Ethnic stratification is a phenomenon creating division and inequality based on difference among people of various backgrounds. It is an unavoidable issue in regions where the population is largely diverse. The United States of America is a nation where a multitude of diversity exists in various forms. Many include gender, race, religion, sexuality, and social class. As the most powerful nation in the world, America is infamous for the inequalities that exist among its dominant white citizens versus all the minorities that reside in the country. Not only is race a sign of superiority in this nation, but the privileges tend to lean towards white males. Unfortunately this dynamic puts so many people in an oppressive situation. America’s inequality is a perfect example of ethnic stratification at play. Sociology studies the intricacies of the social science and has theories that are used to create a paradigm for various trends common in society. The Critical Race Theory and Conflict Theory will be compared and contrasted to best describe ethnic stratification.
Critical Race Theory
The Critical Race Theory used as a theoretical lens allows the focus of ethnic stratification to be dialed in to the issues of race and racism. When looking at the issues of ethnic stratification, one of the most dominant factors creating division begins with race. White people versus black people are one of the most common examples to use for the ethnic stratification in America. White citizens tend to be a part of a higher social class, whereas black citizens end up most likely on the bottom end of the social class spectrum. Race has a direct correlation with where one is likely to end up in the social class system. Most people living in poor inner cities tend to be black and Hispanic. Although this is a fact, it does not necessarily mean all black and Hispanic people are on the bottom end of the socio-economic ladder. Unfortunately, the critical race theory does provide ample evidence to show how influential race is in the ethnic stratification of society.
The American education system is an area where a significant disparity exists among various racial groups. Areas with a higher population of minorities tend to have poorer educational opportunities. “In short, students of color are still not graduating at rates comparable with their White peers, are disciplined at disproportionate rates at K-12 schools, and pathways for postsecondary opportunities for students of color are often obstacle filled as well” (Artiles, Kozleski, Trent, Osher, & Ortiz, 2010; Aud et al., 2010; Howard, 2010; Howard, T.C., & Navarro, O. 2016, p. 260). In a study done by Quaylan Allen (2016), published in the journal of Urban Education, middle-class black men and their sons are used to study the microaggressions they face in the education system. The very fact of their skin color has influenced the way they are approached in school, despite their social class. Many of the microaggressions experienced by the participants of the study included “pejorative views of intelligence, assumptions of deviance, and differential treatment in school discipline,” all related to their race (Allen, 2012, p. 186). Therefore, it is obvious to see how ethnic stratification develops through differences related to race.
Conflict Theory
The Conflict Theory of sociology observes social issues from the perspective of the scarcity mindset that occurs among various groups that are associated with power, status, and material possessions, which lead to conflict among opposing sides (Simon, 2016). A struggle occurs among the dominant and minorities groups who vie for obtaining what they feel is rightfully theirs. Sadly, the dominant group tends to have the most power, status, and material goods. Needless to say, a conflict arises and widens the division of ethnic stratification further. Proof of how the conflict theory explains ethnic stratification is evident in the tensions between blacks and whites.
Often time, white citizens assume and approach black citizens as threatening deviants, which is why a severe imbalance exists in the number of blacks to whites in prison. Law enforcement officials tend to target black men and boys in particular, regardless of whether or not there is solid evidence to prove that the suspect is a criminal. “Conflict theory impels us to recognize that every dimension of social structure can be conceptualized in terms of winners and losers, and social conflict often causes disastrous and tragic consequences for the losers in the social struggle” (Simon, 2016, p.2). In America, white male dominance has established this group as the “winners” while the remainders are seen as “losers.” Evidence of this imbalance of equity can be seen in nearly all parts of society across the nation.
In an article titled “Moving on Up But Still Falling Down: A Framework for Understanding the Trayvon Martin’s of the World. Race, Gender & Class,” a thorough example is provided of real-life scenarios where the conflict theory can make one understand ethnic stratification. According to Moye, Henderson, Lewis, & Lewis (2015), a black family is in the position of having moved up the socio-economic class and is moving into a good neighborhood, but they are met with tension from their white neighbors who feel that their “white space has been disturbed.” Here the dominant group is threatened by the minority group of losing their neighborhood to “outsiders” as they see all non-white individuals.
A World for Dominants
Race has been the starting point of where ethnic stratification begins, which is why I chose the Critical Race Theory and Conflict Theory to support the concept. When comparing the two theories I would say that the Critical Race Theory is best at describing the onset of ethnic stratification because the focus of division stems from racial differences. The Anglo-Saxon people who colonized the United States have oppressed people of all color since they first arrived. The threat of the white man losing his power continues to be the motivation for why ethnic stratification continues to haunt the nation.
The Conflict Theory can help the individual comprehend the sense of threat that motivates the dominant group to keep the minority group in an oppressive position. For Americans, that means white dominance remains regardless of the overwhelming number of minorities that make-up the United States population. Difference in race has posed a threat between white citizens and all other groups
Conclusion
Ethnic stratification appears to exist as a result of white society feeling threatened by all other groups. In America, for hundreds of years white men have been the dominant figures making all the decisions while establishing comfortable position for themselves. Meanwhile black, browns, women, and “everyone else” is left fighting for basic rights that should be given to all people. It seems that the dominant group feels that they are the only one who deserves human rights. In 2017, as president elect Trump begins to select his cabinet members, it is very easy to see that ethnic stratification is still running strong in America. Trump is the epitome of the dominant white male threatened of his position. Cleary as the new president takes his position, America seems to fall deeper into the division that exists between the dominant and minority groups. Although it would be wonderful for ethnic stratification to be an ancient concept of an uncivilized society, one can assume that under the Trump presidency, the nation is taking many steps backwards from establishing equality for all citizens of the world.
References
Allen, Q. (2012). “They Think Minority Means Lesser Than” Black Middle-Class Sons and Fathers Resisting Microaggressions in the School. Urban Education, 48(2), 171–197. doi:10.1177/0042085912450575
Howard, T.C., & Navarro, O. (2016). Critical Race Theory 20 Years Later Where Do We Go From Here?. Urban Education, 51(3), 253–273. doi: 10.1177/0042085915622541
Moye, R. G., Henderson, D. X., Lewis, M. K., & Lewis, A. (2015). Moving on Up But Still Falling Down: A Framework for Understanding the Trayvon Martin’s of the World. Race, Gender & Class, 22(1), 296-306. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1757047127?accountid=458
Simon, R. M. (2016). The conflict paradigm in sociology and the study of social inequality: Paradox and possibility. Theory in Action, 9(1), 1-31. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3798/tia.1937-0237.16001
