Chapter 9 Social Stratification (Introduction of Sociology and Anthropology)

Social StratificationChapter 9

Introduction of Sociology and AnthropologySaint Paul University Philippines

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan

Ranking of individuals and groups in any given society.

Hierarchical arrangement and establishment of social categories that may evolve into social groups as well as of statuses and their corresponding roles.

Separating people or objects into categories In closed stratification, people cannot

change their ranking; while in open stratification, people can change their ranking

Meaning & Nature

“Institutionalized Inequality” Differentiation of statuses and social

roles into ranked orders

Social Structure

Social Process• Splitting up of society into social categories that

develop into social groups cooperating, competing, conflicting- for the status quo or social change

Social Problem• Involves bitter feelings of discontent and of

strong demands for equality or social justice.

The situation in which the economic goods in a society are distributed unevenly among different groups or categories of people

Basic Concepts of Inequality

Concept of Social StratificationATTRIBUTIONS STEREOTYPE

It assigns to people different attributes as a result of differences. People are treated differently due to their presumed ethnic characteristics.

One assumes that persons who falls into a particular category on the basis of certain characteristics also have many characteristics that we assume to belong to that category

Concept of Social Stratification

SELF-FULFILLING PROPHESIS

SOCIAL COMPARISONS

Once we categorize people through assigning a stereotype, our perception of their behaviour is being filtered through that stereotype. As a consequence, the person may begin to act as we expect him or het to act.

People need to compare themselves with others in order to establish for themselves what kind of people they are.

Concept of Social StratificationA FAIR WORLD JUST WORLD

HYPOTHESIS

People are more concerned about establishing equity (just division of rewards) than equality (equal division of rewards)

People like to believe that there is justice, that people get what they deserve.

• Social psychological research indicates that people make attributions about themselves and others, compare themselves with others, form judgement about who is better and who is better and develop beliefs that justify inequalities.

Dimensions of Stratification

These are categories that separate people or objects

What people own and inherit is called wealth. It consists of the value of everything a person or group owns.

Income refers to how much people get. It is the amount of money one person or group receives

Wealth and Income

Sociologists define power as the ability to control one’s life (personal power) and to control or influence the action of others.

Inequalities of power

Social recognition that a person or group receives from others.

Esteem, respect or approval that is granted by an individual or a collectivity for performance or qualities they consider above the average.

Societies differ in what attributes they attach prestige to:◦ Religion, holiness, zeal◦ Occupational ranking◦ Consumption patterns◦ Leisure activities◦ Membership in

organizations

Inequalities of prestige

Subjective Method. Personal ascription of the class one belongs to.

Reputational Method. Old-timers identify the social classes that exist in the community and to place each resident in one or another category.

Objective Method. Division according to income, occupation, education and type of residence.

Methods of Determining Class Division

Theories of Social Stratification

1. Conflict Theory2. Functionalist Theory

1. Stratification is the result of the struggle among people for scarce rewards and it persists in society because the “haves” are determined (exploiters) and equipped to preserve their advantage by dominating and exploiting the “have nots” (exploited).

2. Class conflict over material privilege and power; those who own the means of production (capitalists or bourgeoisie) and those who sell their labor (worker or proletariat)

Conflict Theory (Karl Marx)

3. Viewed the: nation or state as an instrument of oppression; religion as a method of diverting and controlling the masses; the family as a devise of keeping wealth and education in the hands of the few

4. People’s lives are centered on how they deal with the material world. The key issue is how wealth is distributed among the people


5. Four ways in which wealth can be distributed

◦ To each according to need. Basic economic needs of all of the people are satisfied.

◦ To each according to want. Wealth is distributed according to what people desire and request.

◦ To each according to what is earned. ◦ To each according to what can be taken- by

using whatever means. Everyone ruthlessly attempts to acquire much wealth as possible without regard for the hardship that might be brought on others.


