Chapter 11: Social Stratification

Social Stratification

a system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy

Trait of Society

reflects societal structures rather than individual differences

Persistence Over Generations

social positions are often passed down through families, but mobility is possible

Pure Caste System

A caste system that is closed, allowing little or no social mobility based on individual effort.

Marriage in Caste System

occurs within one caste to maintain social status.

Jobs in Caste System

are often predetermined.

Ritual Purity in Caste System

Some systems emphasize these ideas, where contact with lower castes is seen as contaminating.

Typical Societies for Caste System

Typical of agrarian societies because agriculture demands a lifelong routine of hard work.

Moral Sense of Duty in Caste System

By teaching this, the system ensures that people are disciplined for a lifetime of work.

Social Mobility in Class System

Permits some based on individual achievement.

Common Societies for Class System

Common in modern industrial and post-industrial societies.

Elements of Class System

Includes elements of both caste and meritocracy.

Meritocracy

Social stratification based on personal merit.

Caste Elements in Class System

Keeps elements, such as family, to maintain order and social unity.

Status Consistency

The degree of consistency in a person's social standing across various dimensions of social inequality.

Structural Social Mobility

A shift in the social position of large numbers of people owing more to changes in society itself than to individual efforts.

Oligarchy

The rule of many by the few.

Social Hierarchies

Present social hierarchies as natural, fair, or inevitable.

Success Ideology

Promotes the idea that success is purely based on effort and ability, downplaying systemic inequalities.

Religion and Stratification

In some systems, religion reinforces stratification by suggesting social positions are divinely ordained.

Structural-Functional Theory

Stratification is necessary and beneficial; rewards motivate talented people to fill roles.

Davis-Moore Thesis

States that social stratification is universal because of its functional consequences.

Social-Conflict Theory

Claims stratification divides societies into classes, benefitting some categories of people at the expense of others.

Conflict

exists between people at various positions because of socioeconomic status.

Symbolic-Interaction Theory

Micro-level analysts explain that we size up people by looking for clues to their social standing

Conspicuous Consumption

Buying and displaying products that make a 'statement' about social class.

Hunting and Gathering Society

Rely on simple tools for hunting animals and gathering plants; small, nomadic groups with minimal social inequality.

Horticultural Society

Use hand tools to cultivate plants; greater food surpluses lead to social hierarchies.

Pastoral Society

Domesticate animals for food and resources; greater food surpluses lead to social hierarchies.

Agrarian Society

Use plows and advanced farming techniques; larger populations with complex social structures and significant inequality.

Industrial Society

Rely on mechanized production and factories; urbanization grows, and social mobility increases.

Post-Industrial Society

Focus on information technology and services rather than physical production; knowledge and digital skills become key to social status and economic power.

Caste System

Based on ascription (status at birth).

Class System

Based on individual achievement; meritocracy is status based on ability/effort.

Ideology

Cultural beliefs that justify inequality and reinforce status.

Weber's Dimensions of Stratification

Includes class, status, and power.

Technology in Hunting and Gathering

Simple tools; small, mobile groups lead to minimal inequality due to shared resources and low surplus.

Technology in Horticultural and Pastoral Societies

Surplus leads to more social differences and elites; horticultural uses hand tools for gardening, pastoral involves domestication of animals.

Technology in Agrarian Societies

Large scale farming with plows and animals leads to high productivity and peak inequality.

Technology in Industrial Societies

Machines and factories increase production; stratification increases as education and skills matter more.

Technology in Post-Industrial Societies

Economy based on information, services, and technology; inequality grows again as knowledge and digital access become key to success.

Conspicuous Consumption

displaying wealth/status through clothes, etc