Book Description
Harold Kerbo continues to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date exploration of the economic and social divisions in human societies. While the book is grounded in the nature of social stratification in the United States, this edition maintains a commitment to keeping a global perspective. Extensive comparative information, as well as an overview of how, historically, social stratification has changed and evolved, gives readers a global perspective on class conflict. Praised for its thorough research and scholarship, Social Stratification and Inequality includes current statistics and the latest trends in the field.
Customer Reviews:
Buy this book!.......2005-12-11
Kerbo provides brilliant insight into economic and global stratification, along with detailed discussions of classic and modern theories. This is one of the best books on the topic and I have found it quite useful in a variety of academic situations. Some people that are critical of Kerbo's short sections on race and class should be reminded of the interconnectedness of social and economic problems. Inequality between both sex and race cannot be seperated from the consequences of capitalism.
Social Stratification and Inequality.......2000-11-17
READ THIS BOOK!! You need to truly understand the class system in America and the means used to sustain it. This book is a fantastic survey of the class system in American society. It also includes analyses of world stratification systems and various theories surrounding these systems. Previous reviews of this book have had a narrow focus, rather than making judgement on a wholistic basis. A must-read to be sure!
This textbook was completely androcentric........1999-02-13
Do not buy this book. Do not read this book. Instead, e-mail Harold R. Kerbo and tell him that women's place in social stratification deserves a little more than a few pages. Remind him that women are 50% of the United States population, and thus 50% of the United States Social Stratification system.
Customer Reviews:
Concise good book for economist, policy maker, and general audience.......2006-02-21
A great short book on the topic of equality and efficiency. I think it is a must read in any college economics, sociology, policy class, and maybe even in advanced high school settings.
I consider it a classic and it is keep alongside Smith, Ricardo, Malthus, and Keynes.
Insightful analysis into government and markets.......2005-07-16
It really is a shame that one apathetic student is dragging the rating of this important book down.
The ideas expressed by Okun here have withstood the test of time and are especially relevant in light of current government policies.
Highly recommended for those who want to deepen their thoughts and broaden their perspectives about the role of markets, government, and how the two relate to one another.
Very good........2004-07-06
I'm writing this review horrified that this book currently has only 3 stars (hopefully my vote will change that). I care because it is a VERY good book, extremeley and interesting and extremely relevant to the functionality of our society.
I cannot think of many things that are more important to how our society functions than the issues surrounding equality. This is a very readable way to get thinking about this subject or find others writing clearly summarized.
Thinking has developed slightly since this books was written, but the overall ideas still hold. Highly recommended.
Don't be dissuaded from reading this book by someone who read it because they had to. Bad teachers can make anything a miserable experience.
Clear and thought-provoking, despite some dated examples.......2002-02-05
This short book is nearing its thirtieth birthday, and in spots it shows its age. Its many references to U.S. income levels, for example, have to be (roughly) quadrupled to reflect current patterns.
Nonetheless, this is an extremely clear introduction to one of the central political and economic issues of the past century: To what extent should government (and more broadly, society) pursue economic equality? Okun is at his best in pointing out the tradeoffs that both liberals and conservatives must face. Okun argues that with some exceptions, pursuing a great deal of equality will cost society a great deal of efficiency for four reasons: there are fewer incentives for the working rich, fewer incentives for the working poor, less capital investment by the rich, and more administrative costs. On the other hand, singlemindedly pursuing efficiency will cost society a great deal of equality, with the rich getting richer and the poor poorer. Okun clarifies why the tradeoff exists through clever uses of metaphors, most notably his famous "leaks in the (transfer) bucket." Okun ultimately chooses a relatively liberal tradeoff that favors equality, but he always acknowledges the other side's arguments because, like most economists, he respects the powerful efficiency of well-working markets.
Just as interestingly, Okun also discusses cases when we all-- liberal and conservative alike-- may agree to emphasize equality. Voting, trials, and other forms of political life, for example, are areas where we all might wish that government (and its propensity for equality, treating all of us as equal) would prevail over the market (and its propensity for inequality, giving some individuals much more influence than others). Yet often the market prevails in such political areas as well, as we see high-priced lawyers gain advantages in trials, and rich campaign contributors gain advantages in voting and lobbying. In such cases, says Okun, the necessarily unequal market has colonized an area--government-- where equality should be the norm.
