Miami University Social Categories in the Society Discussion
In studying social organization, you learned that we all occupy different social categories, with related statuses and roles, expected behavior, and rights and responsibilities. These social categories are usually ranked in hierarchies related to unequal distribution of power, wealth,. prestige, and access to resources. We may be privileged in terms of one social category, or underprivileged in terms of another. Use the knowledge you have on social organization to analyze your own location in different social categories (gender; sex; class; race; age, or as member of social groups such as bureaucracies, friendship, age grades, age sets, secret societies. families, patron-client relations) Come to a conclusion about your relative position in American society.
Economic theory states that having unlimited wants is part of human nature and that all societies have markets. What do anthropologists have to say regarding these assumptions of economic theory? How do anthropologists apply “the anthropological perspective” to economics?
