In SchaeferÆs Sociology: A Brief Introduction, we are provided with a number of key terms that provide an illustration of various sociological theories and phenomenon, from prejudice and discrimination to social stratification and social inequality. We see that the capitalistic and Marxist nature of society provides social control through social institutions like public education, government, and work to different social groups that illustrate social inequality and different socioeconomic status among different groups. Often, differences in socioeconomic status and social inequality disproportionately favor white ethnic groups and disenfranchise racial groups. As Healey (p. 16) argues in Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Class, ôminority group status affects access to vealth and income, prestige and power.ö This analysis will discuss this phenomenon in U.S. society.
The social mobility of various social groups is limited based on social control of social institutions by typically white, wealthy males. The conflict theory of social problems argues that social problems like inequality and discrimination arise from the control of resources by a handful of social groups, primarily white, Angelo-Saxon, Protestant males in the U.S. The values of these groups are often promoted through social institutions to represent the ônorm.ö Those who do not adhere to these values are often subjected to prejudice and discrimination, more often than not based on ethnicity, race, and socioeconomic status. As Healey (p. 16) argues, ôeven a casual observation of US society will reveal that minority groups control proportionately fewer resources.ö A prime example of the social inequality and lack of social mobility for racial groups is the fact that even though the majority of players in the National Football League (NFL) are black, there are only two active black coaches and no black owners of an NFL team.
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