Stratification Perspective Research Articles

Intersecting Identities: Investigating Effects of Multiple Hierarchy Stratification Perspective on Visitor Activity Participation

According to the multiple hierarchy stratification perspective, an individual’s demographic characteristics interact and affect their social position and, therefore, their access to services or resources. The purpose of the study is to gain a deeper understanding of how the combination of visitors’ demographic characteristics affects their probability of activity participation in a U.S. national park. We employed binary logistic regression models to determine these multiplicative effects of demographic characteristics on activity participation. The results indicate differences in the probability of participation in specific activities like camping, rock scrambling, technical climbing, and picnicking. Though there were few clear linear trends present overall for the models, the results provide validity for use of this data analysis tool to identify activity participation trends with an intersectional approach at other parks and protected areas.

Study on The Differences in Housing Resources and Health of The Elderly from The Perspective of Social Stratification

Study on The Differences in Housing Resources and Health of The Elderly from The Perspective of Social Stratification

Physical Activity and Subjective Well-Being: A Social Stratification Perspective

While evidence supports the link between physical activity and subjective well-being, fewer studies have explored this influence relationship from a social stratification perspective. The study thus examines whether the impact of physical activity on subjective well-being varies across different social classes, utilizing data from the China Family Panel Studies for the period 2018 to 2020. The results of multivariate logistic regression indicate that physical activity has the most significant impact on subjective well-being in the middle social class, followed by a moderate effect in the lower class, and no discernible effect in the high social class. These findings provide a valuable direction for effectively promoting subjective well-being across different social strata through sports participation. Our study contributes meaningfully to the literature on social stratification and health disparities in the context of physical activity and well-being.

The Social Inequality of Music: University Students from a Higher Social Class Are More Likely to Build Relationships and Feel Happiness Through Music.

The relationship between young people's music use and well-being has gained extensive interest in recent years. The relationship-building function of music is one of its most important functions. While many studies have documented the positive effects of this function, there is a lack of research discussing this topic from the perspective of social stratification. This study sampled 691(63.8% male, M age = 19.43, SD = 1.42) Chinese university students to examine the social class differences among university students in acquiring well-being through the relationship-building function of music. The results revealed that university students from a higher social class are more likely to acquire well-being through the relationship-building function of music. In addition, interdependent self-construal plays a moderating role in the mediating model. The mediating effect was only significant when university students have a higher level of interdependent self-construal. These results indicated social class differences among university students in the building of relationships with music, underscoring the need for future research and interventions to address social inequality in the context of music's functions.

Racial Disparities in Socioeconomic Status Among Adoptive Parents

Parents of color are underrepresented in adoption research and as adoptive parents. Consequently, there is limited understanding of racial disparities in socioeconomic status (SES) among adoptive parents. We test two hypotheses: (1) racial disparities in the United States will be reflected in the adoption community (social stratification) and (2) adoptive parents of color may need to overcome additional barriers to adoption, thus having higher SES than White adoptive parents (overcoming barriers). Using 2019 American Community Survey data, we predict adoptive parents’ ( n = 65,556) SES by race and then compare the SES of adoptive and non-adoptive parents of the same race. Across-race results support a social stratification perspective—White adoptive parents have higher SES than adoptive parents of color. Within-race results, alternatively, show that adoptive parents have higher SES than non-adoptive parents across racial groups. Therefore, although adoptive parents experience socioeconomic advantages, parents of color navigate adoption with fewer resources.

“Re-stratifying” women: female images in China’s state media from the perspective of social stratification (2011–2020)

In the 2010s, feminism thrived in China amid a transformation in social stratification and a rise in women’s social status. The focus of this study is on the representation of the images of women of various social strata in national news reports. Taking Xinwen Lianbo, a national news program produced by China Central Television, as an example, we analyzed visual representations of 360 female figures from 2011 to 2020. The findings revealed that, rather than reflecting China’s Tǔ-shaped stratification structure, the program depicted an “olive-shaped” pseudo-society in which women of what we term the “middle” stratum constituted the largest portion and served as multifaceted role models, women of the “prominent” stratum served as bellwethers of socioeconomic development, and women of the “ordinary” stratum did not participate in social development. The program’s imagery also created a double standard for domestic duties: Women of the prominent stratum were depicted as disembedded from the social role of housewife and breaking through the career “glass ceiling,” though not achieving equality with men in terms of their positions in society or politics, while women of the ordinary stratum as bearing the ideological reshuffle of conservative gender values. This study suggests a fresh perspective on the great disparities in the representation of women in different strata, which differs from the status of gender and stratum in real society.