One doesn't have to agree with all of Okun's conclusions to find this a thought-provoking and insightful book.
It was a forced-read, so I wasn't too keen on it to start..........2001-02-12
When I attended Reed College, my economics professor assigned this book as a "quick read." Unfortunately, the book is rather dry, and I didn't pull much out of it. If you have the time to actually re-read passages, go ahead and pick it up if the topic interests you. Otherwise, forget about it, because I had one night to read it, and the results were the same as if I didn't read it at all.
Book Description
In this new volume noted scholars David B. Grusky and Szonja Szel nyi have assembled a compilation of the most relevant contemporary readings on social inequality that is also backed by a select list of the most fundamental classics, all from top names in the field.
Book Description
Without Justice for All: The New Liberalism and Our Retreat from Racial Equality questions, examines, and explains the way a new orthodoxy of American leaders has contributed to the social stratification and inequality which plagues America today. By looking at the history of our social policies since the New Deal, as well as the status of specific policy arenas, contributors show how political shifts over the past fifty years have moved us away from a more egalitarian politics. Throughout, the central thread is a critical response to a now conventional argument that liberalism must be reconfigured in ways that retreat from immediate identification with the interests of labor, minorities, and the poor. From a look at federal housing policy and the failure of New Deal social programs to an examination of long established public assistance programs and Affirmative Action, Without Justice for All, written for both students and general readers, is timely and important contribution to the dialogue on race in modern America. In recent years, America's political and policy leaders have reshaped the nation's approach to race and equality. Our current political orthodoxy has turned away from the long held view that structural forces in our economy, public policies, and history serve to reinforce our nation's inequalities. This new cadre of leaders favors the perception that most inequalities are the results of defects or miscalculations by the minorities or inner city populations most affected. But have these changing notions of race in America served to shape the current patterns and definitions of inequality for better? Or for worse? Without Justice for All: The New Liberalism and Our Retreat from Racial Equality questions, examines, and explains the way a new orthodoxy of American leaders has contributed to the social stratification and inequality which plagues America today. By looking at the history of our social policies since the New Deal, as well as the status of specific policy arenas, contributors show how political shifts over the past fifty years have moved us away from a more egalitarian politics. Throughout, the central thread is a critical response to a now conventional argument that liberalism must be reconfigured in ways that retreat from immediate identification with the interests of labor, minorities, and the poor. From a look at federal housing policy and the failure of New Deal social programs to an examination of long established public assistance programs and Affirmative Action, Without Justice for All, written for both students and general readers, is timely and important contribution to the dialogue on race in modern America.
"Nation columnist Katha Pollitt calls Adolph Reed, Jr. the most intelligent person anywhere writing about race. After the publication of Without Justice for All: The New Liberalism and Our Retreat from Racial Equality, Reed also should be known as the most intelligent person editing books about race." -Cleveland Monitor
"How excellent it is, in such a depoliticised and cynical time, that so many genuine scholars should combine to treat, as if they were authentic human beings, those elements in society that have been used as 'raw material' both by our rulers, and the degraded academics who seek to please them. Sound research and good writing are, as ever, the best revenge." -Christopher Hitchens
"Astute and information-packed, these essays from a wide range of scholars are a powerful counter-argument to those who say racism in America is a thing of the past. Essential reading." -Katha Pollitt
"Brother Reed articulates in clear form the right-wing agenda and class warfare that both Democrats and Republicans have waged on the American worker. In addition, he makes a clear and strong argument why we are in dire need for a second political party in this country." -Robert L. Clark, General Secretary-Treasurer, United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America
"A penetrating study of the myths that have been forged into policy. This critical analysis is an essential tool to help us define a coherent strategy to confront the powerful forces of injustice." -Tony Mazzochi, Presidential Assistant, Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers Union, AFL-CIO
"An important source of context for health policy afiicionados seeking broader analysis of class and racial disparities in access to health services and insurance. Those who believe Clinton's Health Plan represented a neo-liberal pandering to large private insurance companies seeking a profitable role under 'reformed' health care will appreciate the collected critiques of other social policy initiatives assembled be Adolph Reed." -Kit Costello, RN, President, California Nurses AssociationPraise for Adolph Reed's W.E.B. DuBois and American Political Thought:
"Readers familiar with Adolph Reed Jr.'s work ... expect fiery polemics defending one interpretation of American race relations against any and all rivals. They will not be disappointed." -The New York Times
Reed's] stubborn belief in class politics, his fury at the self-satisfaction of intellectuals, and his repudiation of postmodern fashion ... make him a rare tonic." -The Nation
Customer Reviews:
New Insights into the Polarization of America.......2000-05-12
Adolph Reed has again used his brilliant mind to pinpoint the causes for the decline in race relations in the country. Today there is less socializing and less communication between not only the so-called "races," but also across socio-economic class lines. This book clearly shows that the major social problem in the country is not a racial or ethnic problem, but a conflict in life-styles. The concept of "race" is shown to be obsolete, and the continued use by the government to force people to classify themselves into a particular "race" is itself a racist act. The "One-drop-rule" is mentioned as one the major reasons why there is still so much confusion about what a "Black" is. This book is required reading for anyone wishing to begin to understand the reasons behind the continued push by certain interest groups to further polarize the nation along so-called "racial" classifications. The recent political decision by the takers of the Census to classify anyone who is of mixed ancestry, where any ancestor was a person-of-color, as a minority was totally unscientific and a step backwards from a trans-cultural society. Congradulations again on a great book.
