New York Institute of Technology 22

Social Stratification

Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of individuals or groups in society.
It is often based on factors such as power, property, and prestige.
Gender is consistently a dimension that influences stratification across different societies.

A rigid hierarchical structure where certain individuals/groups own others.
Historically rooted in debt, punishment, or defeat in battle.
Initially, slavery was temporary and not always passed to offspring.
In the context of American history, slavery transitioned to lifelong ownership of individuals, especially Africans due to its profitability.
Enslaved individuals were deprived of rights and autonomy, creating a stark social hierarchy.

Divides people into hierarchical groups based on birth and occupation.
Primarily associated with Hindu society in India.
Rigid divisions with limited mobility; individuals are assigned to a caste at birth.
Higher castes enjoy more rights and privileges, while lower castes face discrimination and limitations.
Despite being abolished in India in 1949, remnants of the caste system persist today.

Based primarily on economic factors such as money and possessions in the US context.
Initial social status is often determined by one's parents; however, social mobility is possible.
Individuals can move up or down social classes based on education and job opportunities.
Karl Marx’s perspective includes two primary classes: bourgeoisie (owners) and proletariat (workers).
Class consciousness refers to awareness of one's class position and collective interests; it can drive social change.

Suggests stratification is necessary to fulfill positions critical to society.
Rewards (salary, prestige) are necessary to attract qualified individuals to important roles.
Critiqued for being circular and overly simplistic about meritocracy.

Emphasizes that conflict and struggle among groups for limited resources shape social stratification.
Dominant groups control social institutions, maintaining their privilege and wealth at the expense of subordinate groups.
Elites often use ideas and information control to maintain their positions.

Societies can also be stratified globally, often categorized into industrialized, industrializing, and least industrialized countries.

Wealthy, developed countries (e.g., US, UK, Japan) with high standards of living.

Countries with lower socio-economic status than industrialized nations but better than least industrialized nations.
Examples include some Eastern European countries.

Majority of the world’s population lives here, often in poor economic conditions focused on agriculture.

Describes the interconnected nature of countries in relation to core, semi-periphery, and periphery nations.

Proposed by Galbraith; the idea that specific beliefs and lifestyles contribute to persistent poverty across generations.
Criticized for placing blame on individuals rather than systemic factors.

The economic and political dominance of least industrialized nations by industrialized nations; often involves controlling markets and resources.
Multinational corporations can exploit resources and labor in less developed nations, maintaining global inequalities.