Accessibility of Elderly Care Facilities Based on Social Stratification: A Case Study in Tianjin, China

With the increasingly prominent phenomenon of social stratification in urban development, it is of practical significance to study the accessibility of elderly care facilities for different social groups. The study improves the mathematical model of the two-step floating catchment area method (2SFCA) as regards three aspects: the accurate demand of elderly residents, the comprehensive supply capacity of elderly care facilities, and the precision of travel costs. Taking Tianjin as an example, the study measures the accessibility of elderly care facilities from the perspective of social stratification. The results show that: (1) The improved model is more practical in evaluating the accessibility of elderly care facilities. (2) The spatial distribution of social groups in Tianjin presents a concentric structure and the social stratification in the periphery area is more obvious. (3) The accessibility scores of elderly care facilities are higher in the city center, lower in the periphery area, higher in the south, and lower in the north. (4) High- and middle-income groups have better accessibility, while the elite and low-income groups have worse accessibility.

Social Group Differences in Influencing Factors for Chinese Urban Residents' Subjective Well-Being: From the Perspective of Social Stratification.

With the great pressure of modern social life, the problem of residents’ subjective well-being has attracted scholars’ attention. Against the background of institutional transformation, China has a special social stratification structure. The socio-economic resources and living needs of different social classes are different, resulting in differences in the level of subjective well-being and the influencing factors for this. Taking Guangzhou as an example, based on the data of a household survey conducted in 2016, this paper obtains the social hierarchical structure through two-step clustering, and explores the differences between influencing factors for subjective well-being using multiple linear regression models. The clustering results divided Guangzhou urban residents into four classes: retirees, white-collar workers outside the system, manual workers and white-collar workers inside the system. The subjective well-being of white-collar workers inside the system and manual workers is high. The subjective well-being of white-collar workers outside the system is below the average value, and retirees have poor subjective well-being. The results of the regression analysis show that the subjective well-being of all social classes could be improved by active participation in fitness exercises, harmonious neighborhood relationships and a central residential location. Health-related factors such as physical health, sleeping time and density of neighborhood medical facilities, have a significant impact on manual workers’ subjective well-being. An increase in the density of neighborhood leisure facilities could help to improve the subjective well-being of white-collar workers outside the system. However, this would inhibit the subjective well-being of white-collar workers within the system. By revealing the differences in influencing factors for different social groups’ subjective well-being, the research conclusions could provide a reference for the formulation of targeted policies and measures to improve residents’ subjective well-being in urban China.

The relationship between sufficient leisure time physical activity and happiness: An age stratification perspective

Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) has been frequently reported as a method of improving happiness. However, the effects of LTPA sufficiency and age differences in adults have been less discussed in the literature. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between LTPA sufficiency and happiness based on an age stratification perspective. A total of 16,412 data observations from the Taiwanese Physical Activity Annual Survey (PAAS) were used for this study. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to examine the odds ratio of the LTPA-sufficient population on happiness. The odds of happiness were 2.5–3 times higher among LTPA-sufficient young adults (25–29 years old) than among the insufficient group. However, unexpectedly, a negative association was observed between sufficient LTPA and happiness in 35- to 39-year-old men. Intrapersonal differences (e.g., achievement goals and motivational level) and the environment (social context) might play a fundamental role in the LPTA-happiness relationship. Sufficient LTPA was associated with increased happiness among Taiwanese adults. However, the relationships between sufficient LTPA and happiness were not consistent when stratified by age. Further research on the relevant mechanism underlying this phenomenon is warranted. Trial registration: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Chung Shan Medical University Hospital (CRREC-104-015), registered on 18 October 2016.

