Social Stratification

1. What is Social Stratification?

2. Four Basic Principles of Social Stratification?
3. Patterns of Social Stratification?
4. Types and forms of social stratification?
• The Slavery System
• Caste System
• Estate system
• Class system
5. Dimensions of Social Stratification?
• Income
• Wealth
• Power
• Occupational prestige
• Schooling/Education
What is Social Stratification?
Social Stratification comes from the word ‘Strata’-the term of geology means “ Layers”. People of
Society are divided into three main Strata, such as upper, lower and middle classes.
• Social stratification is a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy.
• Social stratification the term, apply to the ranking or grading of individuals and groups into
hierarchical layers, represents structured inequality in the allocation of rewards, privileges, and
resources. Some individuals by virtue of their roles or group membership are advantaged while
others are disadvantaged.
• Social stratification is the relatively fixed hierarchical arrangements in society by which groups have
different access to resources power and perceived social worth.
• Social stratification as an arrangement of any social group or society into a hierarchy of positions
that are unequal with regard to power, property, prestige and opportunities.

Four Basic Principles

• Social Stratification is a trait of society, not simply a reflection of individual differences. Social
stratification is a trait of society and not the differences created by individuals. in essence this is
saying that people who are wealthy will have a successful and productive life, where as people of a
lower socioeconomic class will not have same benefits. e.g did a higher percentage of the first class
passengers survive the sinking of the Titanic because they were smarter or better swimmers than
second- and third class passengers? Hardly. They fared better because of their privileged position on
the ship. Similarly, children born into wealthy families are more likely to enjoy good health, achieve
higher education than children born into poverty.
• Social Stratification persists over Generation: How inequality persists over time. In all societies,
parents pass their social position along their children, so that patterns of in equality stay much the
same from generation to generation.
• Social Stratification is universal but variable: Social stratification is found everywhere. At the
same time, what is unequal and how unequal people are vary from one type of society to another.
• Social Stratification involves not just inequality but beliefs: Any system of inequality not only
gives some people more resources than others but defines certain arrangements as fair. Just as what
is unequal differs from society to society, then, so does the explanation of why people should be
unequal.
Patterns of Social Stratification
Open System of Stratification: In which people can change their status or position in a society.
Open system just like achieved statuses-are open to people on the basis of individual choice and
competition.
Closed system of stratification: In which have great difficulty in changing their status just like
ascribed status.
Types and Forms of Social Stratification:

• Slavery System
• Caste System
• Estate System
• Class system
Slavery System
It is a form of social stratification in which some people own other people.
Slavery has been common in world history.
Causes of Slavery
Contrary to popular assumption, slavery was not usually based on racism, but on one of three other factors:
1. Debt: The first was debt. In some cultures, an individual who could not pay a debt could be enslaved
by the creditor.
2. Violation of the Law: The second was a violation of law.
 Instead of being killed, a murderer or thief might be enslaved by the family of the victim as
compensation for their loss.
3. War and Conquest: The third factor was war and conquest.
 When one group of people conquered another, it was often convenient to enslave at least some
of the defeated group.
 Slaves as extra labor and tutors.
 Slavery then was a sign of defeat in battle, of a criminal act, or of debt, not a sign of some
supposedly inherently inferior status.
Caste System
• It is a form of social stratification, based on social ascription and also a closed system of social
stratification.
• Birth determines one’s social destiny with no opportunity for social mobility based on individual
efforts.
• In caste system then, categories of people are ranked in a rigid hierarchy and every one is born, lives,
and die at the same level.
• India provides the best example of a caste system, which not based on race but on religion.
India’s caste system

