Social Stratification
Social Differences
The differences between have and have-
notes are central preoccupations of
sociologists
The differences are studied in terms of
three variables:
- Inequality
- Stratification
- Class
- Social Status
Social Differences (con.)
Inequality: The condition(s) in which people
don’t have equal access to social rewards
such as money, power and prestige
Stratification: The ways in which these
inequalities are likely to be passed from one
generation to the next producing layers of
strata of people in the society
Social Differences (con.)
Social Class: existence of social groups with
unequal access to wealth, power, and
prestige, these sometimes become significant
political groups on the basis of their position in
the society
Two features of social class:
A. Class in itself
B. Class for itself
Social Status:
a. Ascribed Status
b. Achieved Status
Chapter Objectives
The nature of relationships bw / among
different classes
Explain different social class and social
relationship
Identify the social process through which
the stratification systems are followed by
us as a member of a society
Systems of Social
Stratification
1. Slavery
2. Castes
3. Estate
4. Social Class
Slavery
Extreme in nature but legalized system
In this system human being are treated as
domestic pet
Owner of the slave (Patrician) have the right
to do anything by the slave (Plebian)
Mostly inherited in social practices
Slave master gets the highest social position
in this stratification system comparing slave
gets the lowest
Slavery
Ascribed social status practiced
Social mobility: few in practiced
Name, work, property rights, social status
are determined by your group identity.
Examples: Ancient Greek and Roman
civilization
What about modern society and slavery
system?
Castes
Social stratification based on Religion or by
birth
Different nature of stratification system is
practicing in South Asian society
Individual name, occupation, property
inheritance, marital status are determined by
one’s caste identity
There is no or little scope for changing caste
identity (Social mobility)
Estates
Stratification system based on agriculture
mode of production
Stratification system has great linked with
Feudalism
Land is the main source of classifying
individual social identity and prestige
position
No or little mobility observed
Social class
Modern and different in form and nature
comparing with other stratification system
Industrial society practices this type of
stratification system
Hierarchical position based on individual’s
income and job status
Blue collar and white collar job
One has the access to change his social
position and identity by his own attainment
or achievement
Social Class
Social mobility is high and society is open
for accepting one’s change
Daniel Rossides class model of industrial
society
Upper class 1-2 percent
Upper middle class 10-15 percent
Lower middle class 30-35 percent
Working class, and 40-45 percent
Lower class 20-25 percent
Theory of Stratification: Karl Marx
Why K.Marx is evaluated as not only a social scientist
but also a revolutionary thinker?
Evaluated human history into diff. phases determined
by mode of production
Investigated the nature of relationship between two
classes: Exploitation
Feudal society
Capitalist society
Capitalist society and its special nature of
exploitation
Development of dominant ideology and its
relation with Proletariat culture
Karl Marx
Class consciousness: Awareness of common
vested interest
Two types:
False class consciousness: I am being exploited
by my boss
True class consciousness: All workers are being
exploited by the bourgeoisie
The history of all hitherto existing society is the
history of class struggles….the proletarians have
nothing to lose but their chains.
Karl Marx
Different phases of human society:
- Primitive communism
- Slavery
- Feudalism
- Capitalism
- Socialism
- Communism
Max Weber’s view
Main focus: Class, status, power
Class: refer to people who have similar
level of wealth and income
Status: refer to group of people who rank
the same in prestige or lifestyle
Power: ability to exercise one’s will over
others
Our position reflected some combination
of class, status and power
Social mobility
Refers to movement of individuals or group
from one position to another within a
society’s stratification system
Related to social ranking or prestige ranking
Open society and closed society
Types:
Horizontal mobility: change the social
position but remain the same rank
Vertical mobility: one position to another of a
different rank
Vertical Social mobility
Types of vertical mobility
A. intragenerational mobility
B. intergenerational mobility
C. Stratum or structural mobility
