social stratification concept essay

Concept of Social Stratification Essay

Introduction, categories of stratification, applying to life, intersectionality, accessibility.

Social stratification can be considered to be the root of all discussions and debates regarding social inequalities. Even though there have been constant calls for equality, modern society remains highly stratified with gaps ever-widening. Social class is perhaps one of the most prevalent forms of inequalities, especially in capitalist societies where resources are owned and controlled by a few. The lower and middle classes dominate much of the global population. This essay defines the various forms of stratification and addresses the issues of intersectionality and accessibility.

Social class can be described as a classification of people possessing similar socioeconomic status. According to Manstead (2018), social class shares compatibility with the term ‘subjective social rank,’ where material resources classify people as lower, middle or working, and upper class. Therefore, socioeconomic status is gained by the wealth that people accumulate for themselves. Race entails a group of people sharing similar distinctive physical characteristics. Most commonly, the color of people is used to define their race. However, several other traits can be used to define race, including hair texture. The definitions of race in such countries as the United States may be changing with time. Currently, racial lines include white, Asian, black or African American, Native Hawaiian, and American Indian or Alaska natives.

Gender is another form of social stratification, which majorly revolves around masculinity and femininity. However, contemporary society is seeking for further inclusion of such categories as common and neuter to include people who do not classify as either male or female. The idea is that biological differences are used to distinguish between people. Lastly, age entailed the number of years or the length of time that people have lived. Basic categorizations include infants, children, adolescents, and adults, even though alternatives may be used. No universal rule exists to dictate how age is classified as the context may differ. The rationale is that several terminologies can be used to describe a particular age group to which a person belongs. Examples include teenagers, which denotes people between thirteen and nineteen.

Few categories may apply to my life, even though most are a matter of self-perception. However, one of the most visible aspects of my life is that I have been born and raised in a working family. The rationale is that both parents are employed and have been so for all their adult life. In this case, I can only consider myself to be similar to them because my path will most likely be similar to them. Upon graduation, my sole focus will be on finding and building a career. However, situations may change, considering that I am an ambitious person. Even though I might choose to pursue a different path from my parents, the same classification may hold until my socioeconomic status has changed.

However, age, gender, and race may also apply to me but I tend to ignore them in light of recent social developments. In other words, association with race has become a controversial subject due to the overwhelming opposition to racism. Personally, racial abuses are a vice, and modern society would be better if all races were to be held in the same regard. Regarding age, I can consider myself a young person approaching adulthood. I do not have any reservations regarding age as opposed to the other forms of classification. Neutrality is perhaps the best approach because it raises few concerns when subjects of inequality, discrimination, and racism are broached.

Intersectionality is a concept that has come to dominate the current literature on such subjects as gender and feminism. Debates on intersectionality often offer a critical analysis of how men, women, and children from different families experience or suffer privilege and marginalization (Few-Demo & Allen, 2020). The concept of intersectionality was developed by Black critical thinkers and other activists to conceptualize the disadvantages suffered by Black women, including oppressive experiences. Today, intersectionality has had a massive influence on multiple scholarly fields where a diversion has been made from the initial radical origins (Gkiouleka et al., 2018). Therefore, intersectionality has become an analytical tool of social stratification, whose purpose is to challenge the notion of single and fixed social hierarchies. Sensitivity to alternative classifications has become a pressing concern for many people.

There are a few examples of intersectionality in my life, especially in the life of a student. Today, most societies are racially and ethnically diverse, which is felt across all contexts of social life. In school, the subject of sensitivity is becoming more common, especially when society fights against all forms of discrimination. Therefore, I have always avoided identifying myself racially, especially when I am in the company of other people. Most importantly, I have always avoided any discussions that may cause any form of division among people close to me. However, my own experience of intersectionality is the refusal to classify other people along any lines of stratification.

The question of accessibility should be considered as another category of stratification. The term accessibility can be used in the context of resources and other necessities of life. For example, accessibility in education can be used to imply that all students access education regardless of their classification, which includes disability status (Zhang et al., 2020). Privileges and marginalization have all been determined by the accessibility to resources. Therefore, accessibility should easily be integrated into the discussions of social stratification.

However, the question of redundancy may arise, especially if the term accessibility is solely tied to resources. The argument is social class and socioeconomic status are better suited to describe access to resources. Even in the educational context, access to the best schools is determined by the economic wellbeing of the people. The term accessibility may need further expansion before it can be included without causing these redundancies. At the moment, privileges are for those with easy access to economic resources while marginalization faces those with limited access.

