SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

WHAT IS SOCIAL STRATIFICATION? SYSTEM IN WHICH GROUPS OF PEOPLE ARE DIVIDED INTO LAYERS ACCORDING TO THEIR RELATIVE POWER, PROPERTY AND PRESTIGE SYSTEM IN WHICH GROUPS OF PEOPLE ARE DIVIDED INTO LAYERS ACCORDING TO THEIR RELATIVE POWER, PROPERTY AND PRESTIGE

Systems of Stratification Describes systems of social inequality among different groups of people Describes systems of social inequality among different groups of people People in our society are classified as members of various categories according to their gender, race and class People in our society are classified as members of various categories according to their gender, race and class

TYPES OF STRATIFICATION SLAVERY-ownership of some people by others SLAVERY-ownership of some people by others CASTE-system in which status is determined by birth and is lifelong; organization of people into fixed hereditary groups in which there is little or no chance for children to escape the group CASTE-system in which status is determined by birth and is lifelong; organization of people into fixed hereditary groups in which there is little or no chance for children to escape the group

SLAVERY Debt Debt Crime Crime War War

CASTE Brahman (Priests and teachers) Brahman (Priests and teachers) Kshatriya (Rulers and soldiers) Kshatriya (Rulers and soldiers) Vaishy (Merchants and traders) Vaishy (Merchants and traders) Shudra (Peasants and laborers) Shudra (Peasants and laborers) Dalit (outcastes doing degrading or polluting labor Dalit (outcastes doing degrading or polluting labor Endogamy Endogamy Ritual pollution/ablution Ritual pollution/ablution

Class Systems Social Class-group of individuals or families who occupy a similar position in the economic system of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services in industrial societies Social Class-group of individuals or families who occupy a similar position in the economic system of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services in industrial societies

What is Social Class? 1. Class is economically based and is measured by economic variables such as occupation, income and ownership of wealth 1. Class is economically based and is measured by economic variables such as occupation, income and ownership of wealth

What is Social Class? 2. Class is a social relationship. There must be more than one class as class is dependent on inequality. There is an assumption that some people have a relationship of inequality with others in the society….

What is Social Class? Class system boundaries are fluid. People can move in and out of the class into which they were born.

What is Social Class? Class positions are in some part achieved (rather than ascribed). It is difficult (and highly unlikely) to be born into a working- class family and later become a member of the owning class but not impossible…

Weber and Social Class Three components: Three components: Property Property Prestige Prestige power power

Perspectives on Class An example of a Functionalist Perspective (Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore) An example of a Functionalist Perspective (Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore) 1. Society must make certain that its positions are filled 2. Some positions are more important than others 3. The more important positions must be filled by the more qualified people 4. To motivate the more qualified people to fill these positions, society must offer them greater rewards