Social Stratification

Social Stratification

It is the sorting of people into different social strata, including

• Social class

• Educational levels

• Income levels

• Wealth levels

• Occupations/social roles

Functionalist Theory of Stratification

• Social stratification exists because it is necessary to maintain “social solidarity”

• Every person’s position in society is necessary for its functioning

• However, not every position is easily filled

• Positions that are crucial to society and require rare skills

• Thus, such positions are provided greater material and immaterial (status) compensation

ex doctor, hard to become, more skill, paid more and respected

Conflict Theory of Social Stratification

Social stratification is the result of the division in the ownership of the means of production

• Social stratification exists because owners must make a profit

• Challenges the functionalist view that everyone is rewarded equally for their labor

False consciousness

by controlling societal institutions (media, politics, schools), owners can shape laborers’ perspectives on their social location and influence to NOT recognize their “exploitation”.

• Ex: Viewing other groups as competition for better wages

• In addition, through their control, owners may bestow a sense of status among some laborers over others.

• Ex: Americans seeing themselves as better than Hispanic immigrants

Weberian Theory of Stratification

understand distribution of power in society, Argues that social stratification

is more complicated than just class stratification

Power may be derived from three different avenues

• Class – economic resources

• Status – social honor or prestige

• Party – political party control

Why does class stratification persist? Similar to conflict theory

Failure of laborers to recognize the link between their own position and that of owners of the means of production

• Perception may be shrouded by contention with laborers that differ on some dimension (gender, ethnicity, religion)

Why does status stratification persist?

Social closure – the process of making it difficult to obtain a particular status distinction

Common dimensions of social closure: Literal lifestyle (i.e., conspicuous consumption) Formal education, Family lineage, Occupational prestige

Bourdieusian Theory of Stratification (AKA Field Theory)

Argues that social classes can organized around three forms of

capital:

• Economic, Monetary resources – income and wealth

• Social, “it’s who you know, not what you know” Akin to “clout” or “pull”

• Cultural) -Embodied -Objectified -Institutionalized

Embodied

specific forms of knowledge that a person has that grants them social status (e.g., how to behave/dress/talk during recruitment fairs, fancy restaurants

• The combination of all this knowledge, disposition, and ways of engaging with

the world is referred to as an individual’s habitus

Objectified

cultural objects (visual art; books; music collections); fashion (e.g.,quiet luxury;

Institutionalized

credentials (e.g., college degrees); professional awards and recognition

The value of cultural and social capital is field-specific

field? It’s a setting or context. It can be physical (e.g., classroom, workplace) or non-physical (e.g., dating apps, Instagram)