Book Description
Equal Opportunity Theory is a clear and comprehensive examination of the idea of self determination: both the right to self-determination as well as its expression in our society. Author Dennis E. Mithaug examines society's collective responsibility for assuring fair prospects of self-determination for all people. This inclusive volume also describes how social policies derived from the theory of equal opportunity actually impact those with the least likely prospects for self-determination throughout their lives--the poor, the disabled, and people of color. Author Dennis E. Mithaug first presents the logical, philosophical, and psychological basis for equal opportunity theory and then presents its social and judicial background. From this foundation he shows how the optimal prospects principle derived from the theory decreases the discrepancy between the right and the experience of self-determination for children and adults with significant physical, mental, social, and economic disadvantages. Although the main thrust is theoretical, evidence in support of the theory is based upon a combination of empirical, historical, and logical sources. Addressing one of the hottest current topics in American society and public policy today, Equal Opportunity Theory's timeliness will make it of great interest to students and professionals in the fields of sociology, psychology, and political science. "In Equal Opportunity Theory, Dennis E. Mithaug writes about the discrepancy between the right to self-determination and the expression of that right, a problem that is salient to most Americans with disabilities and others who are less well situated in our society. This discrepancy manifests itself in what may be the most 'handicapping' aspect of having a disability, being poor, or being a member of a minority group that experiences frequent discrimination--the lack of control over one's life. Equal Opportunity Theory provides a thoughtful, interdisciplinary treatment of the complex issues related to this problem. The book provides an important differentiation of the impact of individual capacity and opportunity theory as a means to resolve the discrepancy between the right to and experience of self-determination for individuals whose personal, social, and economic circumstances are beyond their control. It also provides a valuable contribution to the debate concerning how best to empower and enable all individuals to live self-determined lives." --Michael L. Wehmeyer, The Arc National Headquarters
Book Description
In contemporary America, the racial wealth gap is growing, with families transmitting race and class inequalities from generation to generation. Yet Americans continue to hold deep-rooted beliefs in the principles of individualism, equal opportunity, and meritocracy. Education, the "Great Equalizer," is supposed to level the playing field, ensuring that every child-regardless of family of origin-gets an equal chance at success. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 200 black and white families, The American Dream and the Power of Wealth starkly reveals the enormous extent to which parents defend their beliefs in the values that lie at the heart of the American Dream. Yet the way wealth is acquired and the way it is used categorically puts children from different families on vastly different educational trajectories, leaving them with uneven sets of opportunities.
Customer Reviews:
A Must Read for Anyone Interested in Taking a Critical Look at our Schools.......2006-08-28
The American Dream and the Power of Wealth is a must read for anyone interested in critically looking at our public school system. Johnson takes the idea of equal opportunity and common American ideologies and exposes the myth of the American Dream for many childern. The most interesting aspect of Johnson's research is her in-depth interviews with families across the economic spectrum. Not only do we see how the American Dream plays out for poor childern, but Johnson extends her research to see how people think about the American Dream in middle-class homes and even some upper class homes. The patterns she draws are well explained and written very clearly to allow all levels of interest, from the sociologist to the first-level student, to understand the problems in American Schools.
Check out the chapter on buying in and opting out.