Social stratification is becoming a contentious subject, especially because it is tied to such vices as racism, inequality, and discrimination. The main forms of stratification have been discussed, including class, gender, race, and age. As many people, including scholars, acknowledge the need for sensitivity, the subject of intersectionality is becoming more popular where people are encouraged to accept alternative forms of social hierarchies. Real-life examples of both intersectional and social stratification have been offered. The most important aspect is that reservations have been made for certain forms due to sensitivity and experiences of intersectionality. Lastly, doubts have been raised regarding the inclusion of accessibility, especially because such concerns as material or economic resources remain unaddressed.

Few-Demo, A., & Allen, K. (2020). gender, feminist, and intersectional perspectives on families: A decade in review. Journal of Marriage and Family, 82 (1), 326-345. Web.

Gkiouleka, A., Huijts, T., Beckfield, J., & Bambra, C. (2018). Understanding the micro and macro politics of health: Inequalities, intersectionality & institutions – A research agenda . Social Science & Medicine, 200 , 92-98. Web.

Manstead, A. (2018). The psychology of social class: How socioeconomic status impacts thought, feelings, and behaviour. British Journal of Social Psychology, 57 , 267-291. Web.

Zhang, X., Tlili, A., Nascimbeni, F., Burgos, D., Huang, R., Chang, T.,… Khribi, M. (2020). Accessibility within open educational resources and practices for disabled learners: A systematic literature review. Smart Learning Environments, 7 (1), 1-19. Web.

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Social Stratification Essay

Principles of sociology (soc-102), grand canyon university.

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Social Stratification Essay Social stratification is a system that ranks people in a society based on various factors like wealth, power, prestige, and ascribed status. This ranking creates a social hierarchy that affects people’s lives in many ways. Understanding social stratification and its effects is crucial for comprehending how societies work and the impact of systemic inequalities. This essay will explore different stratification systems, the concept of social mobility, and the sorting process within these systems. Additionally, it will address the research question of which racial group in America has the most socioeconomic status (SES) power, supported by relevant statistics and analysis. Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of people in a society based on their socioeconomic status. Three primary stratification systems are often discussed: the class system, the caste system, and the meritocratic system. The class system, a form of social stratification based on both birth and individual achievement, is common in many societies, including the United States. In contrast, the caste system, which is rigid and hereditary, assigns people to a social position for life based on their birth. The meritocratic system ideally bases social standing on personal merit, including abilities and achievements. Each of these systems sorts people differently and has unique implications for social mobility. Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals or groups within the social hierarchy, which can be either upward or downward. In a class system, social mobility is theoretically possible through education, employment, and other achievements. However, barriers such as economic disparities and social capital can limit this mobility. In the caste system, social mobility is almost impossible due to the rigid, hereditary social positions. The meritocratic system promotes the idea that people can achieve higher social status through their efforts and abilities. However, it often overlooks systemic barriers that hinder true merit-based advancement. Understanding the nuances of social mobility within these systems is essential for analyzing the effectiveness and fairness of each stratification system. The sorting process in stratification systems refers to the mechanisms by which people are allocated to different social positions. In the class system, sorting is influenced by factors such as education, occupation, and income. People with higher education and prestigious jobs typically occupy higher social strata. In the caste system, sorting is predetermined by birth, with little to no possibility for change. In the meritocratic system, sorting is ideally based on individual talent and effort, although in practice, systemic inequalities often distort this process. Analyzing the sorting process helps us understand how societies maintain and reproduce social hierarchies.