Caste Occupation

Brahman Priests or scholars

Kshatriya Nobles and warriors
Vaishva Merchants and skilled artisans
Shudra Common Laborers
Social Stratification in South Africa
Until recently, South Africa provided another example of social stratification based on caste.
Apartheid: The separation of races as was practiced in South Africa. Apartheid was South African, the
political and social system in which only whites people hold full political rights and people of other races
especially black were forced to go to separate schools, live in separate area. There were four crucial factors
you can maintain the caste system.
 Caste system was linked to occupation. In South Africa white still hold almost all the desirable
jobs, while most blacks perform manual labor and other low level service work.
 Inter marriages were totally forbidden. In South Africa banned marriage and even outlawed sex
between the races today, inter racial couple are still rare.
 Social contact were based on same level like people remain in the company of “their own kind” it
is impossible that a upper class talked to a lower class.
 Caste System depends on powerful cultural beliefs. South African still Distinguish white jobs
from black jobs
Estate System
 Estate system also a closed system based largely on inheritance.
 This system is very common in agricultural societies.
 Estate system is Synonyms of Feudal System.
 Estate system are also like castes in that membership is determined by birth and is lifelong.
There were three types of groups in England.
Nobles: These Nobles exercised power and controlled wealth in the form of land.
Priests: They have religious authority like Churches extensive Land holding.
Commoners: Working class and working on the lands.

Class System
 Class System based on largely on individual achievements.
 Class system are open system that permit meaningful Social Mobility.
 Social Stratification in class system rests more on personal talent and effort and less on the accident
of Birth.
 A form of social stratification based primarily on the possession of money or material possessions.
 Class System are divided the people into different groups based on wealth, power, prestige etc.
Global Stratification. Just as the people within a nation are stratified by power, prestige, and
property, so are the world’s nations.

Three Worlds of Development

Until 1980s After 1989 Recent

First World Developed Countries Highly Industrialized

Second World Developing Countries Industrializing Countries
Third World Undeveloped Countries Least Industrialized
Fourth Type Oil-rich, non-industrialized Arabian and Gulf States
nations
Dimensions of Social Stratification?
• Income
• Wealth
• Power
• Occupational prestige
• Schooling/Education
Income:
 Income means wages or salaries from work and earning from investments.
 Income refers to the amount of new money people receive within a given time interval.
 Income consists of what people get.
Wealth:
 The total value of money and other assets, minus out standing debt.
 Wealth including stocks, bounds, real estate, and other privately owned property.
 Wealth is based on what people have.
Power:
 Power refers to the ability of individuals and groups to realize their will in human affairs even it
involves the resistance of others.
 Wealth stands as an important source of power. Major stakeholders, for example, make company
decisions that create jobs for ordinary people or throw men and women out of work. For example,
the families who own most of the nation’s wealth have a great deal of influence on the national
political agenda, like Thomas Jefferson the third U.S president and a wealthy man himself.
Occupational Prestige:
 Occupation is also an important dimension of social standing, a person’s job effects all the factors
discussed like income, wealth, and power.
 Occupation is an important source of social prestige since we commonly evaluate each other
according to the kind of work we do, respecting some while looking down on others.
 People attach high prestige to occupations-such as Physicians, lawyers, and engineers-that generate
high income. High ranking occupations require considerable ability and demand extensive education
and training.
 By contrast, less prestigious work- as a waitress peon or clerk, for example- not only pays less but
usually require less ability and schooling.
Prestige Ranking of various Occupation

Occupation Score

Physician 86
College Professor 78
Lawyer 76
Sociologist 65
Police Officer 60
Social worker 52
Carpenter 43
Sales Clerk 29
Garbage Collector 13

Schooling/Education:
 Schooling system also creates inequality in the society. More schooling is available to some than to
others.
 In industrial societies, schooling is a necessary for adults to perform their work; thus primary,
secondary, and some college education is available at public expense.
 English medium school system and Urdu medium school system are two major educational systems
prevailing in Pakistan.
 Basically, English schools are for the children of upper class. These schools provide best type of
education and other facilities to the upper class children.
 The children who belong to upper class they get education from best schools like Beacon House and
Lahore Grammar School.
 In contrast, the children who belong to middle or lower class they get education from an ordinary
school like Urdu medium School.
 Education inequality also related to sex like some people prefer the male education than female
education.