All societies distinguish among their members on the basis of certain characteristics.

 Almost every society in the course of human history has separated its members on the basis of certain characteristics.  Sociologists call this division of society into categories, ranks, or classes social stratification.

 The unequal sharing of scarce resources and social rewards.  What is scarcity?

Caste Systems and Class systems

 In these systems, scarce resources and social rewards are distributed on the basis of ascribed statuses.  Your status is determined by the status of your parents.  Effort and talent may affect someone’s position within a caste, but they cannot help that person move to a higher status.

This is how India’s social classes were divided until However, in rural areas, where most Indians live, this system still plays a major role in organizing every day life.

EXOGAMYENDOGAMY  Marriage outside of one’s own social category.  Marriage within one’s own social category.

 In these systems the distribution of scarce resources and rewards is determined on the basis of achieved statuses.

 Who owns the means of production?  The owners of the means of production are the bourgeoisie.  The workers who sell their labor in exchange for wages are called the proletariat.

 Believed that class consists of 3 factors:  Property  Prestige  Power

Wealth, Power, and Prestige

 A person’s wealth is made up of his or her own assets- the value of everything the person owns- and income -money earned through salaries, investments, or other capital gains.  In the U.S., wealth is concentrated in the hands of a small minority of the population.

 People with great wealth also usually possess great power.  Power is the ability to control the behavior of others, with or without their consent.

 Prestige is the respect, honor, recognition, or courtesy an individual receives from other members of society.  Factors include: income, occupation, education, family, background, area of residence, possessions, and club memberships.

 The ranking of people according to wealth, power, and prestige possible, sociologists often calculate people’s SES.  This rating consists of social factors such as:  Educational level  Occupational prestige  Place of residence  income