Social Differentiation and
inequality
PRESENTERS
ANISHA ACHARYA
DEEPIKA POKHAREL
MINU SAH
ASMITA JHA
PRAJWAL KATUWAL
PUSHKAR SAH
GHAMACHANDRA BHATTARAI
Meaning and Concept of Social stratification
 All human society have some of social inequality
 Based on dimension of power, prestige and property in society are divided into
hierarchical groups.
 Hierarchical arrangement of individuals or groups based on factors such as caste,
culture, gender, occupation and education
 “ Social stratification is the division of a society into hierarchical Layers, With
each layer having unequal access to resources and power”_ Max Weber
 Example: The cast in Hindu society is form of social stratification based on
occupation
Features of Social Stratification
 It is ‘social’ and not ‘individual’
 It is ancient
 It is universal
 It is diverse
Types of Social Stratification
I. Open system of social Stratification:
 In this Stratification, a person’s position in the social hierarchy can be changed from
one strata to another
Example
 If a person from lower class reach to higher class by achieving big goals
ii. Closed system of social Stratification:
 Person’s position can not be changed
 Achievement and hard work also can not change his caste
Concept of Social Inequality
State or situation of unequal access to power, prestige and property by people in
society is called social Inequality
 It may be differ from society to society
 It is the state or situation of unequal distribution of resources, opportunities and
power among individuals and groups in society.
 It appears when some people are given more importance than others

Features of social Inequality
 Universal
 Due to unequal access to power, prestige etc.
 Differs from society to society
 Limits opportunities
 Systematic Phenomena
Dimensions of social Inequality
i. Economic Inequality:
 Unequal distribution of wealth, income and assets in society
 It increases disparities in access to basic necessities.
ii. Social class Inequality:
 It is hierarchical system of social Stratification based on factors like income, education
etc.
 It affects the access to the social resources
iii. Gender Inequality:
 Unequal treatment and opportunities faced by women and men based on gender.
 It occurs in following ways
1.
2.
3.
disparities in pay
Access to education
Political representation
iv. Racial and ethnic Inequality:
 Unequal treatment and opportunities faced by individuals based on their race or
ethnicity
 It is discriminatory practices towards certain ethic groups
v. Geographical Inequality:
 Unequal distribution of resources, opportunities across the geographical areas.
 Occurs due to Unequal resource allocation and political decision.
Relationship of Social
Stratification with
Social Inequality
Pushkar Sah ( 42 )
MMAMC BBA
Introduction
• Social stratification refers to the hierarchical arrangement of
individuals or groups in a society based on various dimensions
such as wealth , income , education , social status , occupation
and power.
• Social inequality refers to the unequal distribution of resources ,
opportunities among individuals and groups in a society.
Relationship Between Social
Stratification and Social Inequality
1
2
3
Unequal
Distribution of
Resources
Income and
Wealth
Inequality
Healthcare
Disparities
[1] Unequal Distribution of Resources
• Social stratification categorizes individuals into different groups
based on factors like wealth , income , education and social
status. Those in higher strata ( level ) typically have greater access
to resources such as quality education , healthcare , housing and
political influences. These unequal distribution perpetuates
advantages for higher strata and disadvantages for lower strata.
CONT’D
• For example :- In many societies students from affluent families
attend well – funded schools with experienced teachers and
advanced resources. In contrast , students from rural areas often
attend underfunded schools with fewer resources and face barrier
barriers like inadequate infrastructure and lack of support services
11
Presentation title
20XX
[2] Income and Wealth Inequality
• Economic stratification creates significant disparities in income
and wealth distribution. Studies constantly show that wealthier
individuals have greater access to financial resources for
investment , property ownership and entrepreneurial ventures
which further increases their wealth. Conversely , individuals with
lower incomes may struggle to build savings or accumulate assets
, perpetuating their economic disadvantages across generations.
[3] Healthcare Disparities
• Social stratification also impacts access to healthcare services and
health outcomes. Wealthier individuals often have better access
to preventative care , specialized treatments and health insurance
coverage leading to better health outcomes and longer life
expectancy. In contrast , individuals from lower socioeconomic
backgrounds may face barriers such as lack of insurance , limited
access to healthcare facilities and higher rate of chronic
conditions due to environmental and lifestyle factors.
Social Differentiation
• Social differentiation is simply the differences among people in
terms of physical trait ( skin , color , height , race ) and socio –
cultural trait ( cultural values , beliefs , languages ). It plays a
crucial role in shaping social structures and relationships.
• Key aspects for Social Differentiation :I. Roles and Statutes
II. Division of Labor
III. Identity and Group Formation
[I] Roles and Statuses
• Different roles and statutes are assigned to individuals based on
their attributes or achievements.
• For example :- In a workplace , roles could range from entry –
level employees to executives.