In summary, social stratification systems, social mobility, and the sorting process are interconnected concepts that shape the social structure of societies. By examining different stratification systems, we gain insights into how societies organize people and maintain social hierarchies. Understanding these concepts is crucial for addressing social inequalities and promoting a more just and fair society. The purpose of the second part of this analysis is to investigate which racial group in America holds the most socioeconomic status (SES) power. SES is a composite measure that includes income, wealth (net worth), homeownership, and education. By examining these indicators across different racial groups—Hispanic, Black, White, and Asian—we can determine the distribution of SES power in the United States. Socioeconomic status (SES) is a measure of a person's or group's economic and social position compared to others, based on income, education, and occupation. Class stratification refers to the division of society into different classes based on economic and social factors. Understanding SES and class stratification is essential for analyzing how resources and opportunities are distributed among different racial groups. To analyze SES power, we examine four key indicators: income, wealth (net worth), homeownership, and education (educational attainment). Data shows significant disparities among racial groups in each of these areas. For instance, according to recent statistics, the median household income for White Americans is substantially higher than that for Black and Hispanic Americans, with Asian Americans having the highest median income. Wealth disparities are even more pronounced, with White households holding the majority of wealth in the United States. Homeownership rates also vary significantly, with White Americans having the highest rates, followed by Asian, Hispanic, and Black Americans. Educational attainment shows similar patterns, with Asian Americans achieving the highest levels of education, followed by White, Hispanic, and Black Americans. Analyzing the SES indicators reveals that White Americans hold the most SES power in the United States, followed closely by Asian Americans. Hispanic and Black Americans lag significantly behind in all SES measures. This conclusion is supported by data on income, wealth, homeownership, and education, which consistently show higher levels of SES among White and Asian Americans compared to Hispanic and Black Americans. The disparities in SES power highlight the systemic inequalities that persist in American society, underscoring the need for targeted policies to address these gaps.

distribution of SES power. White and Asian Americans generally enjoy higher levels of SES, while Hispanic and Black Americans face more significant barriers to achieving economic stability and upward mobility. Addressing these disparities requires comprehensive policy interventions and societal changes. Policies aimed at reducing income inequality, increasing access to quality education, and promoting homeownership among underrepresented groups can help bridge the gap. Additionally, efforts to combat discrimination in the workplace, housing market, and educational institutions are essential for promoting a more equitable society. In conclusion, this analysis of social stratification systems, social mobility, and the sorting process provides a comprehensive understanding of how societies organize and rank individuals. The investigation into SES power among different racial groups in America reveals significant disparities, with White and Asian Americans holding the most SES power. Addressing these inequalities requires a multifaceted approach, including policy interventions and societal changes to promote greater equity and justice. Understanding the dynamics of social stratification and SES power is crucial for creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

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Social Stratification: Definition, Types & Examples

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Key Takeaways

• The term social stratification refers to how societies categorize people based on factors such as wealth, income, education, family background, and power.
• Social stratification exists in all societies in some form. However, it is easier to move up socially in some than others. Societies with more vertical social mobility have open stratification systems, and those with low vertical mobility have closed stratification systems.
• The importance of stratification is that those at the top of the hierarchy have greater access to scarce resources than those at the bottom.
• Sociologists have created four main categories of social stratification systems: class systems, caste systems, slavery, and meritocracy. The last of these is a largely hypothetical system.
• Class consistency refers to the variability of one”s social status among many dimensions (such as education and wealth) during one”s lifetime. More open stratification systems tend to encourage lower class consistency than closed stratification systems.
• Social stratification can work along multiple dimensions, such as those of race, gender, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, and so on. Intersectionality is a method for studying systems of social stratification through the lens of multiple identities.

What is Meant by Social Stratification?

Social stratification refers to a society”s categorization of its people into rankings based on factors such as wealth, income, education, family background, and power. Someones” place within a system of social stratification is called their socioeconomic status.

Social stratification is a relatively fixed, hierarchical arrangement in society by which groups have different access to resources, power, and perceived social worth.

Although many people and institutions in Western Societies indicate that they value equality — the belief that everyone has an equal chance at success and that hard work and talent — not inherited wealth, prejudicial treatment, racism, or societal values — determine social mobility , sociologists recognize social stratification as a society-wide system that makes inequalities apparent.

While there are inequalities between individuals, sociologists are interested in large social patterns. That is to say, sociologists look to see if those with similar backgrounds, group memberships, identities, and geographic locations share the same social stratification.

While some cultures may outwardly say that one’s climb and descent in socioeconomic status depends on individual choices, sociologists see how the structure of society affects a person’s social standing and, therefore, is created and supported by society.

Origins Social Stratification

Human social stratification has taken on many forms throughout the course of history. In foraging societies, for example, social status usually depended on hunting and leadership ability, particularly in males (Gurven & von Rueden, 2006).

Those who brought back meat for meals were held in higher status than those who rarely succeeded at hunting.

Meanwhile, in parts of the world where agriculture has replaced hunting and gathering, Anne’s land holdings often form the basis for social stratification. These holdings tend to be transmitted throughout generations.

This intergenerational transfer of wealth gave rise to what is known as estates, which were dominant in medieval Europe (Ertman, 1997).

