Dalia Avalos

Sociology 1
10-9-15
Stratification Definitions
1.) What is social stratification? How is social class connected to social stratification?
Summarize the four systems of stratification. Which stratification system(s) is likely to
be open and/or closed? Which systems reflect ascribed and/or achieved status?
- Social stratification is when society divides its people under categories that include
social economic status, race, education and power. Those who are wealthy are on the
top layer in society and those who have less money make up the bottom list or layer
in society. The four systems of stratification are slavery, caste systems, estate systems
and class systems. In slavery, slaves are told what to do by rich, ruling people of
power. They really dont have a choice but to obey to attain work and to stay alive
sometimes. Caste systems are when a person cant change their social status. For
example, in some parts of the world people are born and raised in rural areas such as
at their families farms on the country side. Other people are born and raised in tribes
or in a humble ranch. These people accept their social economic status and learn to
cope with it to survive. Class systems are when people can get an education and
advance in life. They can strive to have a better life than their families and this system
is open to everyone unlike the caste system. Class systems are also achieved status.
Estate systems are when the people in the top layer of society owned land as opposed
to the bottom layer of society who had to have land leased by the people at the top.
2.) For Karl Marx, what is the means of production and who owns the means of production
(explain and give examples)? Distinguish among the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
What is their relationship to the means of production? Finally, describe and explain the
following terms: class consciousness, dominant ideology and false consciousness.
- According to Karl Marx, people in society either were the ones working in the
factories or they were the ones who owned the factories. The bourgeoisie owned the
big businesses, land and factories. The proletariat was the working class who
produced goods. The bourgeoisie made great profit while the proletariat made small
wages. This created conflict and inequality in society. False consciousness is when
people in society are unaware of how society really works in terms of exploitation
and oppression of workers as an example. Class consciousness are the beliefs people
in society have towards their own social class or status. Dominant ideology is the
beliefs and ideas that people in society share.

3.) Distinguish among Webers usage of the following terms: class, status group and party.
Provide examples of each. Contrast Weber and Marxs views of social class.
- Weber defines class as a persons social economic status in society. For example,
whether or not people owned land or business greatly determined their social status in
society. This was a way to differentiate the rich from the working class. Weber

defines status group as the groups of people who share the same status level in
society. He described slaves as a status group. Weber defines a party as a group of
people who are trying to achieve the same goals. A political party is an example of a
party. Webers and Marxs ideas are similar because they both believed that whatever
people in society owned such as land, and businesses defined their social standing.
Their ideas differ in the sense that Marx believed that class consciousness would
develop in society as opposed to Webers ideas.
4.) How is cultural capital linked to class differences? How is cultural capital linked to
power differences? Explain. Discuss cultural capital in relation to material, social and
cultural resources. How is cultural capital expressed in attire, housing, vacations, food
and sport?
- Cultural capital is greatly associated with class differences. In society, we can tell
who the higher class because of their attire which is usually designer clothes and
shoes. They go on regular vacations every year and drive nice cars. They live in the
safe, quiet neighborhoods in big houses. Most of the time this is acquired by having
good paying jobs and careers. They eat at fine dining restaurants and shop at
expensive shopping centers. The lower class most of the time dont have access to
these luxuries. All of this divides and differentiates the high class from the low class.