SH1661

Social Stratification

Why does social stratification exist?

Social stratification is a trait of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences. It is true that
biological qualities do not determine one’s superiority and inferiority. Factors like age, sex,
intelligence, as well as strength often contribute as the basis on which statues are distinguished. But
one’s education, property, power, experience, character, personality, etc. are found to be more
important than biological qualities. Hence, stratification is socially constructed.

Social stratification persists over generations. It is very old. It was present even in the small wandering
bonds. In almost all the ancient civilizations, the differences between the rich and poor, humble and
powerful existed. Even during the period of Plato and Kautilya, emphasis was given to political, social,
and economic inequalities. Yet, most societies allow some sort of social mobility or changes in people's
position in a system of social stratification. Social mobility may be upward, downward, or horizontal.

Social stratification is universal (it happens everywhere) but variable (it takes different forms across
different societies). In short, it changes. There is no society in this world free of stratification. Modern
stratification differs from stratification of primitive societies. It is a worldwide phenomenon.
According to Sorokin, “all permanently organized groups are stratified.”

Social stratification is consequential. It has two (2) important consequences, one is “life chances” and
the other one is “lifestyle”. A class system not only affects the “life chances” of the individuals, but
also their “lifestyle.” The members of a class have similar social chances but the social chances vary
in every society. It includes chances of survival and of good physical and mental health, opportunities
for education, chances of obtaining justice, marital conflict, separation and divorce, etc.

Lifestyle is a particular manner of living distinctive and relative to one’s social status. Lifestyles
include such matters like the residential areas in every community, which have gradations of prestige-
ranking, modes of housing, means of recreation, the kinds of dress, the kinds of books, TV shows one
is exposed to, and so on. Lifestyle may be viewed as a sub-culture in which one stratum differs from
another within the frame work of a commonly shared over-all culture.

Social stratification involves not just inequality, but beliefs as well (inequality is rooted in a society's
philosophy). The forms of stratification is not uniform in all the societies. In every society, past or
present, big or small is characterized by diverse forms of social stratification.

Class and Caste Systems

Class and Caste Systems are the general forms of stratification. In India, a special type of stratifica tio n
in the form of caste can be found. The ancient Aryas were divided into five (5) varnas: the Brahmins,
Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Sudras, and Harijan (Untouchables).

In Greece and Italy, a class system was followed. The ancient Greeks were divided into freemen and
slaves, while the ancient Romans were divided into the partisans and the plebians.

10 Handout 1 *Property of STI

Page 1 of 3
 SH1661

In addition, the basis of stratification within caste and class systems differ. Caste is a “closed” system.
It is a hereditary endogamous social group in which a person’s rank and its accompanying rights and
obligations are ascribed on the basis of his birth into a particular group. Once such positions are
assigned, they cannot advance and improve their social status in any way. While, on the basis of class,
which is an “open” system and dominant in modern society, a person’s position depends to a very great
extent upon achievement and his ability to use to advantage the inborn characteristics and wealth that
he may possess. Hence, movement from one (1) status to another has no barrier. These two are
examples of systems of stratification or what we called the social mobility system.

Major Premises of Social Stratification

· Wealth refers to material possessions defined as valuable in particular societies. It may include
land, livestock, buildings, money, and many other forms of property owned by individuals or social
groups.
· Power refers to the degree to which individuals or groups can impose their will on others, with or
without the consent of others.
· Prestige relates to the amount of esteem or honor associated with social positions, qualities of
individuals, and styles of life.

Perspectives on Social Stratification

Functionalism according to Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore

Structural functionalists argue that social inequality plays a vital role in the smooth operation of
society. The Davis-Moore thesis states that social stratification has beneficial consequences for the
operation of society. Davis and Moore argue that the most difficult jobs in any society are the most
necessary and require the highest rewards and compensation to sufficiently motivate individuals to fill
them. Certain jobs, like mowing grass or cleaning toilets, can be performed by almost anyone, while
other jobs, such as performing brain surgery, are difficult and require the most talented people to
perform them.

