What is a Social Stratification?

- Is when individuals and

groups are ranked in a more
or less permanent of
hierarchy of status.
 Approaches to Study of
Stratification

1. Conflict Theory
2. Functionalist Theory
1. Conflict Theory
Two major social groups
a. Ruling Class – power
owning and controlling
b. Subject Class – conflict of
interest between the two
classes arises.
1. Conflict Theory
Four main epochs.
a. Primitive Communism –
classless society
b. Ancient Society – master
and slaves
1. Conflict Theory
Four main epochs.
c. Feudal Society – lords and
serfs
d. Capitalist Society – capitalist
an wage laborers
According to Karl Marx in all
stratified societies.

According to Max Weber

believes that social classes
emerged because of market
economy where individuals
compete to gain.
2. Functionalist Theory
According to Talcott Parsons,
order, stability and cooperation
are based on the agreed values
of the people in the society
concerning what is good and
useful.
2. Functionalist Theory
All social system share a
certain function which is a
requirements for the survival
and operation of the system.
2. Functionalist Theory
- Davis and Moore argue that
all societies need some
mechanism for insuring
effective role allocation and
performance.
- This mechanism called Social
Stratified System
 Social Stratified System

- Attached equal rewards and

privileges to the positions in
society.
Four System of Stratification

1. Slavery – most life-

threatening form of legalized
social inequality.
2. Estate System – or feudalism
emerged during the Middle
Age. It requires peasants to
work the land (fief) leased to
them by the nobles in exchange
for military protection against
the lords.
3. Caste System – is a
hereditary system or rank,
usually religiously dictated that
tends to be fixed and immobile.

e.g. Sanskrit
4. Class System – is a social
rank based on economic
position whose achieved
characteristics can influence
social mobility.
 Social Mobility

- Is the change, shift and

movement of individual or
group in social position.
 Types of Social Mobility

1. Vertical Mobility – is a
movement up or down the
social strata.
2. Horizontal Mobility – is a
change of status without a
corresponding shift within the
social hierarchy.
3. Inter- Generational Social
Mobility – is the change in the
status of family members
from one generation to the
next.
4. Intra- Generational Social
Mobility – is the advancement
in one’s social level during the
course of one’s lifetime.
5. Structural Mobility – is a
kind of vertical mobility.
Social, Cultural and Political
Changes
 Changes

- Is an essential aspect of
culture hence dynamic and
never static.
 Social Changes

- Is any significant alteration,

modification or
transformation in the way
social activities and
relationships are organized.
 Cultural Changes

- Modification or
discontinuance of existing
“tried” and “tested”
procedures transmitted to us
from the past culture.
 Cultural Changes

- Involves an existing pattern

of interactions or social
relationships among members
of the society.
 Political Changes

- Modification or
establishment of a new
leadership or policies brought
about by any significant
disruption in a government.
 Factors or sources

1. Innovation – new creative

ideas
2. Diffusion – process where
one group or society
borrows elements of
culture
 Factors or sources

3. Acculturation – society or
group deemed to be
powerful. “others” or
“outsiders”
 Factors or sources

4. Assimilation – process of
accepting of minority groups
by the mainstream culture.
 Three Models of Ethnic
Integration

1. Assimilation
2. Melting pot
3. Pluralism