Social Stratification

by Dilawar Khan
 Outline:
• Social Stratification
• Principles of Stratification
• Patterns of social stratification
– Open and closed systems
– Dimensions of stratification
– Theories of social stratification:
• Functionalist theory
• Conflict theory
Social Stratification
• Definition:
Social stratification refers to society’s categorization of its
people into groups based on socioeconomic factors
like wealth, income, race, education, gender, occupation,
and social status, or derived power (social and political). As such,
stratification is the relative social position of persons within a
social group, category, geographic region, or social unit. 
Principles of Social Stratification
• Social stratification is a characteristic of society, not simply a
function of individual differences.
• Although variable in form, social stratification is universal.
• Social stratification persists over generations.
• Social stratification is supported by patterns of belief.
Patterns of social
stratification
Types of Stratification Systems

Sociologists distinguish among two major ideal types of stratification

systems:
• Open System:
An open stratification system is based on achievement, allow
movement and interaction between layers and classes. In turn,
status is based on achievement which helps with social
movements and relationships between different classes. Any
“ascribed” status, like background, ethnicity, gender, religion is
less important in an open system. Considering the characteristics,
there are no exact rules and there are a wide range of positions
but fewer opportunities to achieve economic advancement.
Patterns of social stratification
• Closed System:
Closed class systems are defined as where people can
do little or nothing to change their social standing. A good
example of this is the “Caste” system, which is defined as
a person who is born into their social standing and remain
in it their whole lives. Simply put, as soon as you are born
you are where you are and will stay like that with little to
no chance of improving. In this class, ascribed status are a
big factor and must remain that way for life. Trying to
improve or move between classes are usually forbidden.
 Dimension of Social Stratification
• Karl Marx and Max Weber have helped us to unravel the nature of social
stratification.
– Marx believed that the key to social stratification in capitalist societies is
the division between those who own and control the crucial means of
production and those who have only their labor to sell—the oppressed
working class. In Marx’s view, these two groups and their conflicting
interests provide the foundation for stratification in capitalist nations.
For Marx, social stratification consisted of a single economic dimension.
– Weber (1946) felt that Marx provided an overly simplistic image of
stratification. He contended that other divisions exist within society that
are at times independent of class. Consequently, he took a
multidimensional view of stratification and identified three components:
• Class (economic standing)
• Status (prestige)
• Party (power).
 Dimension of Social Stratification
• social class – grouping of people with similar levels of wealth,
power, and prestige.
• wealth – made up of assets (value of everything one owns) and
income (money earned through salaries, investments, or capital
gains
• power – the ability to control the behavior of others, with or
without their consent based on force, possession of special
skills, knowledge, social status, personal characteristics,
custom/tradition
 Dimension of Social Stratification
• prestige – respect, honor, recognition, or courtesy an individual
receives from other members of society based on income,
occupation , education, family, residences, possessions, club
memberships.
• socioeconomic status – SES, rating that combines social factors
such as educational level, occupational prestige, residence,
income, used to determine an individual’s relative position in the
stratification system.
 Theories of stratification
• Structural Functionalist theory: The Davis Moore thesis
which has become the definitive functionalist explanation for
social inequality can be summarized as follows:
– All societies have important tasks that must be accomplished and certain
position that must be filled.
– Some positions are more important for the survival of society than others.
– The most important positions must be filled by the most qualified people.
• The positions that are the most important for the society can
be carried out by people with scarce talents who have received
long and expensive education and training. Such functionally
important positions also subject individuals to considerable
pressure and day to day responsibility, thus they must be the
most highly rewarded.
Theories of Stratification
• Conflict explanation of social stratification: Conflict theory
is based on the assumption that social stratification is created
and maintained by one group in order to protect and enhance
its own economic interest.
• According to Karl Marx, classes arise out of the productive
system of a society. The relationships between the ruling
classes and the ruled classes would be marked by struggle and
conflict over the unequal distribution of wealth and power
within the society.
– Stratification exist only because the rich and powerful are determined to hang
on to more than their share of scarce resources.
– Inequality results from the more powerful exploiting the less powerful.
• Class conflict is the struggle between social classes for more
equitable distribution of wealth, power, and prestige.
Demonstration, strikes, riots, revolts and other forms of
violence are indicators of class conflict.