Social Stratification
An Introduction
DO NOW:
In your notebook, write down one experience that you have had or have
heard about for each of the following:
(1) A time you experienced prejudice or discrimination;
(2) A time you discriminated against somebody else;
(3) A time you witnessed discrimination and did nothing about it;
(4) A time you witnessed discrimination and did something about it.
You will have 5 minutes to complete this.
Please be respectful and appropriate.
GROUP ACTIVITY
 In groups of 5, you will all take part in a “participant observation” by answering
these questions and listening to others answer the questions.
 You must discuss (as a group) each category and your answers to each. Then,
choose one answer for each question that is worthy of sharing with the class.
(1) A time you experienced prejudice or discrimination;
(2) A time you discriminated against somebody else;
(3) A time you witnessed discrimination and did nothing about it;
(4) A time you witnessed discrimination and did something about it.
 What is it that leads us to act or choose not to act?
 What is the cause/source of discrimination and prejudice?
 What sociological effects can this have on whole countries, smaller groups, and
individual people?
IN YOUR NOTEBOOKS…
Recall our activity exploring discrimination and answer the following questions:
 What is the cause/source of discrimination and prejudice?
 What sociological effects can this have on whole countries, smaller groups,
and individual people?
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION A SYSTEM BY WHICH A SOCIET Y RANKS
C AT E G O R I E S O F P E O P L E I N A
HIERARCHY BASED ON THEIR ACCESS TO
SCARCE RESOURCES.
FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION:

It is a characteristic of society, not simply a reflection of
individual differences.


It persists over generations.


Results from social structure and affects everyone.
It is passed on via family ties, where the infant inherits the social
location of their parents.
It is universal but variable.
 It involves not just inequality but the belief systems that
legitimize this inequality.
CULTURAL BELIEFS SERVE
TO JUSTIFY SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION.
T H AT I S PA RT O F
THE REASON WHY
I T P E R S I ST S .
TYPES OF STRATIFICATION SYSTEMS
Class SystemCaste Systemsocial stratification social stratification
based on ascribed
based on
status.
achieved (?)
status.
[Example: India and South Africa]
STATUS: POSITION IN SOCIETY
CASTE:
Ascribed- born into or comes without effort
e.g., kinship, race, gender
CLASS:
Achieved - must work to get
ACHIEVED OR ASCRIBED?
ACHIEVED OR ASCRIBED?
ACHIEVED OR ASCRIBED?
ACHIEVED OR ASCRIBED?
ACHIEVED OR ASCRIBED?
STATUS: POSITION IN SOCIETY
HOW CAN WE SEE AMERICA AS HAVING BOTH
ACHIEVED AND ASCRIBED STATUS FOR ITS
POPULATION?
EXAMPLES:
WHAT CAN
THIS GRAPH
TELL US
ABOUT
ACHIEVED
AND
ASCRIBED
STATUS IN
AMERICA?
SOCIAL MOBILITY
Social mobility refers to movement up or down the stratification
system, and this movement is caused by two forces.
1. Exchange mobility This is mobility due to the individual’s own behaviors.
 An example would be when someone works very hard on the job and their
boss notices it and rewards them with a promotion.
2. Structural mobility  This is mobility due to social forces beyond the
individual’s immediate control.
 An example would be if a factory started up in a small town, then plenty of
new jobs would open up and it would offer lots of structural opportunities for
people. Similarly if the factory closed shop, then it would lead to mass layoffs,
regardless of how well the workers perform on the job as individuals.
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SOCIAL MOBILITY
Americans are socialized to believe that most mobility in the U.S. is
exchange mobility but this is not true.
The vast bulk of mobility in this society is due to structural forces.
 This also explains why Americans have enjoyed more than a
century of upward mobility. As long as the American economy has
grown to offer more and better paying jobs, America has been a
“land of opportunity.”
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INTERPRETATIONS OF STRATIFICATION
Functionalist Theory
 Certain roles in society must be performed if the system is to be
maintained
 Without varying rewards (i.e. salaries), many jobs would not be filled,
and society could not function smoothly
Criticism:

By believing in this, society will continue to put less effort on those who are
“incapable,” never allowing for growth or shift in societal norms
 Unequal access to education
 Talent in lower classes!

Why do some professions who do not contribute as much to society (i.e. professional
athletes/movie stars) command so much of the nation’s wealth?
INTERPRETATIONS OF STRATIFICATION
Conflict Theory
 Competition over scarce resources as cause of social inequality
 Once a group gains power, it is able to shape public policy and
public opinion to its own advantage.
• Maintains position of power
Criticism:

Fails to recognize that unequal rewards are sometimes based on differences in
skill, talent, and desire.

Society must have a way to urge individuals into “effective” positions in society.
INTERPRETATIONS OF STRATIFICATION
Karl Marx and Max Weber
 Social classes are determined by who owns the means of
production;
 Divided into two groups:
 Bourgeoisie-Owners of the means of production
Reap all profits
 Proletariat-Sell labor in exchange for wages
Does all work
 Property, Prestige, Power
PROPERTY, PRESTIGE, POWER
1. Social class –Having wealth means having power –
bourgeoisie vs. proletariat
2. Status – some jobs may be low paid, but they carry
high prestige and thus convey power.
i.e. a priest or the President of the U.S.
3. Power – Power comes from money and high social
status.
Power does not always have to be in the form of money.
i.e. Mahatma Ghandi
PEOPLE ARE STRATIFIED ALL OVER THE
WORLD BASED ON THE FOLLOWING:
INCOME
PRESTIGE
W E A LT H
E D U C AT I O N
POWER
GENDER
RACE
ETHNICIT Y
AGE
H E A LT H
C U LT U R E
CAN WE ADD ANYTHING ELSE TO THIS LIST?