Social Class and Stratification (Chapter 8)

Social stratification is defined in chapter 8 as being a 'system of structured social inequality' which essentially means that among societies people are often divided into social groups of value or worth such as caste systems. These groups and systems can be based around ascribed status (meaning by birth) or by estate logic (meaning by possession of certain values such as properties). This topic interests me as its intriguing to see how people attempt to assign worth and value to other people based on such trivial concepts that often are entirely materialistic or illogical.

http://search.proquest.com/docview/1030094511?accountid=14551
This recent 2012 article regarding social stratification in Mexico demonstrates some of the more perplexing elements to social separation that people devise - basing it on skin color. This has been exhibited in more situations then most can count but it is always interesting to see direct quantifiable data of such separation based on physical appearance and factors individuals can not control. The article also mentions socioeconomic elements of the class separation which is the most common form of social stratification generally. This link overall embodies how social class differences can create a rift among groups and make certain groups seem almost as if they're two entirely different societies.

http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/american_quarterly/toc/aq.64.3.html
This second collection of 2012 articles in American Quarterly delves more into the economic aspect of social division, the form of social stratification most are more immediately familiar with. The common theme of the working class, middle class, and higher class is an issue that is very relevant in the United States modernly due to the economic condition. It is important to view social stratification in a modern sense and not isolated perspective such as the caste systems of older societies and apply it to something actively happening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIm5AynAbx0
The attached link is a dated documentary style observation on social stratification in the United States and the types of groups within groups that occurs as a result of social grouping.

http://dmc122011.delmar.edu/socsci/rlong/intro/class.htm
This site is a lecturers notes on social class in relation to a multitude of variables ranging from race, wealth, status, birth, etc. The professor calls into a variety of sociological perspectives including Marxism, functionalist, and conflict.

http://www.journals.elsevier.com/research-in-social-stratification-and-mobility/
The second site covers an even wider range of observations on social stratification and observes the division of class throughout a variety of generations. The studies also include other variables such as gender in regards to equality and frequently utilizes quantifiable data to observe whether social stratification is still relevant in a modernized/westernized nation.