Social Stratification and Mobility

Social Stratification

• The unequal distribution of resources, power and prestige within a society, forming social layers or strata.
• Reflects social structures, not individual attributes.
• Persists over generations, influencing individual opportunities and life outcomes.
• Shaped by cultural beliefs, like the U.S.'s emphasis on meritocracy versus India's caste system.

Caste System

• Rigid social hierarchy based on ascription, often determined by birth.
• Example: The Hindu caste system.

Class System

• More flexible than caste systems.
• Based on achievement and economic factors, allowing for social mobility.

Meritocracy

• Belief that success is achieved through individual effort and talent, not by social class.

Social Differentiation

• The process of distinguishing individuals based on characteristics like race and gender.

Social Mobility

• The ability to move within the social hierarchy.
• Intergenerational mobility: Changes in social status across generations.
• Intragenerational mobility: Changes in social status within a single generation.

Plutocracy

• Government rule by the wealthy elite.

Max Weber’s Perspective

• Places importance on social status and power in addition to class and economic wealth.

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

• Composite measure of an individual's economic and social position.

Pierre Bourdieu's Theory

• Types of Capital:
  • Economic Capital: Financial assets and resources.
  • Social Capital: Networks of relationships and social connections.
  • Cultural Capital: Knowledge, skills, and education.
  • Symbolic Capital: Recognition and prestige derived from other forms of capital.

Class Structure

• Class Divisions:
  • Upper Class:
    • Upper Upper: Established wealth.
    • Lower Upper: Newly wealthy (e.g., corporate leaders).
  • Middle Class:
    • Upper Middle: Professionals and managers.
    • Average Middle: Average income earners.
    • Working Class: Skilled and unskilled laborers.
  • Lower Class: Individuals living in poverty.
    • Relative Poverty: Poverty in comparison to the living standards of the majority.
    • Absolute Poverty: Severe deprivation of basic human needs.

Economic Systems

• Industrialism vs. Post-Industrialism:

  • Industrialism: Characterized by factory-based labor.
  • Post-Industrialism: Shift to a service-oriented economy.

• Economic Models:

  • Capitalism: Private ownership of the means of production, market forces dictate economic activity.
    • Laissez-Faire Economics: Minimal government intervention in the economy.
  • Socialism: Collective ownership of the means of production, state-directed economic activity.

Social Groups

• Collections of individuals who interact and develop a sense of togetherness.
• Key Dimensions:
  • Level of Affinity: Degree of personal connection.
  • Primary Group: Close, intimate relationships (e.g., family).
  • Secondary Group: Larger, more impersonal groups (e.g., workplace).

Group Dynamics

• In-Group vs. Out-Group: Groups to which one belongs vs. those to which one does not.
• Simmel’s Dyad vs. Triad: The transition from two-person to three-person groups increases complexity, reduces intimacy, and enhances coalition potential.

Leadership Types

• Instrumental Leader: Focuses on task-oriented goals.
• Expressive Leader: Prioritizes group cohesion and morale.

Organizations

• Types of Organizations:
  • Utilitarian: Goal-oriented (e.g., businesses).
  • Normative: Value-based (e.g., nonprofit organizations).
  • Coercive: Forced participation (e.g., prisons).

Bureaucracy

• Characteristics:
  • Impersonality, hierarchy, specialization.
  • Bureaucratic Alienation: Individuals feel disconnected in bureaucratic settings.
  • Bureaucratic Ritualism: Excessive adherence to rules hinders organizational goals.

McDonaldization

• Principles:
  • Efficiency: Streamlining processes.
  • Calculability: Emphasis on quantifiable outcomes.
  • Predictability: Standardized services and products.
  • Control: Over people and resources.

Weber’s Iron Cage

• The idea that rationalization can lead to dehumanizing structures, trapping individuals in systems that prioritize efficiency over personal agency.

Deviance

• Violation of cultural norms, not always codified into law.
• Crime: Deviance that is formally enacted into law.

Social Controls

• Internal Controls: Personal conscience and internalized norms.
• External Controls: Social sanctions and laws.

Explanations of Deviance

• Biological Accounts: Suggests genetics influence deviance, though insufficient to explain all behaviors.
• Psychological Accounts: Focus on mental health and behavior, often with vague definitions.
• Social Accounts: Examines societal context and power dynamics in defining deviance.

Theories of Deviance

• Merton’s Strain Theory: Addresses the relationship between societal goals and means, categorizing responses:
  • Innovators: Create new means to achieve goals.
  • Conformists: Accept means and goals.
  • Ritualists: Reject goals but accept means.
  • Rebels: Reject both means and goals.
  • Retreatists: Withdraw from societal expectations.

Labeling Theory

• Focuses on how labels affect identity and behavior:
  • Primary vs. Secondary Deviance: Initial acts of deviance vs. identity shaped by societal labels.
  • Stigma: Social discrediting based on deviant labels.

Bruce Western’s Research

• Highlights disparities in incarceration rates among young black males, suggesting systemic inequalities:
  • Laws disproportionately criminalize the poor.
  • Increased visibility and scrutiny of street deviance.

Responses to Deviance

• Retribution: Punishment as a form of societal revenge.
• Incapacitation: Removing offenders from society to prevent future crime.
• Rehabilitation: Aiming to reform offenders.
• Deterrence: Discouraging future crime through the threat of punishment.

White Collar Crime

• Definitions:
  • Occupational Crime: Committed by individuals for personal gain.
  • Organizational Crime: Committed by organizations for profit.

Explore the concepts of social stratification, caste and class systems, and the influence of meritocracy on individual opportunity. This quiz examines how social structures impact life outcomes, highlighting the differences between rigid and flexible social hierarchies. Test your understanding of social differentiation and mobility trends.