Social Class & Stratification

Social Class & Stratification Notes

Social Stratification

  • Definition: A system within which society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy.

Social Mobility

  • Definition: Movement of individuals, families, or households between social strata in society.
  • Types of Social Mobility:
    • Horizontal Mobility: Movement within the same social level.
    • Vertical Mobility: Movement up or down the social hierarchy.
    • Inter-generational Mobility: Changes in social status between different generations in a family.
    • Intra-generational Mobility: Changes in social status throughout an individual's life.
    • Structural Mobility: Changes in social status resulting from changes in the economy.

Income Mobility Across Generations

  • Concept: Examines how many generations it takes for children from low-income families to reach the mean income level in their society.
  • Country Comparisons:
    • Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Australia show faster upward mobility.
    • Countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Brazil show slower upward mobility, often requiring multiple generations to achieve similar financial status.

Power

  • Definition: The ability to achieve one's own will, even in the face of opposition.

Domination

  • Definition: The likelihood that one’s commands will be adhered to by others.
    • Formula: Domination = Power + Legitimacy

Types of Authority

  1. Legal-Rational Authority: Based on established laws and procedures.
  2. Traditional Authority: Derived from long-established customs and practices.
  3. Charismatic Authority: Based on the personal appeal and extraordinary characteristics of an individual leader.

Theories of Historical Dependence

  • Karl Marx: History is influenced by economic systems, emphasizing class struggles.
  • Max Weber: History is shaped by power dynamics, asserting that power struggles are complex and multi-dimensional.

Definitions of Key Terms

  • Class: A group of people sharing similar economic interests, influenced by their economic conditions and life chances in the labor or commodities market.
  • Status Group: A collective defined by social honor or prestige.
  • Party: An organized group aimed at achieving specific goals and can represent either class or status interests.

Stratification by Factors

  • Class: Stratified by income (represented as "PAPER").
  • Status Groups: Stratified by social prestige, which can be unevenly distributed.
  • Parties: Stratified by power, focusing on political organization and goals.

Bourdieu's Forms of Capital

  1. Cultural Capital: Knowledge and skills one possesses, which can be:
    • Embodied: Skills and traits (e.g., mannerisms, accents).
    • Objectified: Physical objects of value.
    • Institutionalized: Academic qualifications or credentials.
  2. Social Capital: The value derived from relationships and social networks, which can be inherited or cultivated.
  3. Symbolic Capital: Recognition and respect accorded to individuals based on their other forms of capital, without which these forms wouldn't hold as much significance.

Views on Inequality

  • Weber & Bourdieu: Analyze inequality through classes, status groups, and parties, viewing stratification as multi-dimensional.
  • Intersectionality: Focuses on interlocking systems of oppression, emphasizing lived experiences and specific instances of inequality.

Conclusion

  • Understanding social stratification involves assessing economic status, social prestige, and power dynamics, as well as recognizing how these factors interact in a multifaceted and interconnected manner.