Social Stratification

[Buela_Vigneswaran]

Social Stratification

Social Stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals or groups in society based on factors such as wealth, power, prestige, or social status. It determines the unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, and privileges within a society. Key Features of Social Stratification:

1. Hierarchy: Society is divided into layers, with some groups ranked higher than others.
2. Inequality: Access to resources and opportunities is unevenly distributed among different social groups.
3. Ascription and Achievement:
   • Ascribed Status: Social position determined by birth (e.g., caste, race, gender).
   • Achieved Status: Social position earned through effort, talent, or accomplishments (e.g., education, profession).

Systems of Social Stratification:

1. Caste System: A rigid system where social status is hereditary and unchangeable (e.g., traditional Indian caste system).
2. Class System: A more fluid system based on economic factors, allowing mobility (e.g., lower, middle, and upper classes).
3. Estate System: Historically tied to feudal systems, dividing society into nobility, clergy, and commoners.
4. Slavery: The most extreme form of stratification, where individuals are owned by others.

Dimensions of Stratification:

1. Economic: Based on income, wealth, and access to material resources.
2. Social: Based on prestige and respect associated with a person’s position.
3. Political: Based on power and influence over decision-making processes.

Theoretical Perspectives on Stratification:

1. Functionalist Perspective:
   • Argues that stratification serves a purpose by ensuring that important roles in society are filled by qualified individuals.
2. Conflict Perspective:
   • Views stratification as a result of power struggles between different social groups, often benefiting the elite at the expense of others.
3. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective:
   • Examines how individuals perceive and maintain stratification through daily interactions and symbols.

Social Mobility:

• The ability to move between different levels of the stratification system. It can be:
  • Vertical Mobility: Moving up or down the hierarchy (e.g., from middle class to upper class).
  • Horizontal Mobility: Changing roles within the same social level (e.g., switching professions within the same income bracket).

Social stratification is a critical topic as it shapes individual life chances, influences societal stability, and is central to discussions about inequality and social justice.