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Social Stratification and Inequality SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AND INEQUALITY III SEMESTER (2019 Admission Onwards) BA SOCIOLOGY Core course: (SGY3 B04) UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT School of Distance Education Calicut University (P.O), Malappuram, Kerala, India – 673635. 19454 School of Distance Education UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT School of Distance Education Study material III SEMESTER BA SOCIOLOGY (2019 Admission Onwards) Core course: (SGY3 B04) SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AND INEQUALITY Prepared by: Smt. Ranjini. P T, Assistant Professor, School of Distance Education, University of Calicut, Calicut University, Malappuram, 673635. Sri. Biju. K Assistant Professor School of Distance Education, University of Calicut Calicut University, Malappuram, 673635. Scrutinized by: Sri. Sreejith K, HOD, Department of Sociology, Govt. Arts & Science College, Thavanur, Ayankalam P.O, Malappuram. Social Stratification and Inequality 2 School of Distance Education CONTENTS MODULE I UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL STRATIFICATION 1.1 Difference, Inequality, Hierarchy, Social stratification 1.2 Social structure and stratification 1.3 Perspectives on stratification-Functional, Weberian, Marxian MODULE II - CASTE AND SOCIAL STRATIFICATION 2.1 Views on caste system- Dumont, Ghurye, Ambedkar, Phule, Periyar 2.2 Scheduled Caste- Status, Problems, Protective Discrimination and Constitutional Provisions 2.3 Politicization of caste and Caste mobilizations in contemporary India MODULE III - CLASS AND SOCIAL STRATIFICATION 3.1 Class as a sociological category – Marxian and Weberian views 3.2 Forms of capital and social stratification – views of Bourdieu 3.3 Intersection of class and caste in India MODULE IV- DISABILITY AND SOCIAL INEQUALITY 4.1 Understanding disability, impairment, handicap; types of disability 4.2 Approaches to disability – medical, social, rights approach 4.3 Social inclusion and barrier-free society: affirmative measures – UNCRPD, PWD Act Social Stratification and Inequality 3 School of Distance Education Social Stratification and Inequality 4 School of Distance Education INTRODUCTION This course introduces the concept of social stratification and its theoretical foundations. It aims to acquaint the learners with the key issues with regard to social stratification across societies. The course is weaved upon the central axes of the phenomena of stratification in the society like class, gender, race, tribe, caste, ethnicity, etc. MODULE I UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL STRATIFICATION Social stratification is universal and basic characteristic of society. Owing to society is the subject matter of sociology, social stratification is the structural feature of society, the study of stratification deserves importance in sociology. Sociology analyses social stratification as a characteristic of society. This module provides an idea to leaner about what is social stratification, different bases of stratification and how it contribute to the societal existence. 1.1 Difference, Inequality, Hierarchy, Social stratification There is no society without stratification. All societies exhibit some forms of ranking whereby its members are categorized into positions that are higher or lower, superior or inferior, prestigious or insignificant, in relation to each other. This form of categorization that operates in a structured system of inequality in which members are ranked based on selected criteria thereby limiting members’ access to wealth, power and opportunities is referred to as social stratification. Social stratification is the term used to apply the ranking or grading of individuals and groups into hierarchical layers such that inequality exist in the allocation of rewards, privileges and resources. Social stratification is old as human civilization. According to Giddens social stratification simply refers to as structured inequalities between or among different social groupings. It is to be noted that these inequalities are engendered not by mere categorization of individuals according to their attitudes but by an established system of classifying groups; a complex of social institutions that generate observed inequalities which unequally distribute societal resources (such as income and power) with the most privileged individuals and families enjoying a disproportionate share. Some individuals, by virtue of their roles or group memberships, are advantaged, while others are disadvantaged. If stratification is Social Stratification and Inequality 5 School of Distance Education universally necessary and disadvantageous to certain groups, then societies must create a democratic structure that allows social mobility – the ease and frequency of moving into a different class, rank, group or hierarchy than that into which one was born. Difference, inequality and hierarchy are the three bases of social stratification. The term difference means the things are not the same in its appearance or characteristics. Everything and everyone differs. Individuals are different with regard to age, sex, religion, caste etc. Everywhere individuals and societies differ. In no society people are absolutely equal in all respects. Differentiation is essential in human society. Society rests on the principle of difference. Differences are inherent in the very nature of the society. In all societies there is social differentiation Social stratification means the classification of people on the basis of difference. Individuals are stratified on the basis of age, sex, religion etc. thus difference is a criteria of social stratification. Inequality is another criterion of stratification, which means a state of distributing the valued resources, rewards and position in society. Stratification is expressed through inequality. Hierarchy is another criterion of social stratification, which means the ordering of social unit as higher or lower, superior or inferior. Hierarchy simply means the step by step arrangement of the things thus hierarchy become the base of social stratification. Caste is the best example of hierarchical arrangement. Social stratification means dividing of society into different strata that may be on the basis of difference or the inequality or hierarchy. Stratification is the process by which individuals and groups are ranked in a more or less enduring hierarchy of status. According to Gisbert: "Social stratification is the division of society into permanent groups of categories linked with each other by the relationship of superiority and subordination. Melvin M. Tumin stated that Social stratification refers to "arrangement of any social group or society into a hierarchy of positions that are unequal with regard to power, property, social evaluation, and or psychic gratification. Every society is stratified. Difference means dissimilar, the phenomenon are classified into different groups on the basis of dissimilarity of characteristics and in another case stratification of the basis of the unequal distribution of things. In some societies stratification appeared as hierarchy. Social Stratification and Inequality 6 School of Distance Education Difference, inequality and hierarchy are the three criteria of stratification which are closely related with each other. 1.2 Social structure and stratification Social structure is one of the important concepts in sociology. An arrangement of parts to make the whole is called structure. Society has a structure of patterns and complexes. Social structure is the basic unit for the proper understanding of society. The concept of structure is introduced by Herbert Spencer in social science.According to him, society is a super organism. Various parts of society build up social structure.Whose conceptualization is closely related with the natural science. Social structure means the arrangement of the parts of society in an orderly manner for the smooth functioning of society as a whole. Social structure and stratification are closely related concepts. Stratification means the classification of society into different strata on the basis of certain criteria like caste, class, status etc. These criteria are found in society as part of social structure. Stratificationis the characteristic of social structure. Social stratification is the hierarchical arrangement of individuals into the division of social class, groups, power, wealth and status in the society. Meanwhile, there are people rising social status with one’s effort by starting from scratching their own money. This different lifestyle is one the consequences of social stratification in the modern society. Different people will have different status in the society which leads to different appreciation and remuneration. Social stratification exists in everywhere, even in different forms of society such as capitalist societies, communist societies or even in mixed societies. For example, there are different types of job in the communist society, and also many vacancies of jobs which require people to apply for them; at the same time, people are fighting for jobs in capitalist society. The most common concept of social stratification is by different classes which mostly related to several socio-economic reasons. 1.3 Perspectives on stratification-Functional, Weberian, Marxian Perspective means the way of perceiving something. In sociology different perspectives are exist for observing social phenomena. Perspectives on social stratification means Social Stratification and Inequality 7 School of Distance Education different perceptions on social stratification like functional, Weberian and Marxian. Functional perspective on social stratification
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