2.2

Chapter 8: Social Stratification

Introduction to Social Stratification

• Social stratification is the hierarchical arrangement of social groups based on access to resources.

• Key aspects of stratification include economic resources, power, and prestige.

• Societies universally exhibit varying levels of stratification, but mechanisms and factors can differ significantly.

Types of Societies and Stratification

1. Egalitarian Societies

• Characteristics:

  • These societies have no unequal access to economic resources, power, or prestige.

  • Examples include foraging groups like the !Kung and Mbuti.

• Social Structure:

  • Prestige is achieved through individual achievements rather than inherited.

  • Variations in individual abilities exist, but they do not create inequality.

  • Wealth is shared within the community, limiting the potential for inequality.

• Social Dynamics:

  • Leadership is often discouraged, with customs to keep leaders from dominating.

  • Disobedience and ridicule can be tools used by members to deflect authority.

2. Rank Societies

• Characteristics:

  • There is some unequal access to prestige but not always associated with economic disparities.

  • Examples include the Trobriand Islanders and the Nimpkish.

• Leadership:

  • The position of chief may be hereditary, reflecting social prestige rather than absolute power.

  • Chiefs often control resources but do not have forceful power over their subordinates.

• Power Dynamics:

  • Chiefs may be venerated but are often reliant on redistributing goods and gifts to maintain their status.

3. Class Societies

• Characteristics:

  • Groups are stratified based on unequal access to economic resources, power, and prestige.

  • Examples: United States, India, and Canada.

• Mobility:

  • Class systems can be open (allowing social mobility) or closed (caste systems).

  • In an open system, individuals can move between classes based on education and wealth acquisition.

• Socialization:

  • Class status influences lifestyle, leisure activities, and even religious practices.

• Barriers to Mobility:

  • Societal norms and laws can reinforce class divisions, making upward mobility challenging.

Factors Influencing Stratification

Economic Resources

• Definition:

  • Economic resources include wealth, land, technology, and goods that hold value in a culture.

• Inequality in resources typically correlates with broader power dynamics within a society.

Power

• Definition:

  • Power is the ability to influence or control the behavior of others.

  • It is often tied closely to economic resources and prestige.

Prestige

• Definition:

  • Prestige is the respect or admiration accorded to individuals or groups due to their status.

  • It is not necessarily tied to wealth but can enhance social standing.

Theoretical Frameworks

• Theories addressing stratification development suggest:

  • Development of agriculture gave rise to surplus, which led to stratification.

  • Social stratification can also vary based on societal complexity and need for specialization.

  • Lenski’s perspective posits that industrial societies result in less inequality due to technological advancements.

Global Inequality and Its Consequences

• Globalization has simultaneously increased inequality and opportunities in various societies.

• Class mobility fluctuates based on education and employment opportunities.

• Socio-economic disparities exist between developed and developing countries.

Conclusion

• Stratification is an enduring feature of social organization across cultures.

• Understanding the nature and mechanisms of stratification can illuminate issues of inequality and social justice in contemporary society.