Question

Sociologists often point out that systems of stratification in the United States systematically favor white men. Sometimes people contest this, pointing to wealthy and powerful black women like Oprah Winfrey or Toni Morrison. A valid counterpoint to this argument is that:
a, Black women are often the exception to this tendency.
b, Winfrey and Morrison have higher social status because of other markers of class that they inherited, like regional accents.
c, stratification is a characteristic of a society, rather than a reflection of individual differences.
d, systems of stratification have almost entirely disappeared in the last decade.
e, women like these must have inherited a high social status from their parents.

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. Stratification is a characteristic of a society, rather than a reflection of individual differences.

Explanation:

A system of stratification refers to a social classification that organizes individuals into different social classes that form a hierarchy, this implies in a society certain individuals own more power than others as they are at the head of the hierarchy. In the case of the United States society as explained in the text white men tend to be higher in the hierarchy in contrast to black people.

This is a general system supported by many sociologists and despite there are people like Oprah Winfrey or Toni Morrison that contradict this rule, stratification is described according to all society and not according to individuals, which means few black people in the power does not change that most black people belong to low social classes. Therefore, a counterpoint to the argument is that "Stratification is a characteristic of a society, rather than a reflection of individual difference" because this shows specific examples do not change the general situation.