Social stratification refers to the hieratical arrangement of persons according to the amount of wealth, power and position they have in the society. This relates to the criteria used to grade individual’s worthiness and discrimination made based on gender, religion, age, generation and ethnicity. This varies depending in the order of societies’ stratification or slavery history. In most industrialized nations, the gap between the poor and the rich is evidently seen (Exploration in Social Inequality, n.d.)
The future of a child is largely determined by the status or the environment (Exploration in Social Inequality, n.d.). The circumstances in which a child is born does affect it in that, a child from a rich family has a high potential of getting employed and earn a good income easily than one from a poor family because of the social ranks of the parents.
Modern society today gives a lot of respect to those who have high ranks in the system. The poor continue being poor while the rich continue being more rich. It’s estimated that in most of the countries the percentage of those living below the poverty line are many compared to those of higher level.
Social stratification is caused by the imbalance in income distribution among the rich and the poor (Turner &Lowith, 1867). This is mostly demonstrated when there is inequality in education, health opportunity for social and political participation, employment and gender. This inequality brings about a greater marginalization in the society. The rate of growth in these areas is rampant in economically powerful nations. Migration of people from original countries to a new settlement in a different country also causes social difference. The language barrier they face in the new country usually limits the Immigrants.
The differences between this nations or people can be reduced by introduction of organizations that will encourage people to interact and promote social understanding. Introducing major sporting activities, events and international tourism can be a way of making people work in harmony. Inequality faced in wealth distribution, political participation, water and energy distribution, education and healthcare services will be reduced by having a common resource and market. By observing this, good and peaceful relations will be fostered among nations and individuals.
Sports
A healthy socialization in sports was defined by the questions dealing with being able to overcome status differences, a decreased feeling of social alienation, improved ability to work with a team, bonding with teammates and ability to interact.
Ahola (1980) defines leisure socialization as “a process through which individuals acquires knowledge, attitude, values skills, and motives about leisure”.This allowed students and other participants to have a social emotional development, which gave them space to interact and learn new things. As per Austin (1984) “extensive involvement in sports activities should lead to an enhanced social emotional development, knowledge, norms and values which can be transmitted through sports”. Socialization through this way leads to either the stratification/differentiation or acceptance/integrations of the minors and those with high status.
According to McPherson, Curtis and Loy (1989) sports does not fully promote social value, moral development, good personality and moral development, as it is widely believed to be. However, sports require team members to work towards achieving the same goal and this forces them to unite in order to reach this objective.
Sporting is highly encouraged to allow access to those who have been traditionally undeserved to participate in sports and physical activities. It also aids in improving the health status of those involved in the sporting activity. It assists in the development of infrastructure and preparation of Olympic Games that brings socializations between countries of the world. It helps to create safe, strong and sustainable communities by reducing youth crimes/anti-social behavior and through community engagement and capacity building (Bull, 2005)
The growth in equality should be discouraged from countries because it divides nations, which increases the distance between the rich and the poor. It inhibits mobility between generations thereby hindering the talented and hard working people from getting what they deserve. By looking at the positive effects of social interaction between different nations, we are able to develop and reduce social differences. Organization of international games will foster peacekeeping and even encourage tourism among different nations. This will eventually lead to a developing nation free from any discrimination and stratification (Bull, Hoose &Weed, 2003).
References
Ahola , I.1980.The social benefit of intramurals sport. NASPA Journal [Online] 43.70-73. Web.
Austin, A W. 1984. Student involvement: A development theory for higher education. Journal of college student personnel, (25), 297-308.
Bull ,C.,Hoose, J. &Weed, M.,2003.An introduction to leisure studies. Yunan: Yunan University Press
Bull, C.J. ,2005.Sports Tourism Destination Resource Analysis in Higham. Sport Tourism Destinations: Issues, Opportunities and Analysis, Oxford: Elsevier (Butterworth Heinemann).
Exploration in Social Inequality. (n.d) 2010. Web.
Mcpherson B.D,,Curtis, J.E., Loy, J.W.,1989. The social significance of sports. Web.
Turner,B.S.,Lowith, K.,1867.Max Weber and Karl Max. New York: Roufledge.