Social stratification implies that in every society goods and services are not equally distributed. Some people are wealthy enough to buy a house, others have to pay rent to live in a small apartment. More generally spoken, why are some people rich and others poor? A society without social stratification implies that there are no inferior or superior positions and all human beings are equal and have the same prerequisites when they are born. The opposite is the case. People are born into families of unequal positions, some are born into rich influential families, others have to live under the poverty level. Wouldn’t it be fair for all human beings to have the same starting position when they are born? In every country the reality looks different and that is a reason why social stratification is such an interesting topic. To what extent have inequality and difference an impact on people’s life? Japan and the USA are both highly modernized and industrialized countries. According to World Bank, the USA has the biggest Gross National Product (GNP) in the world followed by Japan. This fact underlines the importance of both nations for the world economy. These figures get more interesting when they are put into relation with the population of each country. The figure “GNP per person” is a measurement for the wealth of a country. In this ranking the USA is in fourth place followed by Japan (Albrecht et al., 2003). These figures might give the impression that both countries are quite similar but there is one major difference. Japan is the only non-Western country that is industrialized. The cultural background is different and that is a reason why a comparison between these countries can be interesting and might lead to surprising results. In this paper I will try to find out what inequality is based on and why these differences occur of varying strength in both countries. In these countries social stratification depends on cultural aspects as well as economical aspects. The cultural background influences the way the society deals with economy. After giving an introduction about basic definitions and concepts of social stratification I will describe and analyse differences in income and education in both societies. To make a comparison useful and clear I will include data from the “Fischer Weltalmanach” and the “Human Development Report 2002” to this term paper.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Basic definitions and concepts of social stratification
2.1. Social difference and inequality
2.2 Ascription and achievement
2.3. Systems of social stratification
3. Income inequality in Japan and the United States
4. Education system
4.1. Education system of the USA
4.2. Education system of Japan
5. Future prospects
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to conduct a comparative analysis of social stratification in Japan and the United States, examining how cultural and economic factors contribute to differing levels of inequality in both modernized societies.
- Theoretical foundations of social stratification, including ascription and achievement.
- Comparative analysis of income distribution and inequality levels.
- Evaluation of education systems as mechanisms for social mobility.
- The influence of cultural homogeneity versus individualistic competition.
- Demographic challenges and future societal prospects for both nations.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. Social difference and inequality
To this point I have used the term “social stratification” several times without actually explaining what the term exactly stands for and what its roots are. The main conditions that occur in societies are social difference and inequality. Social difference means that people have their own individual qualities, attitudes, occupations and social roles. Social differences can also be described by biological characteristics e.g. sex, size or age. You are born with them that exclude the chance to influence them. Social differences can divide a society into layers. Gupta points out that logically you should consider these characteristics only horizontally or maybe separately but not vertically or hierarchically (1991:7). Language, religion, race or sex are differences that do not contain the possibility of being valued unequally. In some countries the opposite is the case e.g. women are regarded inferior to men. Prejudices lead to the point that social differences are not equally valued. Cultural background often has an impact on the evaluation of characteristics of human beings.
There is a main distinction between social differentiation and social inequality that should be recognized. Social differentiation does not necessarily suggest that personal qualities are ranked on a scale and are evaluated differently although society does it sometimes. Personal qualities are not divided into a hierarchy. They are considered differently but still equally. Kerbo (1992:11) emphasizes that “social differentiation, however, sets the stage for inequality and social stratification” and therefore a connection between inequality and differentiation is set. Gupta (1991:9) defines the problem of distinguishing between difference and inequality, as “a social differentiation that separates without implying inequality is not always easy to appreciate”. As soon as social differences are separated into different categories, a valuation of these categories can emerge unintentionally. Prejudices in the population against some of these characteristics play a major role causing that also “neutral” differences are divided into good or bad.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of social stratification and outlines the research focus on comparing the industrial societies of Japan and the United States.
2. Basic definitions and concepts of social stratification: This section defines key sociological terms, distinguishing between social difference, social inequality, and the systems of ascription versus achievement.
3. Income inequality in Japan and the United States: The chapter provides a comparative analysis of income distribution, highlighting why Japan exhibits less inequality compared to the United States.
4. Education system: This section investigates how educational structures influence social mobility and replicate class hierarchies in both countries.
5. Future prospects: The author discusses demographic trends, specifically the aging population and labor force challenges, and their implications for social stability.
6. Conclusion: The paper concludes by summarizing that while social inequality persists in both nations, Japan's cultural and educational models differ significantly from the more individualistic American approach.
Keywords
Social stratification, income inequality, education system, ascription, achievement, seniority system, class system, cultural background, industrial societies, social mobility, demographic pressure, economic disparity, Japan, United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this term paper?
The paper examines the concept of social stratification by comparing the structures of income and education in Japan and the United States.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The themes include the theoretical definitions of social inequality, the role of cultural factors in economic systems, and the impact of education on class mobility.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how and why social inequality manifests differently in these two highly modernized and industrialized countries.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a comparative approach, analyzing sociological literature alongside statistical data from sources like the Human Development Report and the Fischer Weltalmanach.
What is examined in the main body of the work?
The body analyzes the definitions of stratification, provides a data-driven comparison of income distribution, evaluates national education systems, and discusses future demographic challenges.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include social stratification, ascription, achievement, income inequality, seniority system, and social mobility.
How does the "seniority system" in Japan affect social inequality?
It promotes income parity within age groups but can lead to inequality between younger, underpaid workers and older, overpaid employees.
Why does the author consider the Japanese education system more "successful" than the American one?
The author points to the greater standardization and the success of the public education system in providing a uniform basis of knowledge for the majority of the population.
- Quote paper
- Christoph Kilian (Author), 2004, Social stratification in Japan and the United States, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/70514
