Stratification Systems of US and India
The United States has a high standard of living, where individuals expect to own property and have the ability to travel. Even so, the United States struggles with economic inequality, with a small number of citizens with a large amount of wealth and a larger number of people falling into relative poverty (Conerly, Holmes & Tamang, 2021).
Social stratification, like most social phenomena, can be examined from different sociological perspectives—functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism.
View the following videos about social stratification:
Social Stratification in the US: Crash Course Sociology #23 (YouTube - 9:33)Links to an external site.
https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=DeiHz5tzlws
Theories of Global Stratification: Crash Course Sociology #28 (YouTube - 11:47)Links to an external site.
https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=b350ljkYWrU
In this discussion,
· Choose two regions - one in the US and one outside the US - that experience poverty.
· Compare and contrast the stratification systems of each area.
· Compare and contrast the experience of poverty in each area. Consider the concepts of relative, extreme, and subjective poverty.
· Discuss the sociological theories that best explain the poverty in each of your chosen areas. How are they alike? How are they different?
Write at least 300 words, use excellent written mechanics, and include current APA formatting as needed.
“Social Stratification in the US and Beyond”
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“Social Stratification in the US and Beyond”
I. Introduction
The United States is known for its high standard of living; however, it still grapples with economic inequality, with a small group of citizens holding a disproportionate amount of wealth while many others experience relative poverty (CrashCourse a, 2017). This essay will compare and contrast the stratification systems of two regions, one in the US and one outside the US, and discuss the sociological theories that best explain poverty in each chosen area.
II. “Poverty in the United States and India”
A. Stratification Systems in the United States and India
In the United States, poverty is determined by the poverty line, an income threshold below which a household's resources are deemed insufficient to meet basic needs. In India, various indicators, including education, health, and employment status (Crashcourse b, 2017), determine poverty. Despite the differences in their approaches, the United States and India experience poverty, affecting large portions of their populations.
B. The Experience of Poverty in the United States and India
Relative poverty refers to the situation in which individuals cannot afford to purchase goods and services that are considered normal in their society. In the United States, relative poverty affects a large portion of the population, including those who cannot afford adequate housing and access to healthcare(Crashcourse b, 2017). In India, extreme poverty is a persistent issue, with millions of people living in slums and lacking access to necessities like food and clean water.
Subjective poverty refers to individuals' perceptions of their poverty, regardless of their economic status (Crashcourse b, 2017). In the United States, subjective poverty is influenced by factors like ...