The rise of agriculture also brought the emergence of cities, each with its own forms of stratification, now centered on one”‘s occupation. As the skills needed for acquiring certain occupational skills grew, so did the intergenerational transmission of status according to one”‘s occupational class.

One example of stratification according to occupational classes are guilds (Gibert, 1986). More rigid occupational classes are called castes, which exist both in and outside India.

Examples of Stratification

The factors that define stratification vary from society to society. In many societies, stratification is an economic system based on wealth, or the net values of the money and assets a person has, and income, their wages or income from investments.

However, there are other important factors that influence social standing. In some cultures, for instance, prestige — be it obtained through going to a prestigious university, working for a prestigious company, or coming from an illustrious family — is valued. In others, social stratification is based on age.

The elderly may be either esteemed or disparaged and ignored. The cultural beliefs of societies often reinforce stratification.

Broadly, these factors define how societies are classified or stratified:

Economic condition: the amount someone earns;

Social class: classification based on, for example, economy and caste;

Social networks: the connections that people have — and the opportunities these allow people in finding jobs, partners, and so on.

One determinant of social standing is one”s parents. Parents tend to pass their social position onto their children, as well as the cultural norms, values, and beliefs that accompany a certain lifestyle. Parents can also transfer a network of friends and family members that provide resources and support.

This is why, in situations where someone who was born into one social status enters the environment of another — such as the child of an uneducated family entering college, the individual may fare worse than others; they lack the resources and support often provided to those whose parents have gone to college (Gutierrez et al., 2022).

A society’s occupational structure can also determine social stratification. For example, societies may consider some jobs — such as teaching, or nursing — to be noble professions, which people should do out of love and the greater good rather than for money.

In contrast, those in other professions, such as athletes and C-suite executives, do not receive this attitude. Thus, those who are highly-educated may receive relatively low pay (Gutierrez et al., 2022).

Types of Stratification

Slavery and indentured servitude are likely the most rigid types of social stratification. Both of these involve people being treated as actual property and are often based on race or ethnicity. The owner of a slave exploits a slave”s labor for economic gain.

Slavery is one of the lowest levels in any stratification system, as they possess virtually no power or wealth of their own.

Slavery is thought to have begun 10,000 years ago, after agricultural societies developed, as people in these societies made prisoners of war work on their farm.

As in other social stratification systems, the status of one”s parents often defines whether or not someone will be put into slavery. However on a historic level, slavery has also been used as a punishment for crimes and as a way of controlling those in invaded or enemy territories.

For example, ancient Roman slaves were in large part from conquered regions (Gutierrez et al., 2022).

Slavery regained its property after the European colonization of the Western Hemisphere in the 1500s. Portuguese and Spanish colonists who settled in Brazil and the Caribbean enslaved native populations, and people from Africa were shipped to the “new world” to carry out various tasks.

Notably, the United State’s early gricultural economy was one intertwined with slavery, a fact that would help lead the Civil War after it won its independence from Britain.

Slavery still exists in many parts of the world.

Modern slaves include those taken as prisoners of war in ethnic conflicts, girls and women captured and kidnapped and used as prostitutes or sex slaves, children sold by their parents to be child laborers, and workers paying off debts who are abused, or even tortured, to the extent that they are unable to leave (Bales, 2007).

Even in societies that have officially outlawed slavery, the practice continues to have wide-ranging repercussions on socioeconomic standing. For example, some observers believe that a caste system existed in the southern part of the United States until the civil rights movement ended legal racial segregation. Rights, such as the right to vote and to a fair trial, were denied in practice, and lynchings were common for many decade (Litwack, 2009).

South Africa, meanwhile, had an official caste system known as apartheid until the 1990s. Although black people constituted the majority of the nation”s population, they had the worst jobs, could not vote, and lived in poor, segregated neighborhoods.

Both systems have, to the consensus of many sociologists, provided those of color with lower intergenerational wealth and higher levels of prejudice than their white counterparts, systematically hampering vertical class mobility.

Caste Systems

Caste systems are closed stratification systems, meaning that people can do very little to change the social standing of their birth. Caste systems determine all aspects of an individual”s life, such as appropriate occupations, marriage partners, and housing.

Those who defy the expectations of their caste may descend to a lower one. Individual talents and interests do not provide opportunities to improve one”s social standing.

The Indian caste system is based on the principles of Hinduism.