[II] Division of Labor
• Tasks and responsibilities are divided among individuals and
groups , often leading to specialization. This can enhance
efficiency but also creates inequality.
[III] Identity and Group Formation
• Differentiation helps form group identities based on shared
characteristics or experiences such as cultural or ethnic groups.
Thank you
Social Inequality and Social Stratification
Presenter: Minu Shah
BBA 4th sem
 Content
 Theories of social stratification
o Functionalist approach to social stratification.
o Conflict Approach to social stratification.
 Class and Class Division
o
Natures/Features of social class
 Social Stratification
o Social stratification refers to the hierarchical
arrangement of individuals or groups in a society
based on various factors such as wealth, power
and social status.
o Sociologists such as Karal Marx, Max Weber, Davis
and Moore have given their perspectives to social
stratification which have now become theories of
social stratification.
o Functionalist perspective/Approach to social
stratification
o Conflict perspective/Approach to social
stratification.
 Functionalist Theory of Social Stratification
• Developed by Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore in
1945.
• States that social stratification is a functional necessity
because it ensures that the most qualifies individuals
are in the most important roles.
• According to the theory, higher positions offer greater
rewards to attract the most talented individuals.
• Functionalist theorists argue that social inequality
motivates individuals to work harder and strive for
success.
Socialist divided social stratification Functionalist approach is
1.
Quality of individual:- Individuals is placed into its respective strata or
class according to there talent for ex- Actors, Lawyers and Doctors etc.
2.
Efficiency of individual:- It is derived from the skill of individuals, different
people have different skills and they derive wages as per the skill they
possess.
3.
Possession of Wealth:- Division of society on the basis of possession of
wealth they possess like rich class, upper middle class, Middle class, Lower
Middle class and Poor class.
 Conflict Theory of Social Stratification
• Karl Marx is a foundational figure in the conflict approach, emphasizing the
role of class struggle in shaping society.
• Conflict Theorists are deeply critize Functionalist theory Social Stratification.
• It benefits only some people, not all society.
• Conflict Theorists belive that higher positions in the society will not be filled by
highly skilled peoples.
• By those people who possess high income and wealth.
 They will create income inequality and divide the society into two stratas:
i.
Bourgeoisies: Those who control means of production and important
positions in the society.
ii.
proletariat: Rest of the society.
Cont’d........
• Conflict theorists focus in how economic system create and
perpetuate inequality, with the bourgeoisie exploiting the
proletariat for profit.
• Conflict theorists argue that social mobility is limited for
proletariat by the structures of inequality in society.
• They highlight how access to resources and opportunities is
unequally distributed, making upward mobility difficult for
marginalized group.
 Class and Class Division
 Social class:
• A class refers to a group of people in a society with similar power, prestige
and property.
• The term ‘class’ was first used by the German political economist; “Karl
Marx”
• Karl Marx:- Social class is defined by one’s relationship to the means of
production. He argued that in Capitalist Societies, there are two main social
class: The Bourgeoisie and Proletariet.
Nature/Features of Social Class
1.
Class is a status Group: Diffrent statuses arise in a society as people do
diffrent things,engage in diffrent activities and pursue diffrent goals.
2.
Class is Mode of Feeling
We observe three kinds of feelings among the members of various classes.
i.
There is feeling of equality in relation to members of one’s own class.
ii.
There is feeling of inferiority in relation to higher class.
iii.
There is feeling of superiority in relation to those classes which have a lower
status.
3. It is Element of Prestige: Each Social class has its own status in society.
Status associate with prestige. The status of the rich class and rulling class in
every society is superior.
Cont’d
4. Mode of Lifestyle: Life-style includes the mode of living such as, the dress
pattern, the type of house, the leisure time activities, the mode of
consumption, the exposure to media and the mode of communication etc.
5. Social class is a open group: An open class is one in which vertical mobility
is possible. for eg a son of farmer( lower class) can work hard and become a
CEO of a bank (higher class).
6. Social class is an Economic Group: The basis of social class is mostly
economic. A social class also include wealth, property, income etc.
Cont’d
7. Class Consciousness: It is the consciousness that makes the members of the
same class aware of their socio-economic condition. Class consciousness
creates an atmosphere for the working-class people to seek their rights, go
against the capitalist class in order to take the power for their own sake.
8. Class Struggle: Karl Marx put high emphasis on class consciousness among
the working class that leads to the realization of class identification, class
solidarity and finally to class struggle.
Cont’d
7. Class Consciousness: It is the consciousness that makes the members of the
same class aware of their socio-economic condition. Class consciousness
creates an atmosphere for the working-class people to seek their rights, go
against the capitalist class in order to take the power for their own sake.
8. Class Struggle: Karl Marx put high emphasis on class consciousness among
the working class that leads to the realization of class identification, class
solidarity and finally to class struggle.