Negative Effects Of Social Stratification

Social stratification is the institutionalized division of people into two or more groups that do not share equal access to power, wealth, and prestige (225). Stratified societies do not treat everyone equally as groups of people are ranked higher or lower depending on their: gender, age, class, race, or ethnicity (217). The ranking system of groups of people varies depending on the stratified society and their ideologies (225). Social stratification is found in many cultures around the world in present day and in the past (225). Most stratified societies use stratification to improve quality of life and social position (225) at the expense another group’s wellbeing (217).

Anthropologists study an individual’s access to power, wealth, and prestige

The first nations people’s traditional way of life was ceased as they were institutionalized and stripped of their land (229). Children of the first nations people were forced into foreign schools and had no choice but to learn the white man’s way (229). The assimilation and disruption of the first nation’s subsistence patterns had a deep negative affect on their culture that resulted in: poverty, loss of identity, and social problems (229). First nations people are still trying to overcome their losses to this day and still face racial discrimination and are seen as belong to a lower ranking group. (230).

Another example of racial stratification took place in Africville, Nova Scotia (230). Africville was the home of around 400 black citizens who were former American slaves from 1838-1964 (230). In 1964, residents of Africville were forcefully relocated overnight and promised secure: jobs, education, and housing (230). Virtually none of the promises were followed through and the quality of life for former Africville residents plummeted (230). Many people refer to the horrific act in Africville as communal ethnic cleansing

There is much suspicion and hostility towards Muslims which has led to many restrictions in personal freedoms and mistrust of the muslim community (232). Muslims have since then endured hate crimes because of the racism towards their culture and the Muslim religion is now very much affiliated with terrorist acts (232).

Although Canada is a nation with many cultures, ethnic stratification affects many ethnically diverse people whether they are Canadian or immigrants. There is an underlying expectation form new Canadians to conform to the dominant Canadian lifestyle (239). The assimilation may include changing a person’s: language, dress code, behavior, and more (239). People who are physical minorities will always be somewhat outcasts and different to the white Canadians (239).

Slavonic groups from Ukraine experienced ethnic stratification while immigrating to Canada in the early 1900’s (239). Slavonic immigrants were treated as lesser people and many Canadians opposed their arrival: lots of Canadians even wanted to exclude the Slavonic groups from Canada (239). When the Slavic people were able to find jobs, they were generally paid less than Canadians and put to work in poor and dangerous conditions