Social Stratification & Mobility: Bill Gates Case Study
Theoretical perspectives of social stratification
Consider the life story of Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft
Corporation, to analyze the issue of social stratification through the three
theoretical perspectives. Mr. Gates was born to a middle-class family. His
mother was a school teacher and his father an attorney. Mr. Gates is now one of
the wealthiest men on the planet. Read his biography at:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/billg/bio.mspx
Respond to the following:
Explain how this ordinary, middle-class citizen moved to the
top of the social stratification system using each of the sociological
perspectives.
Determine why none of the theories support a concept of
equal yet different social stratification.
Include a discussion that would explain, through one or more
of the sociological perspectives, how a person could experience just the
opposite by moving from a person of wealth and social notoriety to living in
poverty.
