This document discusses questions for a class discussion on social stratification. It asks students to discuss factors affecting social mobility and whether they can be overcome. It also asks them to argue whether structural-functionalism or social conflict better explains social stratification. Finally, it prompts students to analyze how the media depicts gender roles and discuss power differentials between various groups in society using Intersection Theory.

1. During
Week 5, we studied social stratification and how it influences
what goes on in many social interactions among people. After
you have read the reading assignment and lecture for this week,
please respond to all parts of the discussion by the due date
assigned:
What are some of the factors that affect social mobility? Can
these be overcome?
Do you believe the structural-functionalist or the social conflict
approach best explains social stratification? Why?
How does the media reflect attitudes on gender as far as
depicting women and men in very traditional roles? Provide two
detailed examples that substantiate your points—these can be an
advertisement, television show, website, or magazine.
When you think of various groups (race, class, and gender) in
society, which ones have the most power and which ones have
the least? Using Intersection Theory, identify two groups that
have unequal amounts of power and resources, being specific
and using the text and outside resources. For each group, has
the power dynamic changed over time? Do you think it will
change in the future? Why or why not?