Understanding Culture, Society and Politics Chapter 8

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL STRATIFICATION

This chapter tackles the concept of social and political stratification and how it influences the relationships of people
within society. The main objective of this chapter is to show that social stratification is the ranking of individuals
according to wealth, power, and prestige and that social and political inequalities are realities within societies and the
global community.

CONCEPTS OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

Social Stratification refers to a system by which societies ranks categories of people in a hierarchy.

Political Stratification – is defined as a systematic categorization of individuals and institutions in society based on
power relations and status of power in the state.

Social Exclusion- refers to the process by which individuals are cut off from full involvement in the wider circles of
society. Ex. Poor Housing, lack of employment, inferior schools, limited transportation, lack opportunities for
self-improvement.

STRATIFICATION SYSTEM

Closed System- It impose rigid boundaries between social groups and limit interactions among members who belong
to different social groups or occupy different levels in the hierarchy.

Ex. Hindu Caste System- it promotes belief in fate, destiny and will of higher spiritual power rather than the
promotion of individual freedom, people born into their social standing will permanently remain in it throughout their
lives. It promotes social inequality. People are assigned occupations regardless of their talents, interests or potential.
There are virtually no opportunities to improve one’s social position.

Ex. African Caste System- It is largely based on race and the notion that white South Africans or Afrikaners were
superior to black South Africans.

Open System- It is based on achievement, allowing more flexibility in social roles, increased in social mobility, and
better interaction among social groups and classes.

Classed System- it is stratification system based on the ownership of resources and the individual’s occupation or
profession. This classed system is composed of people who share the same background and characteristics such as
income, education and occupation. People are free to move from one social class to another to achieve a higher
status in life through education and employment.

The openness in class results in the prevalence of Exogamous Marriages- or union between people who came from
different social classes. There is also Endogamous Marriages- Marriages between people from the same social class,
are also common, but these unions are not imposed and are entered into freely by individuals.

Meritocracy- another system of stratification that is determined by personal effort and merit. Social standing and
advancement in this system is determined by how well a person performs his or her social role.

THEORITICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

Functionalism- This perspective examines how the different aspects of society contribute to ensuring its stability and
continued function. Functionalist believes that each part or aspects of society serves an important purpose.

Davis-Moore Thesis- introduced by Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore in 1945, they proposed that a social role that
has a greater functional purpose will result in greater reward, and that stratification represents the inherently
unequal value of different types of work.

Conflict Theory- Conflict Theory takes a critical view of social stratification and considers society as benefitting only a
small segment. Conflict Theorist believes that stratification perpetuates inequality, and they draw many of their ideas
from works of Karl Marx. He believed that social stratification is influenced by economic forces, and that relationships
in society are defined by the factors of production., he also considered society as being divided between two groups:
The bourgeois (capitalist) and the proletariat (laborer).

Symbolic Interactionism- People often leads to interact with others within their own social class—people who have
same background, interests and way of life. Social Stratification, therefore, is a system that groups people together.
Symbolic Interactionist also observe that people’s appearance reflects their perceived social standing. Housing,
Clothing, and transportation indicate social status, as do hairstyles, taste in food, music, accessories and personal
style.

Theory of Conspicuous Consumption- It refers to buying certain products to make a social statement about status.
Carrying pricey but environment-friendly items or driving a luxury car could indicate a person’s social standing. Some
people buy expensive items even though they will never wear or use them.

SOCIAL MOBILITY- It is the ability of individual or groups to change their positions within a social stratification system.
It is also refers to how individuals progress from a lower to a higher social class, or even how individuals lose their
status and occupy a much lower social position in society.

2 TYPES OF MOBILITY
Understanding Culture, Society and Politics Chapter 8

Upward Mobility- refers to an upward movement in social class. Examples of upward mobility in society are people
who have gained wealth and individuals who rose to fame or power like politicians and celebrities. Other means by
which individuals experience upward social mobility is through education, employment or marriage.

Downward Mobility- it refers of the lowering of an individual’s social class. This may be brought about by economic
setbacks, unemployment, illness and dropping out of school.

Intra-generational Mobility- It focuses on the experience of people who belong to the same generation. Ex. Siblings
from the same generation and family background have different social status depending on their choices and actions.

Inter-generational Mobility- It refers to the changes in social standing experienced by individuals belonging to
different generations. Ex. Successful businessman who raised by lower-income parents, or a powerful politician who
traces his roots to generations of poor immigrants.

Structural Mobility- Large scale changes in society that result to great improvement or decline of conditions and
status of large group of people. Ex. Industrial Age resulted in massive upward mobility, while recession and loss of
jobs results to decline and downward mobility.

SOCIAL INEQUALITY- Social divisions reflect an unequal distribution of status, wealth and power within society and
result in individuals and groups occupying different positions of influence and power.

Social Inequality based on POVERTY

Status- defines as the esteem or “social honor” given to certain individuals or group.

Underclass- It refers to the segment of society that is not only affected by poverty but is also subject to social
exclusion.

Absolute Poverty- refers o the lack of basic resources like food, clean water, safe housing and access to health care
needed to maintain a quality lifestyle.

Relative Poverty- It applies to those who maybe be able to obtain basic necessities but are still unable to maintain an
average standard of living compared to the rest of the society.

Subjective Poverty- A type of poverty that is defined by how an individual evaluates hos or her actual income against
his or her expectations and perceptions.

Social Inequality based GENDER

Gender- refers to the culturally-imposed characteristics that define masculinity and femininity.

Sex- It refers to the biological and anatomical differences that distinguish males and females.

Gender Role- It refers to the specific tasks and behaviors expected of a person by virtue of his or her sex.

Gender Identity- It refers to how a person identifies himself or herself as belonging to a particular gender.

Patriarchy- It refers to the socially sanction and systematic domination of males over females.

Social Inequality based on RACE and ETHNICITY-

Ethnicity- It is the feeling of affinity or loyalty towards a particular population, cultural group, or territorial area.

Race- It refers to a group of people who share a common ancestry. It refers to physical or genetic differences among
humankind that distinguish one group of people from another such as skin and hair color, physique and facial
features.

Racism- It refers to a set of attitudes, beliefs and practices used to justify the superior treatment of one racial or
ethnic group and the inferior treatment of another racial or ethnic group.

Displacement and scapegoating- It is a psychological mechanisms associated with prejudices and discrimination.

Prejudices- involves holding “stereotypes” or preconceived views that are often based on faulty generalizations about
members of a race or particular ethnic or other groups.

Discrimination- It refers to actions or behavior of members of a dominant social group that negatively impacts other
members of society that do not belong to the dominant group.

Social Inequality based on DISABILITY- Other groups that may be considered belonging the minority include persons
with disabilities, the elderly, certain religious groups and communities living in isolated areas. The inequalities and
discrimination experienced by these groups do not fall neatly within the category of class, gender, ethnicity and race.

GLOBAL INEQUALITY

Global Stratification- It refers to the unequal distribution of wealth, power, and prestige on a global basis.