Social Stratification and
Inequality
Social Stratification Big Questions
Is inequality inevitable or is it socially
constructed?
Has inequality existed throughout human
history?
How has it changed over time?
Is the level of inequality increasing or
decreasing in Canada?
Is the level of inequality increasing or
decreasing Globally?
Social Stratification Origins
 Social stratification has been occurring since hunter-gatherer times over
5000 years ago
 Little separation of wealth in hunting and gathering societies
 Some stratification base on age and sex (ie power held by older males)
 As agriculture evolved societal groups had a reliable food source for the
first time
 As technology increased excess food could be produced and “sold” or
traded
 This created and economy where some people came to be significantly
more wealthy than others
 This wealth gap became more intensified during the industrial age.
 People working in factories were significantly poorer than their
employers but significantly richer than people not working or working in
lower paying jobs.
 THE MIDDLE CLASS WAS BORN….
Social Stratification Today
 Along what lines does social stratification occur Canada
 What mechanisms are different today than in 1900?
 What role might technology play in social stratification
Systems of Social Stratification
Closed Systems
 Allow for little change in social position
 Boundaries between levels are rigid, and people’s positions are
set by ascribed status
 Examples are Slavery and Indian Caste System
Open Systems
 Permit considerable flexibility and may be influenced (positive or
negatively) by achieved status
 Some degree of social mobility possible (up or down)
 Example is the Class system
 Can move within the hierarchy based on achievement that is
either intergenerational (from one generation to the next) or
intergenerational (within your life time)
Marx and Weber
 Studied the inevitability of conflict between social groups
 According to conflict theory inequality is bad, avoidable and
unnecessary
 Marx theorized that from and economic context that the rich
(bourgeoisie) who own the means of producing wealth in
industrialized society, and the poor (proletariat) would
ultimately clash due to the inequality
 This uprising of the people was to lead into a free abd
classless society
 Weber to a more inclusive view and looked at more than just
economic wealth as an indicator of social status
 Weber separates class (wealth) from status (social prestige)
and power (influence ones will over others)
 Does this apply to Canadian society today?
A Functionalist’s Perspective
 Inequality is not only inevitable but necessary for society to function
(Emile Durkheim)
How can inequality contribute to the stability of a functioning soceity?
 All societies have functions that must be accomplished and certain
positions that must be filled
 Some positions are more important than others (for survival)
 The most important positions must be occupied by the most qualified
people
 Positions are the most important for society and that require scarce
talent, extensive training or both must be highly rewarded
 The most highly rewarded positions should be those that are
functionally unique and on which other positions rely for expertise,
direction or financing
Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore
**The overall effect of a system of unequal rewards is a more productive
society
Class in Canada
 Canada’s Upper Class represents 3-5% of the population
and holds approximately 45% of the wealth
 Canada’s Middle Class and Working Classes represents 6070% of the population and about 50% of the wealth
 Canada’s Lower class represents 15% of the population and
less than 5% of the wealth
What is the “Occupy” Movement?
POVERTY
ABSOLUTE POVERTY
 In ability for a person to meet the basic needs for survival
 Food, Water, Shelter, Health Care, Clothing
 Internationally recognized as earning less than $1.50/day
RELATIVE POVERTY
 Measure of the deprivation of some people compared to those
who have more
 Statistics Canada uses low income cut offs (LICO). A measure
of how much basic food, accommodation, and clothing costs
 In 2009 (Canada) 3 159 000 did not meet the the LICO (9.6%)
 1/5 of these people were children (under 18)
Ascription and Inequality
 Ethnicity and Race
 Visible minorities at higher risk of poverty
 Social Background
 Students of working class families less likely to attend
post secondary education
 Gender
 Women still earn less in the workplace than men (83.3
cents per dollar in 2008)
 How much of this difference is “choice”?
 Age
 Seniors largest demographic living in poverty
 Youth highest unemployment
 Physical and Mental Disability
 Historically excluded from mainstream society
 More inclusion since 1982 (constitution reform)