Overview
Paper: Social Stratification Impact on Life Chances
You will write a paper discussing how social stratification impacts a particular racial/ethnic group’s life changes. In sociology, there are three levels of research analysis: micro, meso, and macro. Micro-level research focuses on studying individuals and one-on-one interactions. Meso-level research focuses on studying groups. Macro-level research focuses on studying institutions and policies. Social stratification shapes all three levels in regard to racial/ethnic group experiences in society. Your paper should be no less than 1600 words in length(not including separate title page and references page). See the paper outline on Canvas which provides the number of words required for each section of the paper. Your paper should be written in 1-inch margins, Times New Roman, 12 point font, and American Sociological Association (ASA) style format. Your paper must include a separate title page, an introduction with thesis statement, the body, conclusion, and separate references page in the end. Your paper has two parts.
PART 1: Explain how your two social positions impact life chances for your racial/ethnic group in the U.S.
- Choose a racial/ethnic group within the U.S. to research.
- Select two social positions (e.g., class, gender, sexuality, religion, education, age, disability, phenotype, skin color, immigration/citizenship status, Indigeneity etc.)
- Include an Introduction which provides background of topic and overview of what will be discussed in the paper (1pts)
- Discuss how each social position shapes your selected group’s life chances (i.e. inequalities, access to education, healthcare, jobs, wealth, power, status, privilege etc.) at the macro-level (through institutions, policies, laws). Include 3-4 citations of articles/chapters to back up your information (2pts)
- Discuss how each social position shapes your selected group’s life chances at the meso-level (based on your group’s social position in a racial hierarchy, stereotypes, discrimination, and negative treatment in society). Include 3-4 citations of articles/chapters to back up your information (2pts).
PART 2: Discuss multi-level steps to help reduce inequality and increase equity regarding your two social positions and for your racial/ethnic group.
- Micro-level. Discuss two steps we can take at the micro-level through individual and one-on-one interactions to help reduce inequality and increase equity regarding your two social positions for your racial/ethnic group. Each step must include in detail a) what the step is, b) why the step is important, and c) the desired outcome for the step (2pt).
- Meso-level. Discuss two steps we can take at the meso-level, through group/community unity and mobilization to help reduce inequality and increase equity regarding your two social positions for your racial/ethnic group. Each step must include in detail a) what the step is, b) why the step is important, and c) the desired outcome for the step (2pt).
- Macro-level. Create two policies that can be incorporated at the macro-level through institutions and policies to help reduce inequality and increase equity regarding your two social positions for your racial/ethnic group. Each step must include in detail a) what the step is, b) why the step is important, and c) the desired outcome for the step (2pt).
- Citations: For this paper you must cite 6-8 academic articles/or book chapters (published within the last 10 years) to back up your information and claims within the paper. Citations must include (the author(s) name(s) and date of publication) and must be written in ASA style format (3pt). For example,
- Include a conclusion which summarizes the social issue and the main points/solutions addressing the problem (1pt)
- Reference Section: In the end, your Reference section should include your 6-8 academic articles/or book chapters) written in ASA style format (1pt).