SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

IMRAN AHMAD SAJIDLec V

• Strata means ‘Layer’

• Ogburn and Nimkoff– The process by which individuals and groups are ranked in a

more or less enduring hierarchy of status is known as stratification.

• Gilbert– Social stratification is the division of society into permanent

groups of categories linked with each other by the relationship of superiority and subordination.

• Raymond W. Murry– Social Stratification is a horizontal division of society into

‘high’ and ‘lower’ social units.

• Abdul Hameed Taga– Distribution of people of a society in groups on the basis of

their status is called social stratification. • Iqbal Chaudhry– The system of institutionalized inequality among the

individuals at a given time and place. • Ian Marsh – Inequality leads to social stratification when people are

ranked hierarchically according to their possession of attributes such as income, wealth, power, age, gender and status.

• John J. Macionis– Social Stratification is a system by which a society

ranks categories of people in a hierarchy.

Determinants/Factors of Social Stratification

1. Economic Resources2. Occupations3. Prestige: respect, honour, awe4. Power5. Caste6. Education

Principles of Social Stratification

1. Social Stratification is a trait of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences.

2. Social Stratification carries over from generation to generation.

3. Social Stratification is Universal but Variable. 4. Social Stratification involves not just

inequality but beliefs as well.

Forms of Stratification

• Two forms1. Open System: • Permits more social mobility

2. Close System: • which allows little change in social position

1. Caste System2. Class System

Caste System

• John J. Macionis– A Caste System is social stratification based on

ascription, or birth. • A pure caste system is closed because birth alone

determines a person’s entire future, allowing little or no social mobility based on individual effort. • People live out their lives in the rigid categories

assigned to them, without the possibility of change for better or worse.

Caste is From Purtugese word Casta means Race or Breed. Sansikrit Jati.

• C.H. Cooley– When a class is somewhat hereditary, we call it caste

• MacIver– When status is wholly pre-determined so that men are

born to their lot without any hope of change in it, then the class takes the extreme form of caste

• A.W. Green– Caste is a system of stratification in which mobility up

and down the status ladder, at least ideally may not occur

• Encyclopedia Encarta – Caste is a rigid social system in which a social

hierarchy is maintained generation after generation and allows little mobility out of the position to which a person is born.

Indian Caste System: Typical Illustration

• Philip Oldenburg– A caste (jati in Sanskrit) is a social class to which a person

belongs at birth and which is ranked against other castes, typically on a continuum of perceived purity and pollution.

• Divided into four (4) Castes (Varna) 1. BRAHMAN: Priests / earthly gods (Head)2. KASHATRIYA: Warriors (Arms)3. VAISHYA: Farmers and Merchants (Belly)4. SHUDRA: Labourers/ servants of other castes (Foot )

Characteristics of Indian Caste System

The characteristics of an Indian caste include 1. rigid, membership in caste is hereditary; 2. the practice of marrying members of the same caste

(called endogamy); 3. restrictions on the choice of occupation and on

personal contact with members of other castes; 4. the acceptance by each individual of a fixed place in

society; and5. Social and religious disabilities to some castes and

privileges to other castes.

Characteristics of Caste System

1. Segmental Division of Society 2. Group Hierarchy: based on purity and

impurity 3. Restriction on Mixing 4. Civil and Religious Disabilities 5. Limited Choice of Occupation6. Restriction on Marriage

Stratification in Japanese Society in Edo Period

• society was divided into four layers of descending status: 1. Samurai, 2. Peasants, 3. Craftsmen, and 4. Merchants.

• A fifth group, composed of leatherworkers, butchers, and others whose occupations were condemned by Buddhism became outcasts.

Apartheid System in South Africa

• The apartheid laws classified people according to three major racial groups—1. White2. Bantu, or black Africans3. Coloured, or people of mixed descent.

• Later Asians, or Indians and Pakistanis, were added as a fourth category.

Social Class

• Class system is social stratification based on both birth and individual achievement (Macionis).

• Karl Marx– Class is a group of people with similar level of

wealth, influence and status. • S.M.Shahid– Social Class is a segment of society who’s members

enjoy common standard of living* and life style. *the conditions in which people live, especially in terms of their level of material comfort and disposable income

Sociological Classification of Classes

1. Lower Class2. Middle Class3. Upper Class

4. Poor5. Working Class6. Rich

1. Poor2. Working Class3. Middle Class4. Elite Class

• Karl Marx– Haves – Have Nots

– Rich– Poor

– Capitalist– Workers

– Bourgeoisie– Proletariat

• Warner and Lunt– Each class is sub-divided

into ‘upper’ and ‘lower’ classes

1. Upper (Upper-Upper / Lower Upper

2. Middle (Upper Middle/ Lower Middle)

3. Lower (Upper Lower/ Lower Lower)

Poor: lacking money or material possessions

Elite: a small group of people within a larger group who have more power, social standing, wealth, or talent than the rest of the group

Working Class: the part of society made up of people who work for hourly wages, not salaries, especially manual or industrial laborers

Middle Class: the section of society between the poor and the wealthy, including business and professional people and skilled workers

Characteristics of Class System

1. Status is Achieved not Ascribed2. Class is Open Group 3. Class is Economic Group4. Class Consciousness*: awareness of social

class differences 5. Feelings: Equality, Inferiority, Superiority

Ascribed status: Status assigned by society: the status that somebody possesses by reason of age, sex, ethnic background, family background, or another factor outside personal control

*discrimination or prejudice based on social or economic class

COMPARISON

Class1. Class is not inherited, but

acquired through ability2. It is possible for individual to

change his class 3. Marriage outside class is

allowed without being thrown out of the society

4. There is class consciousness among members of class

5. There is no restriction on members in a class

Caste1. Caste is acquired by birth. 2. It is not possible to leave the

caste3. Impossible for a person to

marry out of caste without social annoyance

4. There is no class consciousness among members of a caste

5. Caste imposes many restrictions on its members.

Comparison

Class6. Class is no hindrance to

democracy or democratic institutions

7. No occupational limitations on members

8. Class members have comparatively more freedom in matters of marriage

9. Class has no religious sanctity or background. Members have no restriction on the choice of class

Caste6. Caste is opposed to democracy 7. There are occupational

limitations on a caste. Profession usually cannot be changed

8. Members have very limited freedom and more restriction in marriage matters

9. Caste is based on religion and usually members are bound by religious orders which they cannot leave

Comparison

Class10. Distance between classes

can be abridged11. Class is secular in origin

Caste10. Distance between castes

cannot be filled11. Caste is believed to have

been divinely ordained

Functions of Social Stratification Social Inequality plays a vital part in the smooth operation of the society (Davis and

Moore). Social Stratification has beneficial consequences for society (ibid). Modern societies have hundreds of occupational positions of varying importance.

Certain jobs—say, washing windows or answering a telephone—are fairly easy and can be performed by almost anyone. Other jobs—such as designing a new generations of computers or transplanting human organs—are difficult and demand the scarce talents of people with extensive and expensive training.

Therefore, the greater the functional importance of a position, the more rewards a society attaches to it.

This strategy promotes productivity and efficiency because rewarding important work with income, prestige, power, and leisure encourages people to do these jobs and to work better, longer, and harder.

In short, unequal rewards (which is what social stratification is) benefit society as a whole.

1. Encourages Hard work2. Rational Use of Talent 3. Prevents Wastage of Resources4. Helps to pursue different professions or jobs5. Social Control