1. People are motivated by self interest.2. Group conflict is a basic ingredient of

society3. Those who do not have property can

defend their interests less well than those who have property

4. Economic institutions are of fundamental importance in shaping the rest of society

Conflict Theory (Max Weber)

5. Those in power promote ideas and values that help them maintain their dominance

6. Only when exploitation becomes extremely obvious will the powerless their dominance.

Conflict Theory (Max Weber)

If all the positions that have to be filled in a society were equally important and everyone were equally capable of doing their jobs, there would be no need of stratification. But this is not the case. Some tasks are clearly more necessary than others, and some require a great deal more talent and training.

Social inequality is viewed as both necessary and constructive.

Functionalist Theory (Kingley Davis and Wilbert Moore)

Both theories acknowledge that the evaluation of the contributions of jobs to society also determines unequal rewards.

The Marxist theory leans heavily on the significance of power in the distribution of resources; while the functionalist emphasize the necessity of assigning some position or work higher status than others.

Both theories recognize that social power plays a part in determining the unequal distribution of rewards.

Similarities of Stratification Theories ( Theodore D. Kemper)

Comparison of Stratification Theories

Functionalist View Conflict Theory

1. Stratification is universal, necessary and inevitable

2. Social organization (the social system) shapes the stratification system

1. Stratification may be universal without being necessary and inevitable

2. The stratification system shapes social organizations (social system)



3. Stratification arises from the societal need for integration, coordination and cohesion

4. Stratification facilitates the optimal functioning of society and the individual

3. Stratification arises from group conquest, competition, and conflict

4. Stratification impeded the optimal functioning of society and the individual



5. Stratification is an expression of commonly shared social values

6. Power is usually legitimately distributed in society

5. Stratification is an expression of the values of powerful groups

6. Power is usually illegitimately distributed in society



7. Tasks and rewards are equitably allocated.

8. The economic dimensions is subordinate to other dimensions of society

7. Tasks and rewards are inequitably allocated.

8. The economic dimension is paramount in society



9. Stratification systems generally change through evolutionary processes

9. Stratification systems often change through revolutionary process.

Types of Stratification System

1. Open System2. Closed System

Positions are awarded on the basis of merit, and rank is tied to individual achievements.

Status is said to be achieved depending on what the individual accomplishes and what he can do by his own efforts.

It provides people with an equal chance to succeed.

Open System (Class System)

It consists of a category of people who share similar opportunities, similar economic and vocational positions, similar lifestyles, and similar attitudes and behaviour.

Class boundaries are maintained by limitations on social interaction, intermarriage, and mobility into that class.

Open System (Class System)

Status is ascribed and determined at birth and people are locked into their parent’s social position.

Ascribed characteristics determine social position, and individuals opportunities are limited accordingly.

Caste lines are clearly defined and legal and religious sanctions are applied to those who attempt to cross them

Closed System (Caste System)

It is a rigid system. People are born into and spend their entire lives within a caste with little chance of leaving it.

Contact between castes is minimal and is governed by a set of rules or laws.

Access to valued resources is extremely unequal

Closed System (Caste System)

A person’s social position is based on ownership of land, birth or military strength.

An estate is a segment of a society that has legally established rights and duties.

Estate System

1. People who have made it

2. People who are doing very well

3. People who have achieved the middle class dream

4. People who have comfortable life

5. People who are just getting by

6. People who are having a difficult time

7. People who are poor

Social Stratification in Various Countries

Upper Class have great wealth, often going back for many generations; are recognized by reputation and lifestyle; have an influence on the society’s basic economic and political structures.

Upper- Middle Class is made up of successful business and professional people and their families; Have a college education, own property and have money savings; live comfortably in exclusive areas

Typical of Class System (Fichter)

Lower- Middle Class shares many characteristics with the upper middle class but they have not been able to achieve the same lifestyle because of economic or educational shortcomings; usually high school or vocational education graduates with modest incomes; less professionals, clerical, and sales workers

Working Class is made up of factory works and other blue-collar workers


Lower Class are people at the bottom of the economic ladder. They have little in the way of education or occupational skills and are consequently either unemployed or underemployed.


Social Mobility• The movement of an

individual or group within a stratification that changes the individual’s or group’s status in society

• The degree of mobility depends on (1) rules governing how people gain or keep their positions; and (2) structural changes in society.

