Social Stratification

A system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy

Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Basic Principles
A trait of society
Doesnt reflect individual differences, but societys 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, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

The Caste System

Social stratification based on ascription, or birth

Birth determines social position in four ways: Occupation Marriage within caste Social life is restricted to own kind. Belief systems are often tied to religious dogma. Many of the worlds societies are caste systems. Caste system is illegal, but elements survive.

Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

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

Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Class Systems
Status consistencyThe degree of uniformity in a person's social standing across various dimensions of social inequality.

A caste system has limited social mobility and high status consistency.
The greater mobility of class systems produces less status consistency.

Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Caste and Class Systems

Aristocratic England: Castelike system of aristocracy.
First estate: Church leaders Second estate: Aristocracy Third estate: Commoners

The United Kingdom Today

Caste elements still evident. Commoners control the government. Mixed caste elements and meritocracy.

Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Caste and Class Systems

Japan
Nobility, samurai, commoners, burakumin (outcasts)

Former Soviet Union

Feudal estate system Russian revolution classless society Perestroika restructuring

China
Economic change A new class system
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Ideology
Cultural beliefs that justify particular social arrangements, including patterns of inequality

Plato
Every culture considers some type of inequality just.

Marx
Capitalist societies keep wealth and power for a few.

Spencer
Survival of the fittest
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

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. Positions a society considers more important must reward enough to draw talented people

Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Karl Marx: Class and Conflict

Most people have one of two relationships with the means of production.
Bourgeoisie own productive property. The proletariat works for the bourgeoisie.

Capitalism creates great inequality in power and wealth. This oppression would drive the working majority to organize and overthrow the capitalism.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Why No Marxist Revolution?

Fragmentation of the capitalist class
Higher standard of living More worker organizations More extensive legal protections

Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Was Marx Right?

Wealth still remains highly concentrated.
One percent of the population owns 40% of the property

White-collar jobs offer no more income, security, or satisfaction than factory work did a century ago.

Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Was Marx Right?

Current workers benefits came from struggle.
Workers have lost benefits recently.

Ordinary people still face disadvantages that the law cannot overcome.

Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

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, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Stratification and Interaction

Differences in social class position can affect interaction.
People interact primarily with others of similar social standing. Conspicuous consumption refers to buying and using products because of the "statement" they make about social position.

Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Stratification and Technology: A Global Perspective

Hunting and gathering societies Horticultural, pastoral, and agrarian societies Industrial societies

The Kuznets curve

Greater technological sophistication generally is accompanied by more pronounced social stratification.

Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Social Stratification
Vonnegut: An egalitarian society can exist only if everyone is reduced to the lowest common denominator. Davis-Moore thesis: Class differences reflect variation in human abilities and the relative importance of different jobs. Marx: Inequality causes human suffering and conflict; social stratification springs from injustice and greed.
Sociology, 12th Edition by John Macionis Copyright 2008 Prentice Hall, a division of Pearson Education. All rights reserved.