In order to lure the most talented people away from less-important work, a society must offer those
people rewards and incentives. Davis and Moore further claim that any society can be equal, but only
to the extent that people are willing to let anyone perform any job. This would also require that even
those who do their job poorly are rewarded equally.

Conflict Theory according to Karl Marx and Max Weber

Social conflict theorists disagree that social stratification is functional for a society. Instead, they argue
that social stratification benefits some at the expense of others. Two (2) theorists, Karl Marx and Max
Weber, are the primary contributors to this perspective.

Karl Marx based his theory on the idea that society has two (2) classes of people: the bourgeoisie and
the proletariat. The bourgeoisie are the owners of the means of production (such as factories and other
businesses), while the proletariat are the workers. Marx argued that the bourgeoisie (owners) give
proletariats (workers) just enough compensation to survive, but ultimately the workers are exploited.
As a result of this exploitation, Marx foresaw a workers' revolution. He believed that oppression and
misery would eventually drive the working majority to come together and overthrow capitalism. The
result would be a socialist utopia where such extreme class differences would cease to exist.
10 Handout 1 *Property of STI
Page 2 of 3
 SH1661

On the other hand, Max Weber argued that social standing consists of three (3) parts or dimensions:
· class, which he regarded as determined mainly by economic standing or wealth;
· party, which was equivalent to political power; and
· status, or social prestige and honor.

Following his belief, many sociologists use the term socioeconomic status, which refers to a composite
ranking based on various dimensions of social inequality.
Examples:
· education, which leads to income attainment because its benefits are not equally shared by
racial and ethnic minorities or by women
· occupation, which serves as a key source of social prestige since we commonly evaluate each
other according to what we do
· wealth, which consists of the total amount of money and valuable goods that a person or family
controls

Social Inequality
It refers to the existence of unequal opportunities and rewards for different social positions or statuses
within a group or society. These are differences in income, resources, power, and status within and
between societies. Such inequalities are maintained by those in powerful positions via institutions and
social processes.

There are two (2) main ways to measure social inequality: inequality of conditions and inequality of
opportunities:
· Inequality of conditions refers to the unequal distribution of income, wealth, and material
goods. Housing, for example, is an inequality of conditions with the homeless and those living
in housing projects sitting at the bottom of the hierarchy while those living in multi-millio n
dollar mansions sit at the top. Another example is at the level of whole communities, where
some are poor, unstable, and plagued by violence, while others are invested in by business and
government so that they thrive and provide safe, secure, and happy conditions for their
inhabitants.
· Inequality of opportunities refers to the unequal distribution of life chances across individua ls.
This is reflected in measures such as level of education, health status, and treatment by the
criminal justice system. For example, studies have shown that college and university professors
are more likely to ignore emails from women and people of color than they are to ignore those
from white men, which privileges the educational outcomes of white men by channeling a
biased amount of mentoring and educational resources to them.

References:
Social stratification. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://home.earthlink.net/~clevy/Social_Stratification__Chapter_8_.pdf
Social stratification: Definition, Theories & Examples. Education Portal (2003-2015). Retrieved from http://education-
portal.com/academy/lesson/social-stratification-definition-theories-examples.html
Social stratification: meaning, types, and characteristics | Sociology (2446 Words). The Next Generation Library. (2015). Retrieved
from http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/sociology/social-stratification-meaning-types-and-characteristics-sociology-2446-
words/6199/
Sociology of social inequality. (2016). Retrieved from http://sociology.about.com/od/Disciplines/a/Sociology -Of-Social-Inequality.htm
Warwick-Booth, Louise. (2013). Social inequality. Sage Publications. Retrieved from http://www.sagepub.com/upm-
data/57024_Warwick__Social_Inequality.pdf

10 Handout 1 *Property of STI

Page 3 of 3