Indicators of Social Mobility

• Power• Prestige

Wealth

It is the ability to attain goals, control events and maintain influence over others- even in the face of oppositions

People empowerment is a movement aimed at liberating the poor people from their poverty, and the powerless people from their situation.

Power

It consists of approval and respect an individual or group receives from other members of society

1. Esteem consists of the appreciation and respect a person wins in his or her daily interpersonal relationships.

2. Honor that is associated with specific statuses in society

Prestige

The total economic assets of the individual or a family are known as a wealth.

Poverty is a condition in which people do not have enough money to maintain a standard of living that includes the basic necessity of life.

Wealth

Types of Social Mobility

1. Upward Mobility2. Horizontal Mobility 3. Geographical Migration4. Role Mobility

Movement of individuals or groups from lower to higher status in social stratification system (or vice versa)

Operate intragenerationally- social change during the lifetime of one individual; or intergenerationally- changes in the social level of a family through two or more generations.

Upward/ Vertical Mobility

The policy and practice of immigration into a total society and into a local community

Differential fertility of social classes Presence or absence of individual

competition as a value in the culture Availability of opportunities to prepare one’s

self for the competitive process. Pattern of equality and inequality in a

society (religion, sex, ethnic plurality and the like)

Factors affecting upward mobility

Disappointments and frustrations are cushioned by the traditional conservatism of middle class

Have little contact with his former associates of higher status

Rationalization of the mobility There is no significant status visibility Consolation that children may regain social

status that one has himself lost

Compensation for Downward Mobility

May come about because of changing one’s occupation, marrying into a certain family and others.

Movement involves a change in status with no corresponding change in social class

Horizontal Mobility

Movement from one geographical spot to another

Includes forced relocation of large groups of people, eviction, and dispossession of unwanted people, voluntary permanent migration from one country to another, or from one region to another within the same country, as well as local residential changes.

Fluidity exemplified by people commuting from home to office or factory, making business trips and taking vacations.

Geographical Migration/ Physical Mobility

Voluntary Migration refers to the voluntary movement of people from one geographical area to another

Forced migration includes expulsion of unwanted people, the herding people into reservation areas and concentration camps, the transportation of enslaved individuals and groups

Types of Geographical Migration

Economic factor. This refers to the desire of people to seek better food supplies, workers looking for better living.

Political reason. Some people move to escape from political oppression and racial discrimination; or political asylum to other countries

Religious liberty. Some people move to enjoy religious liberty in response to existing religious persecutions in their country

Reasons for Voluntary Migration

Educational opportunities. Some avail themselves of educational opportunities prevailing in other areas due to the presence of colleges and university in other areas.

Natural or man-made calamities (floods, denudation, volcanic eruption, earthquake)

Reasons for Voluntary Migration

Diffusion of culture means contact and communication between people who had been culturally and geographically isolated.

Biological mixture Urbanization of the culture. Urban ways of

thinking and acting, urban social relations and structures and increasing secondary associations.

Effects of Migration

It is the shifting from role to role Every person enacts multiples roles, even

while he remains a total, integrated personality. His participation in different groups and in different situations call for enactment of various roles.

There is normal successive assumption of new roles.

Occupational mobility causes shifting of roles.

Role Mobility

Hard work. Social structure. Societal values and

norms. Level of education. Marriage Luck

Factors Affecting Social Mobility

Higher status is the result of personal achievement.

There as many channels of social mobility as they are social roles the person enacts.

Striving for higher status is often accompanied by certain strains and frustrations

Downward social mobility carries it own costs and personal costs.

Mobility and Social Personality

The amount of education a person has constitute one of the most important criteria of social status.

Those who receive higher education may use it as a stepping stone to a higher social status

Education and Social Mobility

Success in life is always attached to upward social mobility.

The values of activity, success and quantity are extremely improtant from the point of view of social mobility.

Upward mobility means for any individual that he enjoys higher status than he previously had, and this is in itself valued as an achievement.

Social Mobility and Success