Social Stratification A System by Which a Society Ranks Categories of People in a Hierarchy Sociology, Tenth Edition
Sociology, Tenth Edition Basic Principles A trait of society Does not reflect individual differences, but society’s structure Persists over generations Social mobility happens slowly Universal but variable While universal, it varies in type Involves not just inequality but beliefs Ideologies justify existence of social stratification Sociology, Tenth Edition
Sociology, Tenth Edition The Caste System Social stratification based on ascription Birth determines social position in four distinct ways Occupation Marriage within caste Social life is restricted to “own kind” Belief systems are often tied t religious dogma Caste system is illegal, but elements survive Sociology, Tenth Edition
Sociology, Tenth Edition Class Systems Social stratification based on both birth and individual achievement Social mobility for people with education and skills All people gain equal standing before the law Work involves some personal choice Meritocracy: based on personal merit Status consistency Sociology, Tenth Edition
Stratification Changes Caste to Meritocracy The United Kingdom The three estates: nobility, clergy, commoners Japan Nobility, samurai, commoners, burakumin (outcasts) Former Soviet Union Feudal estate system Russian revolution “classless society” Perestroika “restructuring” Sociology, Tenth Edition
Figure 10-1 Economic Inequality in Selected Countries Sociology, Tenth Edition
Sociology, Tenth Edition Ideology Cultural beliefs that justify stratification Plato Every culture considers some type of inequality “fair” Marx Capitalist societies keep wealth and power for a few Spencer Societies “survival of the fittest” Sociology, Tenth Edition
The Davis-Moore Thesis Social 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 Critical evaluation Sociology, Tenth Edition
Karl Marx: Class and Conflict Most people have one of two relationships with the means of production Own productive property “bourgeoisie” Work for others “proletariat” Capitalism creates great inequality in power and wealth This oppression would drive the working majority to organize and overthrow the capitalism Sociology, Tenth Edition
Why No Marxist Revolution? Fragmentation of the capitalist class Higher standard of living More worker organizations More extensive legal protections Sociology, Tenth Edition
Sociology, Tenth Edition Was Marx Right? Wealth still remains highly concentrated 40% of privately owned property in 1% of population White-collar jobs offer little over past century in Income, security or satisfaction Workers benefits came from struggle Conflict and distrust still remain as obstacles between management and workers Little has been won recently Law still protects private property of rich Sociology, Tenth Edition
Max Weber: Class, Status, and Power Socioeconomic status (SES) Composite ranking based on various dimensions of social inequality Class position Viewed “classes” as a continuum from high to low Status Power Inequality in history Sociology, Tenth Edition
Stratification and Technology: a Global Perspective Hunting and gathering societies Horticultural, pastoral, and agrarian societies Industrial societies The Kuznet’s curve Greater technological sophistication generally is accompanied by more pronounced social stratification Sociology, Tenth Edition
Sociology, Tenth Edition Figure 10-2 Social Stratification and Technological Development: The Kuznets Curve Sociology, Tenth Edition