Sociology Flashcards on Social Stratification

Social Stratification

• Defined as dividing large groups of people into layers based on relative power, property, and prestige.
• Major stratification systems include slavery, caste, and class.

Slavery

• A form of social stratification where some individuals own others.
• Commonly based on debt, crime, or war.

Caste System

• Social stratification based on ascribed status, which is fixed for life.

Class System

• Based on financial resources and material possessions.
• Allows for social mobility, enabling individuals to move up or down the class ladder.

Bourgeoisie and Proletariat

• Bourgeoisie: Owners of the means of production.
• Proletariat: Workers for the bourgeoisie.

Components of Social Class

• Composed of property, prestige, and power.

Social Rewards and Meritocracy

• Theory by Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore suggesting society must provide incentives to attract capable individuals to important roles.
• Meritocracy promotes individuals based on their achievements.

Theories of Power and Stratification

• Gaetano Mosca: Groups in society compete for power.
• Gerhard Lenski: Surplus accumulation is key to understanding stratification.

Ideology and Social Stratification

• Ruling elites create ideologies to justify existing social stratification systems.

Variability in Stratification

• Class distinctions in Britain highlighted through speech and education.
• The former Soviet Union saw a shift from one stratification to another under communism.

Global Stratification Theories

• Roots explained by colonialism, world system theory, and the culture of poverty.

Levels of Industrialization

• Classification of nations: Most Industrialized, Industrializing, and Least Industrialized.

Globalization

• The extensive interconnections among nations driven by capitalistic expansion.

Neocolonialism

• Economic and political dominance of least industrialized nations by the most industrialized nations.

Economic Power Dynamics

• Michael Harrington asserts that most industrialized nations control less industrialized nations through market control and pricing.
• Multinational corporations exploit least industrialized nations.

Role of Technology

• New technologies favor most industrialized nations, aiding their global dominance.

Social Class Definition

• Large groups ranking similarly concerning property, power, and prestige.

Wealth and Power

• Wealth consists of property value and income.
• Power is defined as the ability to achieve one's objectives despite opposition.

Power Elite

• C. Wright Mills identifies the power elite as a small group controlling business, government, and military power.

Prestige and Status

• Prestige linked to occupational status; status refers to social position.
• Status can be consistent (ranking similarly across dimensions) or inconsistent (leading to political radicalism).

Erik Wright's Four-Class System

• Extends Marx’s model: capitalists, petty bourgeoisie, managers, and workers.
• Capitalists: Owners of large businesses.
• Petty bourgeoisie: Small business owners.
• Working class: Factory and lower-paid white-collar workers, typically with a high school education.
• Under class: Positioned in inner cities with limited job market connections.

Test your knowledge on key concepts of social stratification with these flashcards. Learn about different stratification systems such as slavery, caste, and class, and understand their implications in society.