Lecture notes on social stratification by religion and ethnicity

1) Is there social distance between ethno-religious groups in the Philippines?

2) Does this group identification (religious) explain social distance?

3) Which are the significant predictors of social distance

-  religious identification

-- ethnic identification

-- social inequality

-- out-group trust,

  while controlling for gender?

Theoretical notions

•Realistic conflict theory  (Coser, 1954) – intergroup competition over scarce resources and power (in-group favouritism and out-group hostility

•Social identity theory (Tajfel, 1971) - social categorization, identification and comparison processes underlying group formation and maintenance

•Trust theories – positive outcomes (and lack of trust and distrust associated with negative outcomes)

Social distance Mokken scale

To what extent would you accept or avoid having a Christian/Muslim as...?

Findings:

- There are significant differences in the social distance level between ethno-religious groups. Certain groups have greater tendency to avoid religious out-groups than other groups.

- There is a hierarchy and distinction between private (classmate, friend and bordmate) and public (civil servant, police and mayor) roles. Neighbor seems to mark the boundary between private and public.

- The avoided roles are those with power.

- Religious identification is positively related with social distance.

- Based on regression analyses, out-group trust is a strong predictor of social distance. It is able to explain the relation between religious identification and social distance.

Reference: (You can read the article here)

Abanes, M., Scheepers, P., & Sterkens, C. (2014). Ethno-religious groups, identification,  trust and social distance in the ethno-religiously stratified Philippines. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 37, Pp. 61-75. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rssm.2014.02.001.

Lecture Notes on social stratification and inequality

Social stratification - structuring and organizing principle characterized by hierarchical division, classification and categorization of groups differentiated by gender, social class, ethnicity and religion

Inequality arises from the development and perpetuation of division of labor, social conflict and private property (Charon, 2001)

Division of labor - people do different things on which society puts value. Some works are highly valued than others.

Social conflict - competition between/among groups over scarce resources (e.g. power, land)

Private property - ownership (and accumulation) of valued resources giving people privileges and a source and basis of power over those who do not have and need the resources

Class inequality influences life's chances

Inequality is often institutionalized and built-in structures in society

Manifestations of inequality are in three arenas: economic (unequal distribution of wealth), social (lack of access to housing, education, health care, employment), and political (power and exclusion)

Questions:

- Is there something in our culture, socialization and institutions that contribute to the emergence and persistence of inequality in our society?

- How can we help foster equality in our society?


Reference:

Charon, J. (2001). Ten questions: A sociological perspective. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.