Social Stratification Section 8.1 Objectives
Social Stratification Section 8.1 Objectives
● Know the terms social stratification and social inequality ● Understand the differences between a caste and class system ● Know the three things that play a role in stratification The Power of Popularity
Types of Stratification Systems ● Social Stratification: the division of society into categories, ranks, or classes ○ Ancestry, race, age, physical appearance (Ascribed Statuses) ○ Occupation, education (Achieved Statuses) ● Leads to social inequality: the unequal sharing of scarce resources and social rewards ● Both ascribed and achieved statuses can determine this Caste System
● Closed stratification system - people can’t move levels ● Resources and social rewards based on ascribed statuses (inherited) ○ Your status is determined by your parents ● Bans exogamy: marriage outside one’s social category ● Practice endogamy instead: marriage w/in social category Example Class System
● More open than a closed stratification system ● Class system: resources and rewards are based on achieved status ○ Some control over your place in society ● Marx’s Viewpoint: ○ Bourgeoisie, people who own the means of production ○ Proletariat, people who sell their labor for wages Class System
● Marx believed class was based on ownership of property ● Weber’s thoughts on class: ○ Property ○ Prestige ○ Power Dimensions of Social Stratification ● Social Class: a grouping of people with similar levels of wealth, power, and prestige ● Wealth ○ Made up of assets & income - everything someone owns and the money they earn ○ Concentrated in the upper class ○ Richest 1% of U.S. controls 1/3 of nation’s wealth Dimensions of Social Stratification ● Power: the ability to control the behavior of others, with or without their consent ○ Can be based on: ■ Force ■ Special skills ■ Type of knowledge ■ Particular social status ■ Personal characteristics ■ Customs and traditions Dimensions of Social Stratification
● Prestige: the respect, honor, and recognition or courtesy an individual receives ● Can be based on anything of importance ○ Occupation ○ Education ○ Family background ○ Area of residence SES
● Socioeconomic status: rating that combines social factors such as educational level, occupational prestige, and place of residence w/ the economic factor of income ○ Used to put people in a relative position in the stratification system Explaining Stratification
● Functionalist Theory: sees stratification as a necessary feature ○ Certain roles must be performed for stability of society ○ W/o varying rewards some jobs would go unfilled ○ Critics point out that not everyone has equal access to resources Explaining Stratification ● Conflict Theory: sees competition over scarce resources as the cause ○ Stratification comes from class exploitation ○ A group in power can shape policy to maintain power ○ Critics point out that not everyone is suited for every job Efforts at Synthesis ● Dahrendorf suggests each approach might be used to explain specific aspects of stratification ○ Why doctors and lawyers go to school so long ○ Why children of the wealthy go to the best colleges ● Lenski suggests each approach might be used to describe different societies ○ Functionalist - cooperation is needed for Hunter-Gatherer ○ Conflict - complex society Assignment - Due Friday!