Chapter 7: Understanding Inequality

Social Stratification
and Social Mobility

Overview

What is social stratification?

Systems of stratification
Class-less societies?
Structural- functional analysis
Social conflict analysis
Social mobility
Types of social mobility
Critical thinking on poverty

What is Social Stratification

Social stratification is a system by which categories
of people within a society are ranked in a
hierarchy.

Social inequality refers to a condition in which

societal members have unequal amounts of
wealth, prestige or power, is a major cause of
social stratification.

What is Social Stratification

Stratification is found in all but a few, small scale,
pre-industrial societies - even in these societies
distinctions are still made based on sex and age,
which lead to unequal rewards.
Social stratification is more prevalent in a capitalist
state with free market economy, and less in a
socialist or communist state with a centrallyplanned economy.

Major Characteristics of Society

Major Characteristics of Society, not individuals:
Universal and Variable
Persists (Durability) over Generations
Social Mobility - which are changes in the social
position of individuals within a system of social
stratification
Supported by Patterns of Belief

Systems of Stratification
Slavery:
The most extreme form of legalized inequality.
Common slaves are owned by other persons, usually
of nobility.
Maintaining the privileges and rewards of slave
owners required extensive coercion in society.
E.g. Ancient Greece, America (the history of slavery).

Systems of Stratification
Castes:
Based entirely on ascription.
Usually religiously dictated, fixed, immobile.
E.g. India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan.
Sociologists also used the term caste to describe
stratification systems that emphasize racial
distinction e.g. the apartheid system in South
Africa.

Systems of Stratification
Estates:
Associated with feudalism.
The nobles inherited the titles and property, the
peasants were born into a subservient position
within an agrarian society (they work for the noble).
Nobles began to achieve varying degrees of authority.

Systems of Stratification
The Class System:
Definition: a system of social stratification in which
individual achievement is of considerable
importance.
Unequal distribution of wealth and power.
Sociologists class is seen as a key determinant of
peoples attitudes and behavior.

Classless Societies

Some socialist countries claim to be classless.

E.g. USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)
Production direct control from the state.
Eliminating private ownership.
Despite the claim, the country is still socially
stratified (in terms of occupational differences).
Less social inequality than capitalist societies.

Structural-Functional Analysis
Davis-Moore (1945) stratification is inevitable and
social inequality is necessary so that people will be
motivated to fill functionally important positions.
Meritocracy: a system of social stratification in
which rewards are matched to personal merit.

Social-Conflict Analysis
Karl Marx major influences on the ideas of social
class and class conflict (19th century).
Societys constant focus on capitalism (wealth and
power) creates social-conflict situations.
New generations reproduce class structures which rather than benefiting society as a whole, it benefits
people at the expense of others.
Creation of wealth for the individual from the
economic exploitation of others.

Social Mobility
Refers to the movement of individuals or groups
from one level of a social position to another.
Open system: the position of each individual is
influenced by the persons achieved status.
Competition among members is encouraged.
Closed system: little or no individual mobility, social
placement is based on ascribed status. E.g. countries
like China, Cuba and North Korea.

Types of Social Mobility

Inter-generational mobility upward or downward
social mobility of children in relation to their parents.
Intra-generational mobility a change in social
position occurring within a persons lifetime.
Structural mobility vertical movement of a specific
group, class or occupation relative to others in the
stratification system.

Critical Thinking on Poverty

Absolute poverty: a minimum level of subsistence
below which families should not be expected to exist,
deprivation of resources that is life threatening.
Relative poverty: a floating standard of deprivation
which suggests that those people at the bottom of a
society, are disadvantaged in comparison with the
nation as a whole.

Social Stratification Movie

Children of Heaven is a
1998 Iranian Family drama
film written and directed
by Majid Majidi. It deals
with a brother and sister
and their adventures over a
lost pair of shoes.

20 September 2006

Social Stratification Movie

Angela's Ashes follows the
experiences of young Frankie and
his family as they try against all
odds to escape poverty in the
slums of pre-war Limerick.
Prejudice against Frankie's
Northern Irish father makes his
search for employment in the
Republic difficult despite his having
fought for the IRA.

20 September 2006

Lets Watch Videos on

Social Stratification
Sociology of Social Inequality
Children of Heaven Movie Trailer
Angela's Ashes Movie Trailers 1 & 2

20 September 2006

Critical Discussion on Poverty

Discuss and explain Poverty
One view: Blame the poor
- the poor are primarily responsible for their own
poverty? (True or False?)
Counterpoint: Blame society
- the society is responsible for poverty
- Insufficient opportunity (True or False?)