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SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AND MOBILITY

Diversity and Similarity. Common History and cultureCommon System of Stratification (race, colour, class)Pyramidal Structure comprising:White Upper Stratum (plantation owners

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SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AND MOBILITY

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    1. SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AND MOBILITY The Caribbean

    2. Diversity and Similarity Common History and culture Common System of Stratification (race, colour, class) Pyramidal Structure comprising: White Upper Stratum (plantation owners & managers) Brown Middle Stratum (Skilled and Semi-Skilled workers, traders, petit-bourgeoisie) Lower Stratum of mostly blacks (manual, unskilled workers)

    3. Diversity and Similarity cont’d. Wide disparities in wealth, status and power between individuals & groups within levels of stratification Differences in ethnic/racial composition (Belize, T&T, Guyana) Differences in economic development of countries

    4. Diversity and Similarity cont’d. East Indians (former Indentured Servants) in Guyana and T&T have risen tremendously in the social, economic & political hierarchy They have challenged the traditional political dominance of Afro-Trinidadian and Afro-Guyanese (UNC, PPP) Guyanese E.I Prime Minister Former Trinidadian PM

    5. Diversity and Similarity cont’d. In T&T, East Indians are a powerful voice within the society. Have been able to ensure public observances of religious festivals and holidays such as Eid ul Fitir and Divali Successful business owners, controlling the agriculture sector, hardware and lumber, trucking and heavy equipment operations, sugar cane operations Successful professionals - doctors, lawyers

    6. Diversity and Similarity cont’d. For Afro-Caribbean peoples, education has been a significant influence. It has been the major avenue by which many have filled the Middle Classes. Have distinguished themselves in political office Management of Banking and Financial operations Management of Public Service Operators in Local & International Music Industry

    7. The OECS Osoba and Steele note the following: Class is dominant system of social stratification Some status groups exist somewhat outside the class structure White expatriate owners of hotels & businesses in tourist sector East Indian, Syrian/Lebanese group of store owners, factory owners & owners of small hotels In T&T, for eg., Syrian/Lebanese not seen as ‘alien’ in the way they might be perceived in some of the smaller islands

    8. Derek Gordon - Class, Status and Social Mobility in Jamaica Considerable increase in opportunities for upward mobility by expansion in occupational positions Great deal of inequality of opportunities for some groups J’cans. Whose parents were agricultural labourers, domestic & unskilled manual workers had virtually no chance of ending up at the top of the middle strata

    9. Derek Gordon - Class, Status and Social Mobility in Jamaica (Cont’d.) Women with these background had virtually non-existent chances Men, hardly any better 4:1000 males with agricultural labouring origins were likely to end up in the middle strata, despite expansion of educational system & opening up of new positions Offspring of small farmers were in essentially same position

    10. Derek Gordon - Class, Status and Social Mobility in Jamaica (Cont’d.) 7:1000 males & 4:1000 females with small farming backgrounds became higher professionals or managers J’cans. From homes of industrial workers fared little better in absolute terms as only 2% males & 2.4% females reached the top.

    11. What of Gordon’s Findings? Bear little surprise to those familiar with data on living conditions, poverty and welfare Mobility virtually non-existent among certain occupational groups Low level of Human Capital of working age population (15-64) in poverty Vast majority having attained up to 1st Cycle Secondary level

    12. What of Gordon’s Findings? (Cont’d.) Working poor category - 68.7% of poor were employed in 1998 (Employed where? or Doing what?) Skilled Agricultural/Fishery; Sales Workers/Shop/Market Sales; Elementary; Craft & Related Trades Many Own Account Workers & Private Sector Employees

    13. What of Gordon’s Findings? (Cont’d.) Issues of poverty & lack of ed. or low levels of ed. are at the crux of non-existent upward mobility for many Quality of education/School type are also critical to upward mobility Today, as well, geographical location can also be at the crux of non-existent opportunities for upward mobility

    14. What of Gordon’s Findings? (Cont’d.) Introduction of social programmes & economic policies aimed at poverty eradication & fostering human capital growth, has led to improvements in numbers accessing higher level education & attaining upward social mobility (NPEP, NAP, ROSE, SFP, FAP, SSTP, PATH) Harsh economic climate could, however, lead to the reduction or wiping away of gains made

    15. Emerging & Emerged Middle Class / Nouveau Riche Gordon & Stone highlighted the newly emerging middle classes: persons who through certain occupations have enjoyed MC ‘status’ &/or position Hairdressers, cosmetologists, taxi drivers, truck drivers, ICIs, DJs, Chefs/Cooks

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