Characteristics Social Stratification

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CHARACTERISTICS

OF
SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION
What is Social Stratification?
Social Stratification refers to a society’s
categorization of it's people into group
based on socioeconomic factors like
wealth, income, race, education, ethnicity,
gender, occupation, social status, or
derived power.
Examples of Social
Stratification
In developed economies, societies are
classified into three broad categories.

1. Lower class:
✓It refers to people who are uneducated,
either unemployed, or with low levels of
income. Those below the poverty line
struggle even for basic necessities like
2. Middle class:
✓ The majority of the population known as the
white collar workers constitute the middle
class. They lie between the rich and the
poor. This class generally constitutes the
majority of a country’s population. They
have dignified jobs and a standard,
honorable lifestyle.
3. Upper class:
✓The wealthy or high income
groups and individuals are
known as the upper class of
society. Prestige, status, and
sometimes even power, all
factors coincide with this
stratum.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION
Social Stratification is…
✓ universal
✓ social
✓ ancient
✓ Consequential
Social Stratification is Universal:

✓There is no society on this world which


is free from stratification. Modern
Stratification differs from stratification
of primitive societies. It is a worldwide
phenomenon. According to Sorokin “all
permanently organized groups are
stratified.”
Stratification is social:

✓It is true that biological qualities do not


determine one’s superiority and inferiority.
Factors like age, sex, intelligence as well as
strength often contribute as the basis on which
statues are distinguished. But one’s education,
property, power, experience, character,
personality etc. are found to be more
important than biological qualities. Hence,
stratification is social by nature.
It is ancient:

✓Stratification system is very old. It was


present even in the small wondering bonds.
In almost all the ancient civilizations, the
differences between the rich and poor,
humble andpowerful existed. During the
period of Plato and Kautilya even
emphasis was given to political, social and
economic inequalities.
Social stratification is Consequential:

✓Social stratification has two important


consequences one is “life chances” and
the other one is “life style”. A class
system not only affects the “life- chances”
of the individuals but also their “life style”.
“Your time is limited,
so don't waste it living
someone else’s life”

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