Understanding Social Stratification

Introduction to Social Stratification

• Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels declared that the written history of all societies is a history of class struggle.

Social Stratification

• Social stratification is how a society ranks people hierarchically. This arrangement is represented by layers or strata.
• Social stratification is not just about ownership of property; it includes various factors.

Types of Social Stratification

• Caste:
  • A ranked group often associated with a specific occupation.
  • Membership is determined at birth.
  • Marriage is restricted to members of the same caste (endogamy).
  • Caste systems limit social interactions between different groups.
  • Caste systems are typically associated with agrarian societies, demanding rigid duties and disciplines.
• Class:
  • A system of social stratification where people are ranked on the basis of achieved characteristics (merit, talent, ability, past performance).
  • It's an open system with high social mobility.
• Rank:
  • Social groups have unequal access to prestige and status but not significantly unequal access to economic resources or power.
  • The position of a chief is often hereditary.

Social Mobility

• Social mobility is moving from one social class to another within a class system.
• Types of social mobility:
• Horizontal: Change in social situation without a status change
• Vertical: Change in social situation involving a gain or loss of status
• Intragenerational: Change affecting a single person during their lifetime
• Intergenerational: Change affecting a person based on comparison with the previous generation.

Open vs Closed Systems

• Open: People can change their social position relatively easily (Social mobility readily available)
• Closed: People have limited ability to change their social position

Theories of Class & Stratification

• Karl Marx: Class is a group of people sharing a common relationship to the means of production. Pre-industrial societies had two main classes (landowners and producers); modern societies are divided between capitalists and the working class. The relationship between classes is exploitative.

• Max Weber: Modified Marx's approach. Stratification is not just about economics, but also includes status (social) and party (political) aspects. Class divisions also arise from differences not related to property ownership.

Statuses in Sociology

• Ascribed: Social positions assigned based on attributes a person is born with or develops over time (e.g., sex, race, age, inherited religious affiliation).
• Achieved: Social positions earned through personal choice, effort, and ability (e.g., wealth, education, occupation).

Social Prestige

• Social prestige is the level of respect or admiration for a social status, unrelated to the person occupying it.

Discussion: Prestige/Status Symbols

• Questions and discussion prompts relate to factors of value, cost, and branding influencing perceived status.

Types of Societies

• Egalitarian:
  • Egalitarian does not mean everyone is equal.
  • Differential prestige exists—differences relating to age, gender, skills, power, creativity, attractiveness, and intelligence.
  • There are as many prestige positions within a given social group as there are people capable of filling them.

Perspectives on Social Stratification

• Functionalist: Stratification is necessary for societal stability and efficiency. The most qualified people end up in vital roles due to motivating rewards.
• Conflict: Stratification is a reflection of unequal power dynamics, perpetuating by those in power. Social inequalities and privilege are inherently unjust.
• Symbolic Interactionist: Social Stratification is constructed and maintained through daily interactions, symbols, and meanings. Individuals subjectively experience and internalize society's labels.