THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

SOCI1001A Introduction to Sociology

2020-2021 First Semester

Topic 8: Are we all created equal? Social stratification and inequalities

Stratification and inequality

- social inequality: the unequal distribution of resources among groups of people
- social stratification: social structures and cultural norms that create and maintain
inequality by ranking people into a hierarchy of groups that receive unequal resources
- all stratification systems have the features of unequal distribution of valued resources,
distinct groups that make up society’s strata, and an ideology that explains and
justifies inequality
- social mobility: movement from one stratum of a stratification system to another
- vertical mobility and horizontal mobility
- intergenerational mobility and intragenerational mobility
- life chances: the opportunities offered by a person’s economic position

Stratification systems: class vs caste

- in a class system, stratification is determined by economic position, which results from
a combination of individual achievement (achieved status) and family of birth; relatively
open where social mobility is possible
- a class is a a group of people who share similar economic position and lifestyle with
property, wealth, and occupation as chief basis of formation
- in a caste system: stratification is based on various ascribed characteristics 

determined at birth; relatively closed with no mobility at all
- feudal estates
- Indian caste system
- apartheid in South Africa
- class today: uneven distribution of income and wealth (the case of The U.S. and Hong
Kong)

EXPLAINING SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

Marx: industrial capitalism is an exploitative system of class relations
- the haves and have-nots: capitalist class (bourgeoisie) and working class (proletariat)
- means of production owned by capitalist and surplus value taken away from workers
- resulted in accumulation of wealth of the capitalist and class polarisation
- the ideological superstructure maintains the unequal relations by perpetuating false
consciousness
- class consciousness and proletariat revolution as the only way out

Weber: 3 dimensions in stratification

- class: market position / marketability of skills & credentials
- status: the prestige attributed to social position
- party: a group of individuals work together to obtain strength and power through
organisations

Davis and Moore (Functionalist): stratification is functional

- universal and fulfils functional necessity
- reward of a position depends on:
- functional importance
- scarcity of talents
- inequality is inevitable

- Tumin’s critique:
- what is functional importance?
- is there a scarcity of talents, or stratification systems serve as obstacles to discover
and develop talents?
- is training really a sacrifice for the elites?
- is material returns the only inducement and motivation to fill social positions?

References:

Croteau, D. & Hoynes, W. 2020. Experience Sociology (4/e). New York: McGraw-Hill.
ch.5&9.

Davis, K. & Moore, W.E. 1945. Some Principles of Stratification, American Sociological
Review. Vol.10, No.2, pp.242-249.
Giddens, A. & Sutton, P.W. 2017. Sociology (8/e). Cambridge: Polity. ch.12

Tumin, M.M. 1953. Some Principles of Stratification: A Critical Analysis, American
Sociological Review. Vol.18, No.4, pp.387-394.

Census and Statistics Department, HKSAR. 2016. Hong Kong 2016 Population By-census -
Thematic Report: Household Income Distribution in Hong Kong.
https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp459.jsp?productCode=B1120096

South China Morning Post

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2097715/what-hope-poorest-hong-kong-
wealth-gap-hits-record-high
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/2165872/why-wealth-gap-hong-kongs-
disparity-between-rich-and-poor