Sociology Midterm Assignment:

Canada & Thailand

Teagan Richardson & Kris Stewart

Durham College
October 2018

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 1. When sociologists discuss social, gender and global stratification they are
recognizing what factors society takes into consideration when categorizing
individuals based off of varying life realities such as gender, and income. These
subcategories aid in the creation of a hierarchy system in our society. The
connection between stratification and sociology is significant as it helps us better
understand what information is being analyzed when creating the basic structure
of the society we live in.

● Social Stratification can be defined as the separation of each social class.

Aspects that affect the categorization process are usually based on
occupation/income and how much power a person has. (Social Stratification:
Definition, Theories & Examples, 2015)

● Gender Stratification refers to the difference between men and woman in relation
to wealth and power. (Gender Stratification – Sociology – O

● Global Stratification refers to the unequal dissemination of resources between all

countries.

INFORMATION CANADA THAILAND

GNI Per Capita 43, 420 PPP 16, 070 PPP
Infant Mortality Rate (# of 4.8 / 1000 Children Born 10.5 / 1000 Children Born
infant deaths per 1,000 live
births)
Life Expectancy at Birth 82.14 Years of Age 74.60 Years of Age
(Years)
Lifetime Births Per Woman 1.6 / Woman 1.5 / Woman
Underweight Children Age 1.8 % 9.2 %
>5 (%)
Unemployment Rate (% of 6.5 % 0.84 %
total labour force)
Population 35, 623, 680 68, 414, 135
Population Below Poverty 9.4 % 7.2 %
Line

(Index Mundi – Countries, 2018)

3. In Thailand, manufacturing serves as the dominate industry. The manufacturing

industry includes mining, construction, electricity, water and gas. Collaboratively, these
contribute to Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP). The GDP gradually increases as
the agriculture in the country decreases. Thailand has one of the strongest third-world

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economies and is among the wealthiest in South-East Asia. Poverty levels are declining
on a yearly basis due to several factors. Women account for 80 percent of total
employment in the ten largest export industries. (Chia, J. 2016) “More than 69.4
percent of the population aged 15 and older are employed.” (Frigillana, M. 2017)
Approximately 38 percent of the population have attended post secondary education.
(Frigillana, M. 2017) In the 1960s, Thailand’s economy grew more than 8%, creating an
abundance of jobs thereby assisting with alleviation of poverty. (Frigillana, M. 2017)
Thailand both acknowledges and embraces gender equality. Thailand’s last elected
Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was female. (Chia, J. 2016) This illustrates
that women in Thailand have the opportunity to gain a position of power. Thailand’s
government has created a multitude of policies to address gender inequalities within the
last few decades. (Gender Inequality in Thailand, 2018) Thailand's
government has recognized and addressed issues pertaining to women in the work
force, or a lack thereof. The initiation of addressing this issue began in 1975 when
Thailand participated in the First United Nations World Conference on Women. Thailand
later joined the world community in recognition of the Decade of Women in 1976.
(Gender Inequality in Thailand, 2018) . Therefore Thailand is actively working to
improve equality and minimize gender stratification.

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Bibliography

Index Mundi Countries, (2018, July 20). Retrieved from

https://www.indexmundi.com/factbook/countries

Chia, J. (2016, March 30). The Privileged Lie of Gender Equality in Thailand. Retrieved
from http://hir.harvard.edu/article/?a=13011

Frigillana, M. (2017, May 14). 5 Key Facts about Poverty in Thailand. Retrieved from
https://borgenproject.org/five-facts-about-poverty-in-thailand/

Gender inequality in Thailand. (2018, June 07). Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_inequality_in_Thailand