Those who are in higher castes are considered to be more spiritually pure, and those in lower castes — most notably, the “untouchable” — are said to be paying remuneration for misbehavior in past lives. In sociological terms, the belief used to support a system of stratification is called an ideology, and underlies the social systems of every culture (Gutierrez et al., 2022).

In caste systems, people are expected to work in an occupation and to enter into a marriage based on their caste. Accepting this social standing is a moral duty, and acceptance of one”s social standing is socialized from childhood.

While the Indian caste system has been dismantled on an official, constitutional level, it is still deeply embedded in Indian society outside of urban areas.

The Class System

Class systems are based on both social factors and individual achievement. Classes consist of sets of people who have similar status based on factors such as wealth, income, education, family background, and occupation.

Class systems, unlike caste systems, are open. This means that people can move to a different level of education or employment status than their parents. A combination of personal choice, opportunity, and one’s beginning status in society each play a role.

Those in class systems can socialize with and marry members of other classes.

In a case where spouses come from different social classes, they form an exogamous marriage. Often, these exogamous marriages focus on values such as love and compatibility.

Though there are social conformities that encourage people to marry those within their own class, people are not prohibited from choosing partners based solely on social ranking (Giddens et al., 1991).

Meritocracy (as an ideal system of stratification)

Meritocracy , meanwhile, is a hypothetical social stratification system in which one’s socioeconomic status is determined by personal effort and merit.

However, sociologists agree that no societies in history have determined social standing solely on merit.

Nonetheless, sociologists see aspects of meritocracies in modern societies when they study the role of academic and job performance and the systems in place intended to evaluate and reward achievement in these areas (Giddens et al., 1991).

Systems of Stratification

Sociologists have distinguished between two systems of stratification: closed and open. Closed systems accommodate for little change in social position.

It is difficult, if not impossible, for people to shift levels and social relationships between levels are largely verboten.

For example, estates, slavery, and caste systems are all closed systems. In contrast, open systems of social stratification are — nominatively, at least — based on achievement and allow for movement and interaction between layers and classes (Giddens et al., 1991).

What is Status Consistency?

The term status consistency describes the consistency — or lack thereof — of an individual”s rank across factors that determine social stratification within a lifetime. For example, a child in a class system may fail to finish high school — a trait of the lower class — and take up a manual job at a store”s warehouse — consistent with the lower or working class.

However, through persistence and favor with their employers, this person may work their way up to managing the store or even joining the corporation”s higher level management – an occupation consistent with the upper-middle class.

The discrepancies between someone’s educational level, occupation, and income represent low status consistency. Caste and closed systems, meanwhile, have high status consistency, as one”‘s birth status tends to control various aspects of one’s life.

The Role of Intersectionality

Intersectionality is an approach to the sociological study of social stratification. Sociologists have preferred it because it does not reduce the complexity of power constructions along a single social division, as has often been the case in stratification theories.

Generally, societies are stratified against one or more lines. These include race and ethnicity, sex and gender, age, religion, disability, and social class. Kimberle Crenshaw introduced the concept of intersectionality as a way of analyzing the intersection of race and gender (2017).

Crenshaw analyzed legal cases involving discrimination experienced by African American roman along the lines of both racism and sexist. The essence of intersectionality, as articulated by the sociologist Patricia Hill Collins (1990), is that sociologists cannot separate the effects of race, social class, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, and so on in understanding social stratification (Gutierrez et al., 2022).

Bales, K. (2007). What predicts human trafficking?. International journal of comparative and applied criminal justice, 31 (2), 269-279.

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Crenshaw, K. W. (2017). On intersectionality: Essential writings. The New Press.

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Gurven, M., & Von Rueden, C. (2006). Hunting, social status and biological fitness. Social biology, 53(1-2), 81-99.

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Litwack, L. F. (2009). How free is free?: The long death of Jim Crow (Vol. 6). Harvard University Press.

What is social stratification?

Social stratification refers to the way in which society is organized into layers or strata, based on various factors like wealth, occupation, education level, race, or gender.

It’s essentially a kind of social hierarchy where individuals and groups are classified on the basis of esteemed social values and the unequal distribution of resources and power.

What is the main purpose of social stratification?

Ensures Roles are Filled by the Competent: Stratification means that positions are given to those who have the ability and skill to execute the duties of the job. People in higher strata often have higher education and skills.

