Question

Discuss the elements of caste in gender stratification?

Answer 1

Gender stratification refers to the social ranking, where men typically inhabit higher statuses than women. Often the terms gender inequality and gender stratification are used interchangeably. There are a variety of approaches to the study of gender stratification. Most of the research in this area focuses on differences between men’s and women’s life circumstances, broadly defined. Scholarly debates focus on which dimensions of inequalities are most relevant and the level at which inequalities are generated and maintained (i.e., individual, couple, family, group, or societal level). Researchers have been challenged to explore gender, race, and class inequalities from an intersectional perspective, rather than treating gender as independent of race and class. There is little acknowledgment of the heteronormativity that is present in gender stratification research. Perhaps that will change once data regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression becomes more widely available. In this section, we present key areas of gender stratification research. Gender stratification can be examined at the level of individual outcomes and interactions or with a macro perspective that compares indexes of gender inequalities across countries. Although welfare states research examines many aspects within and across societies, it provides important insights in how state policies can shape patterns of gender stratification. Gender inequality in the area of education, economic resources, and family are closely linked in individuals’ lives, but distinct strands of research have emerged and will be discussed separately. Although we provide examples of research noting gendered health disparities are outcomes of gender inequalities within societies, not all health research makes this connection. Research on crime as well as migration and citizenship has traditionally focused on men. Yet a recent shift to include women more explicitly and gender more broadly has great potential to inform other areas of research on gender stratification.

Feminist scholars, such as Joan Acker, have criticized “traditional” stratification research, which has mostly ignored gender altogether (Acker 2006). Crompton 2003 writes that a mere cultural approach to gender inequalities ignoring class is also flawed. Blumberg 1984 argues that economic dimensions of inequality are paramount, as they precede inequalities in other domains. Keister and Southgate 2012 posits that gender is often seen as one dimension of stratification. However,Risman 2004 and McCall 2005 argue for an intersectional approach where gender is analyzed across all dimensions. In addition to questions about which dimensions of inequality are important for stratification, the level at which to examine gender stratification is also a key aspect of scholarly debate. Some scholars compare men and women within couples, others men and women within societies, and West and Zimmerman 1987 makes a compelling argument that gender and, by extension, gender inequality is created in everyday interactions. Nevertheless, Blau, et al. 2006 points out that understanding contextual factors and their interactions with gender within organizational contexts are essential for a holistic understanding of gender stratification.