10/20/16Grouping Beyond Kinship10/20/16Grouping Beyond Kinship- Age Groupingo Age is pervasive dimension of social groupingo In western societies are groupings serve need for education, legal privileges (driving, drinking, etc.), responsibilities (military service), entitlements (Social Security)o In non-western societies, minimal distinctions among immature, mature, and elderly (life stages)o Like race, gender, and kinship, institutionalization of age is based on cultural, not biological factors- Age Grade and Age Seto Age Grade Organized group of people based on age Often automatic with age; sometimes requires resources to join Often involves rites of passageo Age Set Individuals initiated into age grade at the same time and who move through series of categories together as cohort- Age Grouping in Africao Age grades recognized among many African societies, including the Masaio Men born during same four-year period circumcised together, join same named age set, passed through grades together Warrior grade: essence of Masai-hood, marked by bravery, beauty; engaged in cattle raiding, warfare- Must first build manyatta (field houses)- Traditionally killed lion to prove bravery (now outlawed)- Involves dancing and ceremony; efforts to enhance appearance (hair, body paint, jewelry)- Common Interest Associations (non-kin based)o Result from joining and sharing particular activities, objectives, values, or beliefs, sometimes rooted in common ethnic, religious,or regional backgroundo Common in societies where individuals are separated from their kin- Sororities and Fraternities as Common Interest Associationso Ritualized acts of joiningo Involve people separated from their kino Research at IUP examined why women joined sororities Membership fulfilled sense of belonging to group Members placed value or social involvement and acceptance for social identity Compared to sorority members, twice as many nonmembers were first born child Involvement in student government in high school was three times higher for members- Stratificationo Society divided into 2 or more ranked categories of peopleo Predicated on unequal access to resourceso Inequality is institutionalized, thus social rank is ascribedo Mobility among ranks not uncommon in societies where personal freedom is promoted- Caste: Fixed Social Rankso Caste System in India Thousands of castes (jatis) organized into four basic categories (varnas)- Priests (Brahmins)- Warriors (land owners)- Landless artisans- Laborers2- Untouchables Each caste endogamous, ascribed Officially abolished in 1949- Gamo Caste Systemo Hierarchical grading between m aka, mana, and degala casteso Parallel to traditional occupationo Endogamy and ascribed statuso Pollution of the higher castes by the lower castes- Social Classo Stratification stemming from access to economic resources and/or prestige Classes not always well-defined and mutually exclusive (how many classes do we have in America today?) Vertical mobility feasible under certain social and political conditions Not usually endogamous, so marriage often means to vertical