Average customer rating:
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Worlds Apart: Social Inequalities in a New Century
Scott R. Sernau
Manufacturer: Pine Forge Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Cultural
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ASIN: 0761986618 |
Book Description
"I can''t emphasize how much I like the theoretical thrust of this book . . . too many undergraduate sociology texts of all kinds substitute description for theory and explanation. . . . I also like the integration of globalization."
--Amy Wharton, Washington State University
"As a professor at a liberal arts college, this book clearly fills a niche. . . . This book allows me to assign several books on specific topics without sacrificing the coherent narrative provided by Worlds Apart and to supplement articles and excerpts."
--John Noakes, Franklin and Marshall College
"Clearly, this book should be easier to read than other texts now available. This readability has not sacrificed attention to significant issues. . . . I really like this book. I will certainly adopt it."
--William Breedlove, College of Charleston
This innovative book is designed for use as a primary text for Social Inequalities and Social Stratification courses at the undergraduate level. It is the only undergraduate text that provides a sociological framework for analyzing inequality within U.S. society as well as analyzing the relationship between global stratification systems and internal systems of inequality. It places each issue and dimension of inequality in the context of a changing global economy.
Key Features
- Engages students in the subject matter with lively writing and fascinating cases, and interprets these lived experiences by introducing classical and contemporary theories of stratification.
- The intersection of race, class, and gender is not just stated but illustrated throughout the book as a pervasive institutionalized system of privilege and oppression.
- Key data are presented in clear, graphical formats and measures are explained early in the text.
- Numeric data are tied to examples illustrating their importance and many sources are current, from the year 2000.
- Chapters conclude with a review of the Key Points covered, and Your Turn exercises provide students the opportunity to apply concepts to their own experience, background, and local community.
Product Description
The Opportunity Gap aims to shift attention from the current overwhelming emphasis on schools in discussions of the achievement gap to more fundamental questions about social and educational opportunity.
Average customer rating:
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Social Inequality and Social Injustice: A Human Rights Perspective
Evelyn Kallen
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Human Rights
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ASIN: 0333924266 |
Book Description
This book uses a human rights framework to analyze how group-level social inequalities and injustices are socially constructed and maintained through violations of human rights on grounds of race, gender, sexuality, etc., and how human rights legislation can help such violations to effectively be redressed. Although it focuses primarily on democratic nations, it uses international case material to highlight key global issues.
Book Description
John Roemer points out that there are two views of equality of opportunity that are widely held today. The first, which he calls the nondiscrimination principle, states that in the competition for positions in society, individuals should be judged only on attributes relevant to the performance of the duties of the position in question. Attributes such as race or sex should not be taken into account. The second states that society should do what it can to level the playing field among persons who compete for positions, especially during their formative years, so that all those who have the relevant potential attributes can be considered.
Common to both positions is that at some point the principle of equal opportunity holds individuals accountable for achievements of particular objectives, whether they be education, employment, health, or income. Roemer argues that there is consequently a "before" and an "after" in the notion of equality of opportunity: before the competition starts, opportunities must be equalized, by social intervention if need be; but after it begins, individuals are on their own. The different views of equal opportunity should be judged according to where they place the starting gate which separates "before" from "after." Roemer works out in a precise way how to determine the location of the starting gate in the different views.
Customer Reviews:
Superb.......2002-06-19
This is a brilliant, thoughtful and concise explanation of the equality of opportunity concept that blends ideas from economics and philosophy to provide deep insights into the theoretical and practical implications of equalizing opportunity. It will become the benchmark on the topic for many years to come.
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- Spheres of Justice: A Defense of Pluralism and Equality
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- Stop Sitting on Your Assets: How to Safely Leverage the Equity Trapped in Your Home and Transform It Into a Constant Flow of Wealth and Security
- Strategy and Structure: Chapters in the History of the American Industrial Enterprise
- StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup's Now, Discover Your Strengths
- The 33 Strategies of War
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- The Disappearance of the Universe: Straight Talk About Illusions, Past Lives, Religion, Sex, Politics, and the Miracles of Forgiveness
- The Economic Way of Thinking (10th Edition)
Books Index
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Great Divides: Readings in Social Inequality in the United States
Sociological Theory
Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in the United States: Inequality, Group Conflict, and Power (Pine Forge Press Social Science Library)
Who Rules America? Power, Politics, and Social Change
Comparable Worth: Theories and Evidence (Social Institutions and Social Change)
