Social Stratification
A system by which a society ranks categories of people in hierarchy
social stratification principles
- A trait of society, not a reflection of individual differences
- Carries over from generation to generation
- Universal but variable
- Not just inequality but beliefs
Social mobility
A change in position within the social hierarchy
Caste system
Social stratification based on ascription, or birth
Caste systems characteristic
closed system, typical of agrarian societies
Class System
Social stratification based on both birth and individual achievement
Class System characteristic
open system, typical of industrial societies
Meritocracy
Social stratification based on personal merit, pure meritocracy has never exist
Status Consistency
The degree of uniformity in a person’s social standing across various dimensions of social inequality
Meritocracy and class/caste system
Caste: emphasizing loyalty to the system(stable), maintaining social order and unity/ Class: promote productivity and efficiency
Status Consistency and class/ caste system
Caste: low social mobility -> high social consistency; Class: high social mobility -> high social consistency/ class distinction blurred
Structural social mobility
A shift in the social position of large numbers of people due more to changes in society itself than to individual efforts
Ideology
Cultural beliefs that justify particular social arrangements, including patterns of inequality
Davis-Moore Thesis
Social stratification has beneficial consequences for the operation of a society
Tumin’s criticism towards Davis- Moore Thesis
- How do we assess the importance of a particular occupation
- Ignore how the caste elements of social stratification can prevent the development of individual talent
- Living in a society that places so much emphasis on money, we tend to overestimate the importance of high-paying work
- Davis-Moore thesis ignores how social inequality can harm society and even promote conflict
Capitalist
bourgeoisie, people who own and operate factories and other businesses in pursuit of profit
Proletarians
people who sell their labor for wages
Alienation
capitalism only produce it, the experience of isolation and misery resulting from powerlessness
Socio-economic status
A composite ranking based on various dimensions of social inequality
Conflict theory on Stratification
Benefits some people and disadvantages other
Karl Marx: Class Conflict
Social stratification is rooted in people’s relationship to the means of production
Bourgeoisie vs. Proletarians
Capitalist and proletarians have opposing interests and are separated by a vast gulf of wealth and power, making class conflict inevitable
Marx’s theory Controversy
Ignores a central ideal of the Davis- Moore thesis and Revolutionary change Marx predicted has failed to happen
