social stratification

Sociology, Eleventh Edition

Social StratificationFor many years, humans lived in

hunting and gathering communities.

Over time, societies began to elevate people to higher social positions, giving them more wealth, power and prestige.

Social Stratification - a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy.


Discussion QuestionsDoes a hierarchy

exist at Central?Who is at the top?

Bottom?Do you think a

hierarchy is more noticeable in smaller schools or larger schools?

Basic PrinciplesSocial Stratification is based on

four basic principles:1.A trait of society

Does not reflect individual differences.

Social standing is the result of the way society offers opportunity & reward. Ex. Rich healthier children

2.Persists over generationsSocial mobility happens slowly.

3.Universal but variableWhile universal, it varies in type.

4.Involves not just inequality but beliefsThe explanation of why people

should be unequal differs from society to society.

Social Mobility Social mobility – a change in position within

social hierarchy.Upward or downward.

Horizontal social mobility – switching from one job to another at about the same social level.

Most people have the same social standing throughout life.

Structural Social Mobility – change in social position due to changes in society itself.

Social stratification may involve differences in:What is unequalHow unequal people areWhy people are unequal

Discussion QuestionConforming to the norm, “Women and

children first,” 80% of the Titanic casualties were men. Perhaps times have changed: In a 1992 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette survey, 65% of men said they would not give up their lifeboat for a woman or child.

Do you think this is a true reflection of what most men think?

Why?


The Caste SystemSocial stratification based on

ascription (birth).Closed system – little change in

social position.In India, birth determines social

position in four distinct ways:Occupation (one type of work)Marriage within caste

(endogamous)Social life is restricted to “own

kind” to prevent being “polluted”.Caste systems are often tied to

religious dogma.

Caste SystemCaste system is illegal, but elements survive.Typically caste systems are found in agrarian

societies.

India Caste SystemBrahman/BrahminKshatriyaVaishyaShudraHarijans

ApartheidSeparation of racesSouth Africa1948-1994Little improvement formillions poor, black people

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVw9UjHPEt8

Class SystemsSocial stratification based on both birth

and individual achievement.How talented and hardworking people

are.Open systemSocial mobility for people with education

and skills.All people gain equal standing before

the law.Work and marriage involves personal

choice.Replacement of caste systems with class

systems replaces one kind of inequality with another.

MeritocracyMeritocracy: based on personal

meritKnowledge, abilities and effort

Unequal rewards based on individual performance.

Pure meritocracy – Constant social mobilityBlurred social categoriesElimination of families and other social

loyalties that tie a society together. No inheritance

Status ConsistencyThe degree of consistency in a

person’s social standing across various dimensions of social inequality.

The degree of status consistency is greater in caste systems than class systems.

Ex: Most college professors have an advanced degree but average salaries = low status consistency.

Classes are harder to define than castes.

Stratification Changes Caste to Meritocracy

The United KingdomThe three estates:

The First Estate - Clergy (church officials)

The Second Estate - Nobility (hereditary, wealthy, no occupation, held a title)

Primogeniture – passing of property onto the first born male.

The Third Estate - Commoners (Majority of people)


Stratification Changes Caste to MeritocracyJapan

For more than 2,000 years, Japanese society operated with a caste system.

Nobility, samurai, commoners, burakumin (outcasts)

Today, lines between classes are unclear.

When sizing up people socially, family background is never far from the surface, though it may not be discussed openly.

Former Soviet UnionRussian revolution eliminated the

feudal estate system and left Russia with a “classless society”.

The 1917 Russian Revolution transformed an agrarian society, placing productive property under the control of the state.


Discussion QuestionConsider why most US adults claim inequality

based on race is wrong while claiming that economic inequality is mostly right because some people have more talent and training and put forth more of an effort than others.

What do you think about racial inequality versus economic inequality?

Are they different? Are they based on the same principle?


