Meanings, Definition and Components

– Literal Meaning: It is combination of two Latin words Socious (Companion) and Strata
(layering).ranking and layering of the individual in the social setup.
– Definition: “Social Stratification is the socio-economic layering of society's members
according to property, power, and prestige” (Dr. Ron J. Hammond 2010).
– Components of Social Stratification:(Max Weber)
– Property: It is all the wealth, investments and titled properties, and other tangible
sources of income.
– Power: It is the ability to get one's way even in the face of opposition to one's goals.
– Prestige: It is the degree of social honor attached with your position in society.
 Characteristics of social stratification

– According to Tumin the main features of social stratification.

1. It is social: It is based on social inequalities not on biological inequalities.
2. It is Ancient: this system is quite old.
3. It is universal: It is a worldwide phenomena exist everywhere.
4. It is diverse forms: It is not a uniform system in all the societies, India,
Europe etc.
 Elements of Social Stratification
– All stratification systems have some common elements. These elements have been
identified as differentiation, ranking, evaluation and rewarding. Here Tumin (1953) has
been referred to discuss the elements of social stratification.
– 1. Status Differentiation:
– Status differentiation is the process by which social positions are determined and
distinguished from one another by way Of associating a distinctive role, a set of rights
and responsibilities such as father and mother. Responsibilities, resources and rights
are assigned to status not to particular individuals.
Elements (Ranking)
– Ranking is done on the basis of:
– (i) Personal characteristics such as intelligence, aggressiveness and politeness are necessary to
assign role.
– (ii) The skills and abilities that are believed necessary for adequate role performance such, as
surgical, numerical or linguistic skills.
– (iii) General qualities of the task e.g. difficulty, cleanliness, danger and so forth.
– Purpose of ranking is to identify the right person for the right position.
– Ranking is a selective process in the sense that only some statuses are selected for comparative
ranking and of all criteria of ranking only some are actually used in ranking process e.g. the status of
Father-Mother is not ranked.
 Elements(Rewarding)
– Rewarding:
– Statuses which are differentiated, ranked are allocated differential rewards in terms of good things in life. Social
units such as families, subcultures, social classes and occupations that are socially differentiated are differentially
rewarded in various ways. Health care, education,’ income and positions of prominence are a few of the advantages.
– Rewards can be of two types:
– (i) Abundant:
– Which are spiritual or psychic rather than material and are secured in the process of role performing e.g. pleasure,
love, and respect.
– (ii) Scarce:
– Social stratification becomes relevant in this area of desired and scarce rewards. In society where there is an
unequal distribution of rewards, those who have power take hold these rewards.
– In conclusion it can be said that differentiation, ranking and rewarding are the social process which bring about
shape and maintain the system of stratification.
 Forms of social stratification

– Social stratification the division of large numbers of people into layers according to
their relative power, property, and prestige; applies to both nations and to people
within a nation, society, or other groups.
– Forms of social stratification:
1. Slavery
2. Caste
3. Estate
4. class
 Slavery
– It is a form of social stratification in which some people own other people.
– Causes of slavery:
1. Debt (creditors would enslave people who could not pay their debts.
2. Crime ( Instead of being killed, a murderer or thief might be enslaved by the
victim’s family as compensation for their loss).
3. War (When one group of people conquered another, they often enslaved some of
the vanquished (defeated).
 Caste system
– Caste system a form of social stratification in which one’s status is determined by birth
and is lifelong.
– status is determined by birth and is lifelong. Someone who is born into a low-status
group will always have low status, no matter how much that person may accomplish in
life. In sociological terms, a caste system is built on ascribed status. Achieved status
cannot change an individual’s place in this system.
– Examples: Malik awan, Rajput, bhatti, kumhar,mirasi etc. In India Brahman (Priests and
teachers), Kshatriya (Rulers and soldiers),Vaishya (Merchants and traders), Shudra
(Peasants and laborers).
 Class system
– It is a form of social stratification based primarily on the possession of money or
material possessions.
– Social class, two groups Upper & lower class (Karl Marx). social class was based solely on
a person’s relationship to the means of production.
– Social class, he said, has three components: property, prestige, and power(Max weber).
– Social class is based on achieved status not ascribed stats. we easily move from lower to
upper class on base of achievement.
– Examples: Upper ,lower, middle
 Importance of Social Stratification
– The importance of stratification can be seen with regard to the functions it performs for the individual
and society.
– I. For the Individual:
– No doubt system of stratification is applicable to the whole society yet it serves some functions for the
individual also.
– 1. Competition:
– Individuals based on their attributes compete with each other and only those individuals who have
better attributes get greater recognition. This may be in the field of sports, education, occupation etc.
– 2. Recognition of Talent:
– The persons with more training skills, experience and education are given better positions. The
deserving individuals are not treated at par with deserving candidates. Such a system helps people to
acquire better talents.
 IMPORTANCE
– 3. Motivation:
– The system of stratification motivates the individuals to work hard so that they can
improve upon their social status. It is more true in case of those societies in which
statuses are achieved.
– 4. Job Satisfaction: As the jobs are given to the individuals according to their skills and
education, the workers get job satisfaction.
– 5. Mobility: The system of achieved status also provides an opportunity for upward and
downward mobility. Those persons who work hard and are intelligent move up in the
social ladder. On the other hand, those who fail to come up to the expectations move
downward. Hence, the possibility of change in the position keeps the people always
alert and makes them work hard.