
Sandel, pp.244-269
7/25
Conclusion