Maintains Social Order: By establishing a hierarchy and clear societal roles, stratification can contribute to overall societal stability and order.

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What is Social Stratification? Definition, Types, Theories and Examples

Social Stratification: Introduction and Overview

A society where stratification does not exist is a sentence which will always be illogical and untrue. Now the question is what stratification is. A system which has been followed by society from a generation in which there is some kind of classification between people in the name of race, caste, creed etc.

There will be some basis depending on which there can be differences between rights and power between subgroups. You can see from the early times wherein foreign lands, power was in the hand of upper-class people and churches. It was the time when discrimination between people can be seen openly adding to Social Stratification.

In India also, from early times there was a subdivision of society in four groups namely Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras . Social Stratification is something which has been visible and emphasized its effects on society.

A society doesn’t need to see stratification based on caste or race. Sometimes this difference of power and rights exist based on sex also. Males and females are given rights differently in a society, which has been discouraged strongly by some of the sociologists like Karlmax and Lalacau. Ogburn and Nimkoff were some of the sociologists who defined Stratification as the process in which people are assigned rights or power in an order from high to low order. Melvin Tumin also agreed to their point of classification done based on power, economic condition, position in society etc.

Another sociologist Lundberg gave a basic definition in which he said Stratification is distinguishing people in the name of power and termed them as two categories via lower and higher.

DETAILS OF HOW SOCIETY IS CLASSIFIED OR STRATIFIED

• Economic condition- There has always been a barrier between rich and poor people. The amount a man earns tells his power in society.
• Social Class- It is a classification which is done both based on economy and caste. It is popularly followed in India.
• Gender – It is a basis of classification from the ancient times were for a long time male society dominated by women.
• Religion- Every man his/her religion, but this is also a basis of stratification for a long time. In India, although it is said that it is a unity in diversity kind of country but on several occasion, people can be seen differentiation other religion openly. For example, the beef ban has become a hot topic because of the religion issue involved.
• Social Network- It is a phenomenon which is generally observed in elite people . They have connections with other high-class people making them the most powerful.

Stratification majorly involves two kind of system in which they take place:-

• Open System

It is a system in which stratification is done based on merit. Achieved status can be linked to this system.

• Closed System

It is a system in which stratification is done based on parental influence, or say the position of parents in the society. This system can be linked with Ascribed status. It is a system which has given power to an individual based on his/her birth.

There are four basic principles of Stratification which can be seen from the early times:-

• Stratification is present and viewed upon the whole community of a society. It does not represent any single individual of a society. In short, it is a mass phenomenon rather than an individual insight. For example in India Hindu religion is not used for a particular individual, instead, it is a collection of so many people altogether.
• Stratification is not a new phenomenon of society. It has been present in our society from a long period, in fact from the time human beings evolution proceeded, its existence has been observed. Only a few changes have been observed but it’s a global phenomenon existing in every part of the world.
• Although Stratification is a global phenomenon, it is a level of effects and happenings in a different place to place.
• Stratification is a combination of beliefs and norms which has occupied people’s mind from generations. The inequality is not anybody’s agenda but having beliefs different from others makes Stratification come into account.

CLASSIFICATION OF MODERN STRATIFICATION

There are three types of classification which is popular and well known by every individual

• Upper Class

They are influential people who have the foremost and most of the powers in their hand. They have well connections in the society which make their work done in the fraction of seconds.

• Middle Class

They are the group of people who neither comes under Upper Class or Poor People. They undergo a set pattern of struggle through their entire life. Neither are they very influential not they are the most deprived people of society. They have to continue their struggle on a medium pace throughout the life. The number of middle-class people is certainly more than upper class or poor people.

• Lower Class or Poor People

They are the people who face poverty. They are deprived of their right of living a wealthy life. They undergo an amount of struggle which other class people cannot go in their own life because they are used to the facilities given.

Stratification phenomenon can be interlinked or understood better by this effect:-

Glass Ceiling – It is the most common thing faced by some minorities of any country or women. They face continuous discrimination providing them unnecessary awkward scenario with depression. This factor was boldly opposed by Conflict Perspective in which Karl Marx stated that this kind of society who does not knows how to provide women same place and respect or regularly practising Capitalism can never improve.

