Book Review Chapter 8: Stratification, Class, Inequality (Book Review Sample)

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Chapter 8: Stratification, Class, and Inequality
In the 8th chapter, the major theme of study is the stratification, class, and inequality of people in the US as portrayed by the youths. To begin with, there exists a social stratification that proves to rank people in classes based on the social status. As outlined by Giddens, Duneier, Carr, and Appelbaum, the social stratification begins with the teenage where status power finds its course. Teenager starts creating various social classes at school levels based on one’s social class which is determined by how well a student can cope with the current fashion in dressing.
Similarly, class also plays a great role in the creation of a socially stratified community as brought out by the conversation between Kate and Ellen when they joke with Robert concerning a rather non-classy lady for his dating. To them, they are the best and the most beautiful compared to the lady who, according to them, is of low status, especially judging by her physical appearance. In the same conversation, it is true to assert that even though they are talking about a lady in absentia, they are just trying to show Robert that he is not of their class. However, Robert seems unaware of their motive, gets in the joke, and also makes a further joke citing the difficulties he would face in trying to cuddle the fat lady.
The inequality is also brought out especially by the lifestyle of the teenage students in college. It is clear that they, especially girls, are cautious and concerned about who sits with them. While trying to confirm it, the students seem to mingle with the “right people” of their caliber. The inequality has adverse effects in life, especially the case of slavery. The ones who are unequal based on the low status get mistreatments that go to the extent of slavery. Relating to other people as a property is a great show of inequality in humanity.
In the US, the class is further influenced by the widening gap between the rich and the poor. It has effect on the distribution and accumulation of wealth which brings out the real disparity. However, the advancement in technology and globalization has impacted positively a big change in humanity since everyone is viewed as a potential economic improvement player. In such a way, the gap between the various classes of society widens, but even in some time, most probably that it will not disappear. Despite various predictions, people are to strive for better relations as each individual has equal rights in the society and deserves to be treated without prejudices.
Finally, the importance of globalization and advancement of information technology in curbing the caste system, especially in the United States, is evident. Therefore, this chapter revolves around social stratification, poverty, class system, and social exclusions. They are the major problems faced by America which hindered the economic development over time. However, the increased technological advancement and globalization make a big change regarding the issue of humanity as everyone is seen as a useful and potential in improving the economies.
Chapter 10: Gender Inequality
Andrea Ellington brings out the whole issues of gender inequality, especially in the context of job opportunity. Besides having a low profile job with a poor pay, she laments of all she has to do in order to carter for her daily needs and the necessities of her three kids. To begin with, it is evident that the low category jobs are given to women not only in the company where Ellington works but in nearly all other organizations. It comes out that women are always entrusted with the jobs that rather appear not to be appealing to men. The notion that the low profile jobs are for females is highlighted in this chapter, and it brings out the concept of gender inequality, which proves the expression that “what a man can do, a woman cannot even try.” According to Giddens et al. (2003), only 4% of 500 companies’ Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) are women in the US. The explanation is that most females are entrusted with the subordinate duties such as secretarial, personal assistant, cooks, among other low profile categories of jobs.
On the same note, gender is seen to determine the social roles and expected behavior of a given individual. The society has a defined expectation for a gender, and deviation can cause a lot of concern that might not be pleasing at some point. In this chapter, it is revealed that gender roles are enforced by the social factors like schooling, family, and the media. Also, chapter 10 highlights the gender inequality in terms of segregation just within an occupation and discrimination that is propagated by the same inequality. Even though children come to existence as a result of the action between men and women, parenting role of care giving is solely left for the females while the fathers tend to be busy in the name of fending for the family. On the same point, when it comes to hiring, a woman with the same qualification as the male applicant has only 30% probability of getting hired based on gender inequality. So, securing a top job calls for human, cultural, and social capitals which try to favor the male applicants.
However, it comes out that even though men are portrayed as the dominant sex when talking about the opportunities; they also have lots of regrets in life. As discussed in the chapter, the biggest one is the limited time with the family. In this sense, women have more advantages as they see how their children grow. Therefore, this chapter is a real ideology surrounding the male supremacy in the society.
Chapter 11: Ethnicity and Racism
The theme of ethnicity and race is brought out perfectly in chapter 11 by the tales of a black woman by the name Maureen. Being an elderly female of forty-five years of old, she does not speculate but sure with her sentiments. Her actions and words, especially to her kids, indicate the presence of ethnicity and racial prejudice. The setup of this chapter is in the City of Leicester, and Maureen tries to show how racism has gone heights by disputing the possibility of children born by black men and white women being considered as whites. To her, whether black or dual heritage between a black and the whites, one would simply be considered black. This itself is a fallacy given that whiteness is a predominant complexion compared to blackness. According to a recent research by United Nations Humans Rights Council (UNHRC) in 2010, what propels the blacks to marry the white ladies is the attempt to suppress the effect of racism. Instead, the expectation never became since even the dual heritage would not be considered as whites. To the racist whites, a dual-heritage kid would not experience the same treatments as the pure but instead would be subjected to the same experience that the blacks faces on the racial grounds.
Furthermore, ethnicity and racism are not only experienced within the residential but also in the workplaces. Institutional racism is rampant with the blacks having bad moments within the institutions filled with the behavior of inferiority that further affects their performance. Besides, stereotyping based on race has also become a norm. Again, in this chapter, the root cause of the ethnicity is revisited and points back to the slavery days. The coming of the inhabitants, especially the Africans, which led to the being of African-Americans, was as a result of the slave trade. Therefore, even after the end of slavery, racism could not end since the whites would still associate the blacks with the slavery and inferiority.
In an attempt to rectify the situation and create a rather equal environment without racism and ethnicity, the civil rights movements started cropping up in order to bridge the gap and offer a forum of understanding. Most of the movements were formed with the main aim of getting and addressing the grievances of the minority groups. Besides, the movements worked on creating awareness among people on the importance of inclusivity of all. Therefore, people learned to appreciate each other irrespective of the ethnicity or race with time, and this led to the reduction of racism.
Chapter 12: Aging
In this chapter, the reader looks at what the aged going through. Is it possible to make any significant achievement at old age? To most of the people, age is a hindrance of many activities and achievements, which are not the case with Penya Crown, the seventy years old man who took part in the Los Angeles Marathon. The effect of the graying population in the US is evident as the number of old people increases. Biological aging is among the best known types of aging but occurs at different times depending on an individual. Therefore, there is no exact age at which the aging signs such as facial wrinkles start occurring. Apart from the biological aging, there is also the aspect of psychological aging which affects mostly one’s reasoning, learning, and any other facet of the intellect. In essence, it is believed and also scientifically proven that it can reach a point in time that one’s reasoning deteriorates up to a level where an elderly person would reason like a small kid. The same happens with the memory where one’s memory can get aged to an extent that one can be so forgetful.
Social aging is another aspect of aging that looks into integration of the aged in the society. According Giddens et al. (2016), there exists a social conflict between the aged and the society. Therefore, it has become difficult to carter fully for the needs of the aged in the society due to the contradictions. The aged are being looked u...