Social StratificationSocial Stratification

Chapter 9: 1Chapter 9: 1

Systems of StratificationSystems of Stratification

What is What is SOCIAL SOCIAL

STRATIFICATIONSTRATIFICATION??The division of society into The division of society into

categories, ranks, or categories, ranks, or classes based on certain classes based on certain

characteristicscharacteristics

If it were up to you to distribute If it were up to you to distribute scarce resources and social scarce resources and social

rewards to members of society, rewards to members of society, what criteria would you use to what criteria would you use to

stratify the society?stratify the society?

Discuss with your neighbors and jot Discuss with your neighbors and jot down a few criteria.down a few criteria.

Types of StratificationTypes of Stratification

Vary from society to societyVary from society to society Often based on ascribed status- Often based on ascribed status-

ancestry, race, age, physical ancestry, race, age, physical appearance, genderappearance, gender

May also be based on achieved May also be based on achieved status- education, occupationstatus- education, occupation

Talent and effort may also be factorsTalent and effort may also be factors

What is the result of What is the result of social stratification?social stratification?

Social inequality-Social inequality- the unequal sharing the unequal sharing of scarce resources of scarce resources and social rewardsand social rewards

Types of Stratification SystemsTypes of Stratification Systems

CLOSED SYSTEM- movement CLOSED SYSTEM- movement between the strata (status levels) is between the strata (status levels) is impossible = impossible = Caste systemsCaste systems

OPEN SYSTEM- movement is OPEN SYSTEM- movement is possible; ease of movement depends possible; ease of movement depends on degree of openness = on degree of openness = Class Class systemssystems

Caste SystemsCaste Systems

Based on ascribed statusBased on ascribed status A child’s caste is based on his/her A child’s caste is based on his/her

parents’ casteparents’ caste Elaborate normsElaborate norms EndogamyEndogamy- marriage between same - marriage between same

castes only; castes only; ExogamyExogamy – marriage – marriage outside one’s social category, is outside one’s social category, is forbiddenforbidden

Caste SystemsCaste Systems Common in South Asia, esp. IndiaCommon in South Asia, esp. India Indian caste system developed 3,000 Indian caste system developed 3,000

years agoyears ago New constitution adopted in 1950 New constitution adopted in 1950

declared equality and outlawed declared equality and outlawed discrimination against low castesdiscrimination against low castes

In cities, caste lines have since blurred, In cities, caste lines have since blurred, but they remain important everyday life but they remain important everyday life for most Indians, who live in rural areasfor most Indians, who live in rural areas

Indian Caste SystemIndian Caste System

Brahmans-priests, scholars

Kshatriyas- rulers, nobles, soldiers

Vaisyas- merchants, bankers,

businesspeople

Sudras- laborers, artisans

Harijans- outcastes, limited to the most undesirable tasks

Class SystemsClass Systems

Based on achieved statusBased on achieved status One can move up the social ladder One can move up the social ladder

with talent, effort, and opportunitywith talent, effort, and opportunity Circumstances can also reduce one’s Circumstances can also reduce one’s

social standingsocial standing

Marxist View of ClassMarxist View of Class

Defines class in terms of who owns Defines class in terms of who owns the means of production (materials the means of production (materials and methods used to produce goods and methods used to produce goods and services)and services)

Class divided into two groups:Class divided into two groups:– Owners/”Have’s”= Owners/”Have’s”= bourgeoisiebourgeoisie– Workers/Have not’s= Workers/Have not’s= proletariatproletariat

Weber’s View of ClassWeber’s View of Class

Consists of 3 factorsConsists of 3 factors– PropertyProperty– PrestigePrestige– PowerPower

Dimensions of Social Dimensions of Social StratificationStratification

Many sociologists today Many sociologists today adopt Weber’s view and adopt Weber’s view and define define social classsocial class as a as a grouping of people with grouping of people with similar levels of wealth, similar levels of wealth,

power, and prestigepower, and prestige

WEALTHWEALTH Assets- Assets- everything a person ownseverything a person owns Income-Income- money earned through salaries, money earned through salaries,

investment returns, or other capital gainsinvestment returns, or other capital gains In the U.S. the richest 1% control more In the U.S. the richest 1% control more

than 1/3 of the country’s wealth (208 than 1/3 of the country’s wealth (208 chart)chart)

Recent research shows income gap is Recent research shows income gap is growing (1980, income ratio of executive growing (1980, income ratio of executive to worker was 42:1; In 1997, it was 327:1)to worker was 42:1; In 1997, it was 327:1)

POWERPOWER

The ability to control the behavior of The ability to control the behavior of others, with or without their consentothers, with or without their consent

May be based on force, a special skill May be based on force, a special skill or knowledge, social status, custom or knowledge, social status, custom or tradition, or personal or tradition, or personal characteristicscharacteristics

PRESTIGEPRESTIGE

The respect, honor, recognition, or The respect, honor, recognition, or courtesy an individual receives from courtesy an individual receives from other members of societyother members of society

Based on any characteristics a society Based on any characteristics a society deems importantdeems important

Income, occupation, education, family, Income, occupation, education, family, where you live, possessions, club where you live, possessions, club membershipsmemberships

Occupation most important in U.S. Occupation most important in U.S. (209 chart)(209 chart)

SOCIOECONOMIC STATUSSOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

Rating that combines social factors Rating that combines social factors such as educational level, such as educational level, occupational prestige, and place of occupational prestige, and place of residence with the economic factor of residence with the economic factor of incomeincome

Used to determine an individual’s Used to determine an individual’s relative position in the stratification relative position in the stratification systemsystem

SURVEY DIRECTIONSSURVEY DIRECTIONS

Ask 10 people which they would Ask 10 people which they would prefer- wealth, power, or prestige? prefer- wealth, power, or prestige? (you may need to define prestige for (you may need to define prestige for them; see previous slide)them; see previous slide)

Results due Results due Mon. Feb. 13-Mon. Feb. 13- 20 points 20 points– Make sure when you ask them they Make sure when you ask them they

have not already been asked to ensure have not already been asked to ensure valid datavalid data

– Record briefly if they explain their Record briefly if they explain their choicechoice

Explaining StratificationExplaining Stratification FUNCTIONALIST THEORYFUNCTIONALIST THEORY

a necessary feature of the social structurea necessary feature of the social structure certain roles in society must be played to certain roles in society must be played to

maintain societymaintain society The more important the role and the higher The more important the role and the higher

the skill needed, the higher the rewardthe skill needed, the higher the reward However, not everyone in society has equal However, not everyone in society has equal

access to resources like education!access to resources like education! Ignores talent in lower classesIgnores talent in lower classes Rewards sometimes do not reflect the social Rewards sometimes do not reflect the social

value of the role (pro athletes)value of the role (pro athletes)

Explaining StratificationExplaining StratificationCONFLICT THEORYCONFLICT THEORY

Competition is cause of inequalityCompetition is cause of inequality Owners exploit workersOwners exploit workers Groups compete with other groups Groups compete with other groups

for resources; when one group gains for resources; when one group gains power, it can shape public policy and power, it can shape public policy and opinionopinion

Fails to recognize unequal rewards Fails to recognize unequal rewards are in part due to differences in are in part due to differences in talent, skill, and desiretalent, skill, and desire