Sociology Chapter on Social Stratification

Defining Social Stratification

• Social stratification is a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy.
• It is a characteristic of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences.
• It persists over generations, perpetuating inequalities.
• It is supported by patterns of belief that define acceptable inequalities.

Key Features of Social Stratification

• Social Inequality: Different groups have unequal access to resources such as wealth, power, and prestige.
• Social Mobility: The ability to move up or down the social hierarchy. This mobility can be vertical (up or down), horizontal (same social class), or intergenerational (across generations), or intragenerational (within one's own lifetime).
• Social Control: Mechanisms that maintain social stratification, such as norms, laws, and social pressure.
• Persistence Across Generations: Social status often tends to be passed down from one generation to the next, creating a cycle of advantage or disadvantage.
• Unequal Opportunities: Access to education, jobs, healthcare, and other opportunities varies across social strata.
• Socioeconomic Status (SES): A complex concept combined of sociocultural variables such as occupation, income, educational attainment, and wealth, often used to rank individuals or families in the hierarchy.

Dimensions of Social Stratification

• Economic Inequality: This involves differences in income, wealth, and access to resources. Wealth is often considered more significant than income, as it represents a stock of assets accumulated over time.
• Social Status: This refers to the prestige associated with a particular social position or group. Factors like occupation, education, and family background shape social status.
• Political Power: This involves the ability to influence decision-making processes and access to positions of authority. Those with more political power often have greater influence on resource allocation and social policies.

Types of Stratification Systems

• Slavery: The most extreme form of stratification, where individuals are owned as property.
• Caste System: A rigid hierarchical system in which individuals are born into a specific social group (caste) with limited social mobility.
• Estate System: A system that divides society into distinct groups (estates) with unequal rights and obligations. Often associated with certain historical periods in Europe.
• Social Class System: A more open system where social mobility is possible, though not always equal. Factors such as education, occupation, and income influence an individual's placement in the class system. This system is frequently observed in modern, industrialized societies.

Consequences of Social Stratification

• Social Inequality: Creates disparities in access to resources, opportunities, and life chances.
• Social Conflict: Competition for scarce resources and power can lead to social unrest and tension.
• Limited Social Mobility: Challenges individuals in lower strata to improve their social position, potentially perpetuating cycles of poverty and disadvantage.
• Health Disparities: Studies have shown a strong correlation between social class and health outcomes, with lower socioeconomic classes often experiencing poorer health.
• Education Gaps: Unequal access to quality education contributes to social stratification by limiting opportunities for advancement in future social classes.
• Psychological Impact: Social class can affect individuals' self-esteem, aspirations, and sense of self-efficacy.

Functionalist Perspective on Social Stratification

• This perspective argues that stratification is a necessary function of society.
• Functionalist theorists suggest that some positions are more functionally important than others, and higher rewards are necessary to attract the most talented individuals to those positions.
• This perspective tends to downplay the role of conflict and inequality in perpetuating social stratification.

Conflict Perspective on Social Stratification

• This perspective sees stratification as a source of conflict and inequality.
• Conflict theorists emphasize the role of power and control in maintaining the existing social hierarchy.
• They argue that the elite use their power to maintain their dominance and suppress the less powerful.

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective on Social Stratification

• This perspective focuses on the everyday interactions and meanings associated with social class.
• Individuals' perceptions and experiences of social class shape their interactions and behaviors.
• Symbolic interactionists examine how symbols and social status are used to communicate social class and how they influence social norms and behaviors.