IdeologyCultural beliefs that justify

stratification, including inequality.Ex. Rich people are smart and

poor people are lazy.Plato

Every culture considers some type of inequality “fair”.

MarxCapitalist societies keep wealth

and power for a few (the elite).Spencer

“survival of the fittest”A common ideology of a class

system states that success is typically an indication of sheer luck.

The Davis-Moore ThesisSocial stratification has beneficial

consequences for the operation of a society.

The greater the importance of a position, the more rewards a society attaches to it.

Egalitarian societies offer little incentive for people to try their best.

The only way an egalitarian society could exist is if people are willing to allow anyone to perform any job.


Davis & MooreA system of unequal

rewards increases productivity by:Encouraging people to

gain the schooling and skills needed to perform more important jobs.

Encouraging people to perform more important jobs.

Motivating people to work longer, harder or better.


Karl Marx: Class and ConflictMost people have one of two

relationships with the means of production.Own productive property

(capitalist class) “bourgeoisie”Work for others “proletariat”

Capitalism creates great inequality in power and wealth which leads to class conflict.

This oppression would drive the working majority to organize and overthrow the capitalism.


Why No Marxist Revolution?Fragmentation of the capitalist classHigher standard of living

Blue-collar work – lower prestige jobs that involve manual labor.

White-collar - higher prestige jobs that involve mostly mental activity.

More worker organizationsMore extensive legal protections


Was Marx Right? Wealth still remains highly

concentrated.40% of privately owned

property is owned by 1% of population.

Many of today’s white collar jobs offer no more income, security or satisfaction than factory work did a century ago.

Workers benefits came from struggle.Conflict and distrust still

remain as obstacles between management and workers.

Law still protects private property of rich.


Max Weber: Class, Status, and Power

Three distinct dimensions of inequalityClass position (economic)

Viewed “classes” as a continuum from high to low.

Status (prestige)Power

Socioeconomic status (SES)Composite ranking based on

various dimensions of social inequality.


Weber: Inequality in HistoryWeber’s three dimensions

of inequality stands out at different points in the evolution of human societies.

Agrarian – emphasize status (social prestige) taking the form of honor.

Industrial – eliminate traditional rankings but create financial inequality.


Weber v. Marx: SocialismMarx said that social stratification would end

with the creation of a socialist economy.Weber thought socialism would reduce

economic differences but also create a political elite increasing differences in power.

Stratification and InteractionSociologists typically

think of social stratification as a macro-level issue.

It’s important to analyze SS as a micro-level issue because people’s social standing affects their everyday interactions.People tend to

socialize with others of the same social position.


Stratification and InteractionConspicuous consumption - buying and using products because of the “statement” they make about social positions.

Ex. Wearing name brand products to impress your friends.


Applying Theory (Re-teaching)Structural Functional – Macro

levelDefinition – a framework for

building theory that sees society as a complex systems whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

Key Terms – Solidarity, stability, benefits, needed for operation of society

Key People – Comte, Durkheim, Spencer, Robert Merton

Social inequality benefits society.


Applying Theory (Re-teaching)Social-Conflict – Macro LevelDefinition – a framework for building theory

that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change.

Key Terms – Conflict, change, inequality, divideKey People – Karl Marx, W.E.B. Du BoisSocial inequality is harmful and divides society

Applying Theory (Re-teaching)Symbolic Interaction – Micro LevelDefinition – a framework for building theory

that sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals.

Key Terms – everyday interaction, individualsKey People – Max WeberSocial inequality guides people’s interaction in

everyday life.

Stratification and Technology:a Global PerspectiveHunting and gathering societies

Closest to being egalitarian

Horticultural, pastoral, and agrarian societiesAccording to Kuznets, social

stratification is greatest in agrarian societies

Industrial societiesAs postindustrial societies develop,

inequality increases.


social stratification

Documents

social hierarchy

social standing

social loyalties

social level

horizontal social mobility

higher social positions

hardworking people

categories of people