Abstract

Theoretical and conceptual elements of sociology that have distinctive value in examining educational issues have also played a major role in the study of social stratification. Stratification, or the social distribution of resources (Omi & Winant, 1994, p. 27), may be broadly categorized in terms of class relationships, its role in fostering inequality via one’s degree of social mobility, status and income attainment, and focus upon ascriptive characteristics such as race, ethnicity, or gender. The following discuss some of the most prominent contributions of sociology in the United States and examine each in terms of its utility in understanding stratification within societies. Concluding remarks unite the featured works by underscoring the main constructs in sociology that the sociology of education utilizes in the study of educational outcomes.