ISS 215: Social Differentiation and InequalityLecture 1: Structural Function Perspective & Social InequalityIn-Class NotesPopulation depends on- Fertility- Fatality- Migration- Individuals are indispensableTemporary imbalances- Good because people come together to prevent it from happening again- “learned your lesson”Dysfunctional elements- Criminals  serve as an example (consequences)- Unifies everybodySociety as organic whole/social organisms- “society is a living thing and has life”- Newborn, growth, peak, declining, death, repeat- In terms/reference to society- Has/will happen to every civilizationAugust Comte- 3 stages- Theological  dominated by supernatural beliefs- Metaphysical  more logical/rational supernatural- Scientific (Renaissance)  believing in scientific studiesHerbert Spencer- Darwinism- Societies have living organisms that are best fit to live in environments and survive, all others die- Spencer thinks best fitted in human society succeed, prosper, move forward; all others are left behind (poor)- Nature tries to keep a balance between living organisms vs environment- Difference in structure- Everything changed  politics, religion, ethnicity, agriculture- Ex. Same sex marriage, gender rolesTalcott Parsons- Socialization- Process of learning everything, like a puppet to other individuals- Functional- Environments  create balance between environments and society- Goals  in every society, you must give people dreams, aspirations, goals- Creates competition, something to live for- Integration  rules and regulations to integrate people- Latency  maintain culture & habits as a societySocial Differentiation- Classifications- Race- Gender- AgeInequality & Stratification- Every society has valuable things (job, education, home)- Access- Those with valuable things are seen as superior- Possession- Enjoying having that accessStratification Systems- Hindu Caste System- Said to have separated his body to pieces to create different groups of people- The higher the body parts used to create a group, the more superior that group wasseen as- Harijans  untouchables- So dirty you have to be “purified” if touched- Lived in separate neighborhoods/communities- Class system also spreads to Islam, Christianity, Muslim- The Estate System- Nobility- Brute, cruel- Clergy- Paid to look the other way- If a girl wanted to marry, she had to get an ok from the nobles. To get an ok she had to “embrace her youth” by spending a night with a nobleDimensions of Social Stratification- Economic- Wealth  all assets- Wealth and occupation generate disposable income- Status- Association- Informal  a group of people just get together; open to anybody- Formal  must meet certain criteria to be a member- Bohemian Club- Invitation only; no females; no minorities- Made up of super elite, rich, and powerful- Makes major decisions- Atomic bomb, war in Iraq,