Does Your Class Give More than a Hint of Your Lifetime Earnings?: Assessing Indicators for Lifetime Earnings Over the Life Course for Sweden

AbstractFrom a sociological stratification perspective, we would expect occupationally based measures to be valid proxies for lifetime earnings, but recent research suggests that annual earnings outperform occupational measures. In this article, we examine how class, occupation, education, and annual earnings are associated with lifetime earnings across almost complete working lives, at ages of around 20–65 years for Swedish cohorts born in the 1940s. Our results indicate that while annual earnings are considerably more accurate proxies for the lion’s share of working life, occupational measures are as expected more stable and somewhat better at the start and end of working lives. Our results also support the idea that micro-classes are better proxies of lifetime earnings than big classes. Contrary to some previous research, occupational measures perform better for women than for men in this respect, and occupational measures are better than education. Our main conclusions are that proxies for lifetime earnings have life-cycle biases that should be considered in, for instance, analyses of intergenerational mobility, and that occupationally based measures are more stable than annual earnings but, overall, are not very valid as indicators of lifetime earnings compared to annual earnings.

Social Stratification Theory and Population Aging Reconsidered

Abstract Japan has the world’s most aged population. To examine this aging population from a theoretical perspective of social stratification, we focused on household structure, income structure, and economic well-being, including both disposable income and savings. Two main topics are discussed in this paper: first, the relationship between the aging population and income inequality, focusing on changes in household structure and income structure; and second, the level of economic well-being in old age (when the relationship to the labor market becomes blurred) considering individuals’ previous work life. I analyzed two survey datasets: the Comprehensive Survey of People’s Living Conditions, conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare since the mid-1980s, and the 2015 National Survey of Social Stratification and Social Mobility. These analyses confirmed that the change in household structure (more elderly heads of household) explains the growth of income inequality since the mid-1980s. While income inequality among households with working-age heads increased, its impact was limited to an overall increase in income inequality due to declining household size. On the other hand, income inequality among households with older heads was largely explained by market income, and this scenario has not changed for the past 30 years. The level of economic well-being among older adults was determined by age, marital status, educational credentials, and work situation at age 50 for both genders.

Интернет-мем как предмет социологического исследования: возможности применения метода событийного анализа (event-analysis)

The present study considers memes as socio-cultural phenomena which is complex and multilevel. The authors single out research prospects for studying memes with the methods applied in sociological research. Even though a variety of disciplines studies memes, sociology analyzes memes from the perspective of social stratification, “us” and “them” dichotomy, allowing researchers to observe memetics as both socio-cultural and quasi-political reality. Internet meme is shown as the most dynamic and representative phenomenon in memetics. Social media provide a context for Internet meme that reflect values of any modern society. The methods applied in meme research presupposes a synthesis of interdisciplinary approaches and separate procedures including, firstly, multimodal analysis, content analysis and discursive studies. Event analysis is a subtype of content analysis. In the case of memes interpretation due to this method a researcher can observe the dynamics of social and political events, define social and cultural continuum markers as well as values of modern society.

Gendered tri-racial stratification and health disparities

Despite extensive evidence confirming racial and gender health disparities, little research considers how race theory might aid in understanding these patterns. Using the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES), this study fills this void by integrating two research areas—sociology of race and medical sociology—to assess the utility of Bonilla-Silva's tri-racial stratification perspective in predicting health patterns. More specifically, I address the following questions: is the tri-racial stratification thesis aligned with the health profiles of racial groups in the U.S.? Does the applicability of this perspective differ for women and men? Last, do the health patterns suggested by tri-racial stratification persist after adjusting for social factors (socioeconomic status and social support) often invoked to explain health disparities? Results indicate that the racial patterning of life-threatening conditions lend partial support for tri-racial stratification for women and men. Self-rated health findings yield counterintuitive patterns. Furthermore, social factors do not explain the majority of ethnic differences in health. Research and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

System Justification Among the Disadvantaged: A Triadic Social Stratification Perspective.

System Justification Among the Disadvantaged: A Triadic Social Stratification Perspective.

