Systems of Stratification
A. Slavery- The most unequal, oppressive system of stratification. In a slavery system, one
group of people (slaves) is not even considered fully human. Slavery flourished in early
Agricultural or Agrarian societies.
B. Estate- The estate system was found most often in later Agrarian societies. An example
of the estate system is Great Britain prior to the Industrial Revolution. It consisted of 3
Estates:
1) Nobility- They were the wealthiest estate because they owned the largest amount of the
land. In an Agrarian society land = wealth. They maintained their family wealth through
the Law of Primogeniture. This was to keep the land concentrated in the hands of one
individual and not divided or diluted. Daughters of the nobility married other nobles.
Subsequent sons either lived and worked on the brother’s land or joined the second
estate.
2) Clergy- Comprised primarily of sons of the nobility, the Church of England had great
power and great wealth. The Church was second only to the nobility in land ownership.
Only members of the first 2 estates were allowed an education.
3) Commoners- No land, no wealth, no education. Worked on the land of the nobles.
The system was ended by the Industrial Revolution. The commoners were able to begin moving
to the cities to get factory jobs. The factory jobs still paid extremely low wages but they no longer
had to live on the land of the nobles and became more their own person. In addition, factories
required a more skilled workforce, so educational rights began to be extended to the commoners.
As the people became educated, they demanded more political rights and freedoms. Some were
also able to become merchants in the urban areas and amass wealth rivaling that of the nobility.
Great Britain today is a class system but vestiges of the old estate system remain. The two houses
of Parliament are the House of Lords and the House of Commons. People born into the lower or
working classes, who become famous, like movie stars, are often “knighted” by the Queen.
Finally, the British have a quick understanding of which class one belongs to based on accent.
C. Caste System1. Based on ascribed status (ex: one is born into an occupational category by caste). How far
one will go in school is determined by caste and endogamous marriages are prearranged
by the family.
2. It is a closed system, meaning it allows for little or no social mobility.
3. It is characterized by high status consistency.
4. It is usually divinely sanctioned. This is important because, if you rebel against the
system, you are perceived as rebelling against the laws of God as well as the laws of man.
D. Class System1. It allows for achievement. You are born into a social class but you are not legally barred
from choosing an occupation, educational attainment or marriage partner. Most marry
endogamously but it is not arranged or legally required.
2. It is an open system. Social mobility is not probable but is possible.
3. There is less status consistency.
Stratification - A system that maintains social inequality. While individuals may be socially
unequal (one has more money, more occupational prestige), this is not the same as stratification.
Anyone born in the U.S. is born into the same stratification system – a class system. However,
within that system, they may be socially unequal.
Law of Primogeniture - All family wealth is inherited by the eldest son.
Endogamous marriages - Marriages within the same social group.
Social Mobility - Movement, up or down, between social strata.
Status Consistency - A person’s social status is generally determined by 3 variables (economic
resources, occupational prestige, and educational level). If a person scores high on all 3 variables
or low on all 3 variables or average on all 3 variables, he/she has status consistency. If a person
scores differently on at least one variable, he/she does not exhibit status consistency. Examples:
A university professor has high educational level (PhD), high occupational prestige, but more
average economic resources. An owner of a successful automotive shop has high economic
resources, average education (high school diploma) and average occupational prestige. Neither
person has status consistency.