Social Stratification
Spring, 2003
Sociology 4035 – 001 (UC Boulder)
Tuesday/Thursday
Instructor:
Office/Tel. Ketchum 8F (By Basement Stairs & I);
492-8626; also Soc Dept.
Office Hrs: T/Th
Email: willard@well.com
; Website: <http://www.well.com/user/willard/socy4035.htm>
Course Description
We
live at a pivotal time in human history in which we need to develop our understanding
of the nature of social conflict. Changes
in technology, the global and regional distribution of wealth, power, access
continue to impact the organization of society.
The following course will help you recognize, evaluate, and address
issues of social, economic, and other kinds of hierarchy and stratification.
Our look at social stratification spans a period from classic analysis
of pre-industrialization to contemporary issues of power, access, and employment
associated with globalization. We will cover the basic theories, terms, and
approaches, as well as examples from the class systems of different societies,
as well as different approaches to address inequality.
Required Texts and Access
Kerbo, Harold. (2003). Social Stratification and Inequality.
Supplemental Reading Package
will be made for Norlin Reserve Online.
University Computer Account
Paper Requirements
We
will have two papers, and I will hand out additional material. Paper
1: Examines the context, consequences, and solutions of any ‘social
stratification theorist or analyst.’ 6 pages or so. Paper 2: Will take a more extended
analysis of an instance of social stratification. Ethnographic research is
possible but not required. 12 pages.
Exam
Midterm
exam/Final
Grading Break-down
Attendance 5
Participation 5
Short Paper 10
Long Paper 25
Midterm Exam 20
Final Exam 25
Disability Statement
If
you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities that require
accommodations, please let me know early in the semester so that your learning
needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your
disability to the Disability Services Office in Willard 322 (phone 303-492-8671).
Academic Honesty
All
work done for this course must be the original work of the student submitting
it and should be undertaken exclusively for this course. Assisting in academic dishonesty (e.g.
letting someone copy your assignments) can retroactively lower your grade.
Violations of academic honesty will result in appropriate action under the
University's rules.
Course Outline and
1. Week of Jan 14/16 - Theory
and overview
Jan
13 Introduction and Course Overview.
Jan
16 Kerbo Ch 1.
2. Week of Jan 21/23rd - Models of Stratification /
Stratification in History
*Diamond:
Guns, Germs, and Steel, Epilogue [link]
*Wittfogel:
Oriental Despotism [link]
3. Week of Jan 28th/30th
– Classic Theoretical Models
*Marx
and Engels – Manifesto of the Communist Party /
Part 1-2 [link];
*Marx,
[Wage
Labor] "On Classes" [link]"
*Weber,
"Class,
Status, and Party" <Link>"
4. Week of Feb 4rd/6th
– Transitional
Models
*Parsons,
“Equality
and Inequality" <Link>
*Dahrendorf. Selections
<Link>
*Not
being used - Gramsci Selections
5. Week of Feb 11/13 – Contemporary
*Not
being used - Domhoff, "The Ruling Class and the Problem of Power"
“The
CEO Under Fire” – Selected article from Fortune
6. Week of Feb 18/20 – Middle and Working Classes
[Paper 1 Due Feb 18th]
7. Week of Feb 25th/27th
– Poverty
8. Week of March 4rd/6th
– Gender
*
Mitchell, "The Position of Women
*
Lockwood, "Class Satus, and Gender"
9. Week of March 11th/13th
– Race and Ethnicity
*Du Bois, "Double-Consciousness and the Veil" Levine
10. Week of March 18th/20th
–
[Spring Break]
Guide to Final Paper - html version 1.0.
11. Week of April 1st/Apr
3rd – Social Mobility
12. Week of April 8th/10th –
*Herman,
Edward S. and Noam Chomsky (1988). Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy
of the Mass Media. NY: Pantheon. Selections
*McChesney, Robert W.. (1999). Rich media, poor democracy
: communication politics in dubious times.
13. Week of April 15th/17th
–
*Castells, Manuel. 1996. The
rise of network society.
*Barnet,
Richard & John Cavanagh. (1994). Global Dreams: Imperial Corporations and the
14. Week of April 22st/ 24th – Globalization
and Poverty [Paper 2 Due April 24th]
*Sklar, Holly. (1995). “Competing for Global Corporations.”
In Chaos or Community.
Ong, Aihwa (1999). Flexible Citizenship. Selections
15. Week of April 29th/May
1st – Review/Presentations
Last
Class
16. Exam. May 3rd.
Have a great break!