Assignment 5


1. According to the slides how do we define power, prestige, and privileges and give an example of each.

We define power, prestige, and privileges by social stratification.  An example of privileges would be a person’s social status in society.  Social statuses are the social positions people occupy and the privileges and constraints that are attached to these positions.  An example of prestige would be a status group.  A status group is a group of people who share a common style of life and often identify with each other.  They are distinguished by prestige, which is the honor, and status a person receives.  People of prestige also have access to some special advantages.  Social stratification is based on race/ethnicity, education, income, and gender.  

2. Also, what three variables do Sociologists use to define social class? How would you define your social class and why?

The three variables that Sociologist uses to define social class are income/wealth, life chances, and status group.  I would define my social class as middle-class because my family has a secure income and allows us to live well above a subsistence level.  My parents have college degrees, and have an advantage of receiving a fair paying job.  These hierarchies in the U.S. are often based on race/ethnicity, education, income, and gender.

3.Think about how your race/ethnicity or gender or age has blocked you’re from an opportunity or given you an advantage.

My race/ethnicity has lowered my chances of applying to certain schools, because they were looking to has more diversity within their school.  My age use to prevent me from applying to a certain job I was interested in.  My gender has given me an advantage in the major I am studying which is elementary education.  Today, it is more popular for women to become elementary school teachers then men.  



4. Please identify your age, or gender of race/ethnicity and then tell me your story.

I am 20 years old, female, and I am mostly Czechoslovakian, and Sicilian.  I am also polish and German.  I grew up in Perth Amboy, and attended Holy Spirit Catholic School.  Being that I lived in a very Hispanic area, I was one of the few Caucasians in my class.  Although this did not bother me, some of the kids would speak Spanish to each other in the classroom, and I did not understand, and could not join in the conversation.  After my family moved out to Monroe, I found out that I lived in a more Caucasian area, and was now the majority in my new school.