In her presentation of the basic measures used by sociologists to describe social inequality in our social system, Andersen examines how inequality is structured in the U.S., and how social inequality is distributed in the United States. Under what circumstances might these measures not reveal social class boundary lines? That is how, according to Andersen, might the conventional methods that sociologists use NOT be adequate to determine where one class begins and another ends?
Essay3.Week Three: Supplemental Forum five
When you consider how far apart the conflict and functionalist views of the social class system is, your eyes must surely be drawn to the evidence each uses to support the divergent assessments. What about that evidence? What would count for evidence? What if anything might settle the disagreement among sociologists about the nature, the desirability, and the composition of our social class system? How can we tell whether there is sufficient upward social mobility in the U.S.?
Essay4. Week Three: Supplemental Forum Six
In Andersen's view, what are the larger consequences of the patterns of inequality sociologists have identified? Why do sociologists keep a close watch on levels of inequality in American society anyway? Why should they care about the phenomenon? Or perhaps sociologists are really not that concerned?
Sample Solution