Inequality Preservation through Uneven Diffusion of Cultural Materials across Stratified Groups
Inequality Preservation through Uneven Diffusion of Cultural Materials across Stratified Groups
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DOI：
10.1093/sf/sou101
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发表时间：
2015-03-01
期刊：
影响因子：
4.8
通讯作者：
Gondal, Neha
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Gondal, Neha
群体之间的不平等往往通过构建群体间文化差异并使之合法化来维持。我利用布劳的多种形式的异质性和复杂的传染模型来理论和开发一种关系机制，该机制表明，当额外的、新的群体之间区分的基础覆盖现有群体的基础时，不平等如何得以保留。我调查了人口在分层群体中的分布变化和沿着分层属性的社会网络的同质性以一种信念/实践在一个群体中广泛传播而不是在另一个群体中广泛传播的方式相互作用的条件--这种结果被称为差异扩散。本文还分析了自我网络的规模和采用门槛对差异化扩散的影响。使用数学和基于代理的模型，我发现收养门槛和同质性之间存在正相关：当社交网络高度同质性(例如，种族和社会经济阶层)时，非规范性行为的不均衡扩散会复制不平等；包容性网络(例如，在不同的城市学校)相反，通过低风险行为的差异化扩散重建不平等。这表明，在保守的情况下，在采用新的信仰/做法需要相当大的肯定的情况下，培育多样性可能会减少不平等的保护。在采取新行为的风险相对较低的接受环境中，鼓励基于地位的团结更合适。结果还表明，对扩散的分析需要对背景因素敏感，包括同质性、传播材料的文化制度化和人口分布。最后，我扩展了里奇韦的开创性工作，展示了关系结构如何不仅可以构建地位层次结构，还可以有助于它们的象征性维护。
Inequality between groups is frequently maintained through the construction and legitimation of inter-group cultural differences. I draw on Blau's multiform heterogeneity and complex contagion models to theorize and develop a relational mechanism that shows how inequality can be preserved when additional, new bases of differentiating between groups layer over existing ones. I investigate the conditions under which variations in the distribution of the population across stratified groups and homophily of social networks along the stratifying attribute interact in such a way that a belief/practice diffuses widely in one group but not the other-an outcome referred to as differential diffusion. I also analyze how size of ego networks and adoption thresholds affect differential diffusion. Using mathematical and agent-based models, I find a positive correlation between adoption thresholds and homophily: when social networks are highly homophilous (e.g., race and socioeconomic class), uneven diffusion of non-normative behavior reproduces inequality; inclusive networks (e.g., in diverse city schools), in contrast, reestablish inequality through differential diffusion of low-risk behavior. This suggests that cultivating diversity is likely to mitigate inequality preservation in conservative situations where adoption of new beliefs/practices needs considerable affirmation. Encouraging status-based solidarity is more appropriate in receptive contexts where adoption of new behaviors entails comparatively lower risk. The results also imply that analyses of diffusion need to be sensitive to contextual factors, including homophily, cultural institutionalization of the diffusing material, and population distribution. Finally, I extend Ridgeway's seminal work to show how relational structure can not only construct status hierarchies but also contribute to their symbolic maintenance.