What is social stratification?
Social stratification is a term used in sociology that defines society’s way of placing people into socioeconomic categories that reside within a hierarchy. Social stratification is present in all societies and groups worldwide. These categories, are usually based upon income, gender, religion, age, education, social status, wealth, geographical location, and occupation. Social stratification means that people are placed into a hierarchy where some will have more power than others, and this can lead to inequality. The study of social stratification looks at how these key differences, or inequalities among groups have occurred, and how they relate to one another. Social stratification methods and definition was developed within the field of sociology through the works of Weber, and Marx.
In western societies, social stratification is divided into upper class, middle class, and lower class categories. There are sub categories as well, upper lower, upper middle, and so forth. These classes are usually based on economic status. Different sociological theories on stratification, has led to different conclusions about social stratification within the field of sociology. For example, action theory, and conflict theories produce different results when it comes to defining how social stratification works.
In addition to this, there are four underlying principles of social stratification. The four principles are; 1. Social stratification is socially defined, 2. Social stratification can be passed onto later generations, 3. Social stratification is found in all societies, 4. Social stratification involves inequality.
Explain two types of social stratification system, with two examples from each system.
The two types of social stratification systems are; open stratification system, and a closed stratification system. In addition to this, “higher stratification systems are usually associated with political power (Rodriguez, 2016).
In an open system people are categorized according to achieved status. Open systems have upward and downward mobility, and social relations between classes are permitted. Furthermore, “in an open system people have the opportunity to move from one social class to another” (Rodriguez, 2016). One example of an open system, is a class system. Class systems are most commonly found in Western societies. A class system is where, “a person is born into a social ranking, but can move up or down from it” (Barkan, 2011). Another example of an open system is, a classless society. A classless society is where people have no categorization, and almost everyone is equal. Karl Marx was a major supporter of classless societies, and countries like Russia, China, and Cuba have at some point tried to implement Marx’s vision of a classless society, this is called Communism.
In a closed system people are categorized according to ascribed status. Social status in a closed system is hereditary. In a closed system people have little opportunity to move from one social class to another social class. One example of a closed system is slavery. Slavery no longer exists in western societies. However, “slavery still exists in some part of Africa, Asia, and South America” (Barkan, 2011). Another example of a closed system is a caste system. A caste system is where people are born into, “unequal groups based on their parent’s status” (Barkan, 2011). Individuals born into a caste system will remain in it for the rest of their lives (Barkan, 2011). The most well-known caste system is in India.
References
Barkan, S. (2011). Sociology. Irvington, N.Y.: Flat World Knowledge, Inc.
Rodriguez, D. (2016). Welcome to the Dr. Nestor Rodriguez's Introduction to Sociology Web page. Uh.edu. Retrieved 15 March 2016, from http://www.uh.edu/~nestor/lecturenotes/unit3lecture4.html
