Why sociologists distinguish between cultural and material aspects of stratification?

Question

Why sociologists distinguish between cultural and material aspects of stratification?

Answer 1

Good question.

Answer 2

Because they are two different things. In some cultures they actually make a clear distinction between the two. For example some Native American peoples ont he northwest coast beleived that ones accumulation of things was a seperate kind of wealth from ones spiritual or "cultural" wealth. As such one could be very poor materialy but very rich culturaly, in this scenario they would have little power when it came to economics, but immense power when it came to policy or spiritual decisions withint he tribe. In the US a similar feature can be seen with teachers, they are considered a very respectable position in society because of their role in shaping our youth, but materialy they are very low in the income brackets (about as much as garbage men).