Question

Today more societies have increasing numbers of ethnic groups, and these groups tend to be highly stratified according to skin color, caste, ethnicity, religion, or language. This stratification increases the likelihood of strong group identification that can create conflicts, especially if other salient factors are present such as inequality, societal instability and unrest, prejudice, and discrimination.

True

False

Answer 1

Today more societies have increasing numbers of ethnic groups, and these groups tend to be highly stratified according to skin colour, caste, ethnicity, religion, or language. This stratification increases the likelihood of strong group identification that can create conflicts, especially if other salient factors are present such as inequality, societal instability and unrest, prejudice, and discrimination.

Social identity formed by many ethnic groups is the consequence of being identified as a member of a negatively defined social group. Ethnicity is the state of having a common origin or culture, that is passed on from one generation to the next one. The ethnic identity of someone is a mixture of language, religion, race, and or ancestry.

In the given scenario, it is true that stratified social system increases the likelihood of strong group identification.

I can explain this by with Conflict theory proposed by Karl Marx

Conflict theory is a theoretical framework which sees society as divided by inequality and conflict. Society is characterized by prevalent inequality based on social class, race, gender, and other factors. Conflict theorists see society as a platform where there are conflict and the constant struggle for power. Conflict theory is based on the assumption of ‘Survival of the fittest’. Instead of people working together to further the goals of the "social system," people are seen achieving their will at the expense of others. The theory was suggested by Karl Marx. He said that the division of society is divided into two broad classes of people--the "haves" and the "have-nots" and “have-nots” are beneficial to the owners of the means of production. The workers, who may earn only survival wages, are denied access to the many resources available to the wealthy owners. Conflict theory in its various forms views social problems as arising from society’s inherent inequality. This conflict in the society creates inequalities on every front, as well as the people who are the victims, identify one another and a sense of brotherhood emerges from such a situation.

For example, a family whose family income is moderately sufficient can provide their kin with a good education, the kin inherit the family wealth and the cycle continues. Whereas a family where both parents have mediocre jobs will not be able to give their kin a good education as compared to a wealthy family hence, the kin will find similar jobs as the parents and the seemingly inescapable cycle continues. The kin now identifies himself with a select group and may have a grudge against wealthy people because of perhaps ill-treatment towards him when he was younger. This a hypothetical situation.