Understanding access and use of municipal parks and recreation through an intersectionality perspective

We applied the multiple hierarchy stratification perspective to examine how access and use of municipal parks and recreation vary based upon the intersections of gender, race/ethnicity, age, income, place of residence, and education. We hierarchically stratified demographic combinations and calculated probabilities for having a park within walking distance, using parks, and participating in recreation programs. Findings demonstrated that as membership in multiple marginalized groups increases, individuals are generally less likely to visit parks and perceive they have a park within walking distance from home. However, program participation did not show a similar trend. Research has repeatedly identified various benefits of parks and recreation, yet disparities by social stratification may be impeding access to those benefits, particularly among those belonging to multiple marginalized groups. To reduce such disparities, park and recreation agencies should focus on increasing engagement among the most underserved groups—individuals with multiple disadvantaged statuses.

Social media as E-participation: Can a multiple hierarchy stratification perspective predict public interest?

Inclusive deliberative democracy requires greater public participation than what seems to exist in the United States as of 2019. E-participation, facilitating public participation through social media, phone applications, and other information communication technologies, can overcome constraints associated with traditional public participation and therefore increase inclusivity. Telephone interview data among residents of a U.S. state considered actual e-participation as well as interest in e-participation in transportation within the multiple hierarchy stratification approach. Logistic regression models using select demographic variables predicted public interest in only one of three e-participation methods. Subsequently, e-participation may not be subject to pervasive societal forces that otherwise constrain public participation and inclusivity. Greater consideration to e-participation use and best practices for its implementation are encouraged.

Social Background and Children's Cognitive Skills: The Role of Early Childhood Education and Care in a Cross-National Perspective

This review looks at the current state of research on early childhood education and care (ECEC) from a sociological stance. We summarize how children's experiences and benefits from participation in ECEC are related to their families’ socioeconomic position in modern industrial nations. By bringing together child development and intervention research from economics, education, and psychology with a sociological, social stratification perspective, our report focuses on ECEC as a policy strategy for equalization in early childhood. We argue that two major stratifiers, families and country-specific ECEC settings, need to be considered more closely when we seek to understand the efficacy of early educational interventions in modern societies. While well-targeted educational programs are found to lowerachievement gaps among children from different social backgrounds, a disproportionate use of early education by socioeconomically privileged families may offset the benefits of early interventions. In addition, the current stratification patterns in various nationwide ECEC contexts may further strengthen the gaps in children's (early) achievements.

Rural-Urban Divide and the Social Stratification in Leisure Participation in China: Application of Multiple Hierarchy Stratification Perspective

This study explores how the additive combined consequences of rural-urban status, gender, age and socioeconomic status influence leisure participation in the Chinese context. Drawing on multiple hierarchy stratification perspective, this study assumes that combinations of these unique variables will form a continuum of statuses from the lower end of the most disadvantaged leisure group to the higher end of the most advantaged leisure group. Using combined data from the trends seen in the 2012, 2013, and 2015 Chinese General Social Survey (N = 34,171), the findings show that rural-urban status, age, education, gender, and family income are the consistent five significant predictors across two leisure types. Rural women who have lower socio-economic statuses occupy the lowest participation in general leisure activities, whereas urban men who have higher socio-economic statuses occupy the highest participation.

Pathways into and out of the Labor Market After Receiving Social Benefits: Cumulative Disadvantage or Life Course Risk?

ABSTRACTBased on Swiss register data, we conduct a cohort analysis over four years to study the paths that individuals take back into or out of the labor market after receiving benefits. To gain insight into this dynamic from a perspective of social stratification and life course theory, we analyze marginal effects from multinomial logistic regression models. Our study reveals that even in a wealthy country like Switzerland, not everyone is able to get back into the labor market and earn a self-sustaining income. Reintegration is strongly influenced by previously attained status, as measured by income and education. Controlling for income and education, some differences related to gender and citizenship remain. The strongest driver of pathways out of the labor market after claiming benefits, however, relates to life course characteristics.

Asian North Americans' Leisure: A Critical Examination of the Theoretical Frameworks Used in Research and Suggestions for Future Study

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to critically examine the theoretical frameworks employed in the existing research on Asian North Americans' leisure and to offer insights into additional theories that might be used in future research on the topic. The study reviewed three major theoretical frameworks employed by previous research in the field of leisure studies: (1) assimilation and acculturation theory, (2) ethnicity-based theories, and (3) self-construal. The study also provides recommendations for alternative theoretical approaches that could be used in investigations of Asian North Americans' leisure, including racial discrimination and stereotyping, the multiple hierarchy stratification perspective, transnationalism, and cultural and social capital.