THEORIES OF STRATIFICATION

Undoubtedly, Karl Marx was the one who emerged to be emphasizing thinker of all the time. His work gained people attention posts his death i.e. after 1883. He is known as the father of Conflict Perspective in which he was concerned about the peasants and lower-class people conditions. He discouraged the popular concept of Iron Cage. He was always against Social Stratification. He worked efficiently to make people understand what they are lacking due to less knowledge. He emphasized a saying that the difference between the upper class and lower class people. The more upper-class people will keep on earning more and deprived people will keep on decreasing.

He gave a detailing of Capitalist mode in two types:-

• Substructure- The substructure or base is the basis of a working style. The workers and their relation with each other come under substructure. Mainly substructure does not affect Superstructure.
• Superstructure- The superstructure consists of industrialist and owners. Only they can affect substructure by changing any of the norms present in an organization.

2.Max Weber

Max Weber was also majorly involved in Conflict Perspective after Karl Marx. He was impressed by Karl Marx but not every time he agreed with his all theories. He did not believe in the complete removal of Stratification. He wrote three key elements of stratification.

Weber has done an excellent job in research work and classified people in four groups:-

• The Upper Class
• The white-collar workers
• The petite bourgeoisie
• Manual Working Class

  3. Wright Mills

After Karl Marx and Weber, another sociologist came into notice and revised their ideas and philosophy regarding Social Stratification.

He agreed with their point that social class depends on the economic condition of a man, but it also depends on political and ethnicity of a group of people too. He classified the group of people in three different types during his time.

• Political Leadership

Political parties have always been a major important role in the decision-making process in society. Hence the leaders of a political party are majorly important in society.

• Military Circle

During the wartime especially at the time of 1950-1960 many decisions were under military heads. They were the biggest decision makers of that time.

• Corporate Elite

The time, at which military leaders got its dominance, same time corporate leaders worked in a parallel way with military leaders to have their place in society.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORIES

Anthropologists were a different kind of people who were not in favour of aspect of Stratification. While other sociologist emphasized that Stratification is a global phenomenon, while anthropologist completely disagreed with their ideation. Recently John Gowdy researched his work in 2006 stating that generally, people are competitive, it’s not about any hierarchical difference between groups. He believed that there could be some places where the concept of egalitarian society i.e. a society in which there could be no stratification, is present. He believed that a society like this existing is not a myth, unlike other sociologists.

Altogether people have many views regarding Stratification. Major people believed that stratification is a global phenomenon.

Practise Question and Answer

Is there any difference between social stratification and social inequality? Examine whether social inequalities can be functional for society?

Social inequality is the unequal distribution of resources like wealth, status, and power. When this inequality applies to a group, and the groups or social categories are ranked in terms of their relative positions on the scale of class, status and power, we get social stratification.

In ancient Indian society, according to Andre Beteillle, the caste system was a system of social stratification and reflected social inequality.

Functional theorists find social inequality as functional because :

(1)  It ensures the proper division of labour- else no one will be made.

(2)  Parsons sees social inequality as conforming to and evolving from the value consensus in society. Thus, those who perform their roles well get higher prestige and rewards – based on shared values.

(3)  Davis and Moore see inequality as necessary for effective role allocation and role performance.

(4)  Pareto, Mosca, Michels justify inequality in power by stating the concept of psychological traits of the elite.

(5)  Peter Saunders vouches for legal equality and equality of opportunity. However, he says that equality of outcome undermines the other two qualities.

(6)  David Marsland sees inequality as a desirable feature as it rewards unequal effort and ability, creating incentives to work harder.

However, others find inequality dysfunctional:

(1)  Marx sees inequality as a source of social conflict and social change

(2)   MM Iumin sees inequality as perpetuated due to elite self-recruitment and not merit or talent differentials.

(3) CW Mills sees the power elites as perpetuating inequality and as harmful due to unlimited power and unaccountability among them.

(4) Peter Bourdieu states that inequality results in the failure of some groups to accumulate social capital and inability to mobility.

(5)  Merton sees inequality as a cause for deviance.

Thus, social inequality may be natural, but once it gets attached to values and ranked into social stratification, it may lead to hostility or social tensions.

Read: Malvin M Tumin views  on social stratification

I am Prerna Jha, pursuing mechanical engineering from KIIT, Odisha, But I Love to Read and Write Sociology Related Concepts and Theories. I have done schooling from MVM School, Bilaspur. I have interest in writing love stories or any specific genre. I pursue a great interest in quilting. Right now I am an aspiring writer who writes for various pages. I have participated in many social events. I am a social animal who likes to have maximum participation in any fest.

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