Social Stratification, Class System And Ethnocentrism

Social stratification, class systems, and ethnocentrism are all parts of our society that influence our thoughts of what is normal and what is outlandish. Social stratification is a system in which society ranks and organizes people into ranks to identify them. A class system is a system which classifies people based on their social position at birth and their achievements later in life. Ethnocentrism is the view that one’s own culture is â€Å"normal† and other cultures are odd; through ethnocentrism, a person judges other cultures through their own standards. Social stratification can influence what is considered normal in a particular culture or subculture due to their social categories. Within different social categories, people can and†¦show more content†¦There can even be ethnocentrism between the overlying culture between socioeconomic classes; whilst someone in the upper class may not balk at the prospect of spending more than $400 on a jacket, someone in the lower or even middle class would most likely not pay near that much for a single jacket. An example of an action that is considered normal in American culture, yet could be considered strange to other cultures, is the emphasis on individuality and independence. In the United States, it is considered weird if a child lives with their parents after high school, or college if they choose to attend as many do. However, in some Asian and European countries, it is considered perfectly normal for some children to live with one or two other generations in their family in order to keep a close bond and minimize the cost of living. To many in those countries it is a strange idea that people prize independence so much as to leave their family and take the financial risk of purchasing or renting their own house; however, they may not even live there alone, there may be roommates to share the cost. This may seem to a bit hypocritical to outsiders, as the goal of moving out of theShow MoreRelatedWhat Are The Four Primary Types Of Human Adaptation?1685 Words   |  7 Pagesstresses. Chapter 2. 8. What are ethnocentrism and cultural relativism? How are they similar and/or different? Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism are similar in a way that they both try to explain and understand the norms and values of other cultures. But, they are different in the perception of those cultures. Ethnocentrism is the treatment of another culture based on its own values and standards. It has an exclusive approach and is culturally insensitive. 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