social stratification-socio lesson 10

8/2/2019 Social Stratification-Socio Lesson 10

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Social StratificationSocial Stratification



DefinitionDefinition

Viewed as social inequality, which is a universal Viewed as social inequality, which is a universal

phenomenon.phenomenon.

Inequality is viewed in terms of the distributionInequality is viewed in terms of the distributionof scare goods.of scare goods.



People are rank ed according to:People are rank ed according to:

W ealth W ealth

PrestigePrestige

PowerPower



The conservativ e view The conservativ e view

Stratification divide people into haves and haveStratification divide people into haves and have--

nots (rich and poor).nots (rich and poor).

The meager resources of society promotes The meager resources of society promotescompetition, so that the strongest, the mostcompetition, so that the strongest, the most

intelligent, and those with greater capabilitiesintelligent, and those with greater capabilities

would have access to these resources would have access to these resources

The more you have power, money and prestige The more you have power, money and prestige

the more you are privileged.the more you are privileged.



Liberal View Liberal View

Classical view Classical view ² ² man is selfish and greedy man is selfish and greedy

Conservative view Conservative view ² ² man competes with oneman competes with one

another in order to survive.another in order to survive. Liberal view Liberal view ² ² the dominant group use theirthe dominant group use their

power to impose their will on otherspower to impose their will on others



Origin of the conce pt of inequalityOrigin of the conce pt of inequality

R ousseauR ousseau ² ² man breaks away from his state of man breaks away from his state of

nature and then starts to own everything in hisnature and then starts to own everything in his

nature as his (private property).nature as his (private property). For MarxFor Marx ² ² in the industrial setting, inequality in the industrial setting, inequality

exists because of the division of labor and thisexists because of the division of labor and this

eventually creates social classes.eventually creates social classes.



Elements of Social StratificationElements of Social Stratification

CLASS CLASS ² ² as defined by Marx, it is the division of as defined by Marx, it is the division of people in society by their relationship to thepeople in society by their relationship to themeans of production: those who own a largemeans of production: those who own a large

portion of society·s wealth.portion of society·s wealth. S TATUS S TATUS ² ² For W eber, prestige rather thanFor W eber, prestige rather than

position itself is important. Individuals areposition itself is important. Individuals are

ranked in society as high, middle, and low asranked in society as high, middle, and low asdetermined by how the role attached to theirdetermined by how the role attached to theirstatus is valued.status is valued.



PO WER PO WER ² ² refers to the ability of an individualrefers to the ability of an individual

to get other people to do ´what he wants themto get other people to do ´what he wants them

to do with or without their consentµ.to do with or without their consentµ.



K inds of Stratification SystemK inds of Stratification System

CLOSED SOCIE TY CLOSED SOCIE TY ² ² power, class and statuspower, class and status

are ascribed. Individuals are born into a specificare ascribed. Individuals are born into a specific

stratum and therefore one·s position isstratum and therefore one·s position is

determined by family affiliation (caste system indetermined by family affiliation (caste system in

India).India).

ES TATE S Y S TEMES TATE S Y S TEM ² ² resembles the casteresembles the caste

system in that social positions according tosystem in that social positions according to

functions: nobility, clergy, the peasants.functions: nobility, clergy, the peasants.



OPEN SOCIE TY OPEN SOCIE TY ² ² is frequently found inis frequently found in

industrial societies where people have severalindustrial societies where people have several

options to improve their sociooptions to improve their socio--economic status.economic status.



A pproaches in the stud y of social A pproaches in the stud y of social

stratificationstratification1.1. Lifestyle approachLifestyle approach ² ² recreational activities, materialrecreational activities, material

possessions, affiliations and schools attendedpossessions, affiliations and schools attended

2.2. R eputational approachR eputational approach ² ² people they know and theirpeople they know and their

reputation in the community reputation in the community

3.3. Subjective approachSubjective approach ² ² ranking oneself ranking oneself

4.4. Objective approachObjective approach ² ² survey approach to determinesurvey approach to determine

income, occupation, educational attainment, etc.income, occupation, educational attainment, etc.5.5. Occupation prestige approachOccupation prestige approach ² ² occupation thatoccupation that

brings prestige and honor to a personbrings prestige and honor to a person



Eff ects of Social Class to otherEff ects of Social Class to other

factorsfactors Family lifeFamily life

Child rearing Child rearing

EducationEducation Political outlook Political outlook

HealthHealth

poverty poverty



Theories of Collectiv e Behavior Theories of Collectiv e Behavior

1. Emergent1. Emergent--Norm PerspectiveNorm Perspective

Crowds are basically ungovernableCrowds are basically ungovernable

2. Value2. Value--Added Perspective Added Perspective Structural conduciveness (organization of Structural conduciveness (organization of

society facilitate conflicting interests)society facilitate conflicting interests)

social stratification-socio lesson 10

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