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Social Mobility System: Open (Class) Closed (Caste)

This document discusses social mobility systems and stratification theory. It defines open and closed social mobility systems. An open system encourages social mobility based on merit and achievement, while a closed system prescribes social positions based on ascriptive attributes like birth. The document also summarizes Weber's three-component theory of stratification - wealth, prestige, and power. Finally, it outlines some reasons why social mobility is an important concept, including promoting equality of opportunity, economic efficiency, and social cohesion.

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Rheyven Juan
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426 views9 pages

Social Mobility System: Open (Class) Closed (Caste)

This document discusses social mobility systems and stratification theory. It defines open and closed social mobility systems. An open system encourages social mobility based on merit and achievement, while a closed system prescribes social positions based on ascriptive attributes like birth. The document also summarizes Weber's three-component theory of stratification - wealth, prestige, and power. Finally, it outlines some reasons why social mobility is an important concept, including promoting equality of opportunity, economic efficiency, and social cohesion.

Uploaded by

Rheyven Juan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Social

Mobility System

Open (Class)

Closed (Caste)
SOCIAL DESIRABLES
The three-component theory of
stratification
By Max Weber

WEALTH PRESTIGE POWER

• includes • the respect • the ability of


property such with which a people or
as buildings, person or groups to
lands, farms, status position achieve their
houses, is regarded by goals despite
factories and others opposition
as well as • Status from others
other assets Situation • Parties
• Economic
Situation
Social Mobility System
– It describes the movement or opportunities for
movement between different social groups, and
the advantages and disadvantages that go with
this in terms of income, security of employment,
opportunities for advancement etc.
Open (Class)
– It is the norms prescribed and encourage mobility. There are independent
principles of ranking like status, class and power. In and open system individuals
are assigned to different positions in the social structure on the basis of their
merit or achievement. Open systems mobility is generally characterized with
occupational diversity, a flexible hierarchy, differentiated social structure and
rapidity of change. In such systems the hold of ascription based corporate
groups like caste, kinship or extended family etc. declines. The dominant values
in such a system emphasize on equality and freedom of the individual and on
change and innovation.
Closed (Caste)
– It is the mobility is that where norms prescribe mobility. Thus the closed system
emphasizes the associative character of the hierarchy. It justifies the inequality in the
distribution of means of production status symbols and power positions and
discourages any attempt to change them. Any attempt to bring about changes in such
a system or to promote mobility is permanently suppressed. In such a system
individuals are assigned their place in the social structure on the basis of ascriptive
criteria like age, birth, sex. Considerations of functional suitability or ideological
notions of equality of opportunity are irrelevant in deciding the positions of individuals
to different statuses. However no system in reality is perfectly close. Even in the most
rigid systems of stratification limited degree of mobility exists. Traditional caste
system in India is an example of closed system.
Why Social Mobility System
important?
– equality of opportunity is an aspiration across the political spectrum. Lack of
social mobility implies inequality of opportunity;
– economic efficiency depends on making the best use of the talents of
everyone; and
– social cohesion and inclusion may be more likely to be achieved where people
believe they can improve the quality of life they and their children enjoy
through their abilities, talents and efforts.

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