Social Stratification

Social Stratification • Social stratification simply is a process by which society ranks people in a hierarchy (higher or lower, superior or inferior) • It is a particular form of social inequality • It refers to the social groups which are ranked one above the other, usually in terms of the amount of power, prestige and wealth • Stratification involves the division of population into unequal layers (upper and lower layers) or strata based on status, income, wealth, gender, ethnicity, power etc • Stratification simply is the process by which individuals and groups are ranked in hierarchy of status (either ascribed or achieved).

Social Stratification • Stratification is as old as civilization. It develops with the increased surplus economy and the development of varieties of occupation • Stratification systems which provide little opportunity for social mobility is called closed stratification system. In closed system individuals position is ascribed. Eg caste is an example of a closed stratification system • Stratification system which provides opportunity for social mobility is called open stratification system. In open system individuals position is achieved. Eg class is an example of open system

Social Stratification • Definitions • Social stratification is the division of society into permanent groups of categories linked with each other by the relationship of superiority and subordination -Gisbert • A stratified society is one marked by inequality, by differences among people that are evaluated by then as being ‘lower’ and ‘higher’ - Lundberg • The process by which individuals and groups are ranked in a more or less enduring hierarchy of status is known as stratification -Ogburn and Nimkoff

Characteristics of Stratification 1) Stratification is universal • There is no society in this world which is free from stratification so it is a worldwide phenomenon • Difference between rich and poor, haves and have nots is found everywhere • According to Sorokin “all permanently organized groups are stratified” 2) Stratification is Social • Biological qualities like age, sex, physical strength etc do not determine one’s superiority and inferiority. • But one’s social qualities like education, skills, experience, personality, character etc are found to be more important than biological qualities.

Characteristics of Stratification • Eg A manager of an industry attains a dominant position not by his physical strength nor by his age but by his socially acquired qualities. Hence stratification is social in nature 3) It is ancient • Stratification system is very old • It was present even in the small wandering bands • In almost all the ancient civilizations, the difference between the rich and poor, humble and powerful existed • Ever since the time of Plato and Kautilya social philosophers have been deeply concerned with economic, social and political inequalities

Characteristics of Stratification 4) It is in diverse forms • The stratification system has never been uniform in all the societies • In the modern world class, caste, ethnicity and gender are the general forms of stratification • The ancient Aryans were divided into four varnas: the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sudras • The ancient Greeks were divided into freemen and slaves • Ancient Romans were divided into the Particians and the Plebians

Characteristics of Stratification 5) Social stratification is Consequential • Social stratification has two important consequences. One is “life chances” and the other is “life style” • Life chances refers to such things as infant mortality, physical and mental illness, marital conflict, separation and divorce etc • Life style includes mode of housing, residential area, one’s education, means of recreation, relation between parents and children etc • For eg: a class system not only affects the “life chances” of the individuals but also their “life style”

Social stratification and social mobility Social mobility refers to the movement within the social structure, from one social position to another. It means a change in social status • Types of Social mobility 1) Vertical and horizontal mobility a) Vertical mobility: it involves movement from lower to higher or higher to lower status. There are two types of vertical mobility one is upward and other is downward mobility • When an individual moves from lower status to higher status, it is called upward mobility and when a person moves down from one position to another and changes his status, it is called downward mobility

Social stratification and social mobility • Eg: if the son of a peon joins a bank as an officer, it is said to be upward social mobility but if he loses the job due to inefficiency or any other reason b) Horizontal mobility • It refers to the movement of people from one social group to another situated on the same level • It means rank of these two groups are not different • It indicates change in position without change in status • Eg: if a teacher leaves one school and joins another school or a bank officer leaves one branch to work in another are the horizontal mobility

Social stratification and social mobility 2) inter-generational and intra-generational mobility (based on dimension of time) a) When changes in status occur from one generation to another, it is called intergenerational mobility. • Eg: if the son changes his status either by taking occupation of higher or lower rank than that of his father, inter-generational mobility takes place b) When changes in status occur within one generation it is called intra-generational mobility • Eg: the rise and fall in the occupational structure of a family which leads to change in its social status within one generation

Social stratification 1) A Functionalist Perspective • Functionalists assume that a certain degree of order and stability are essential for the operation of social systems and the stratification helps to maintain order and stability in society • According to Talcott Parsons if value consensus is an essential component of all societies then some form of stratification will result from the ranking of individuals in terms of common values • Eg: Most important positions filled by the most qualified persons

Social stratification • He sees social stratification as inevitable and functional for society. It is inevitable because it derives from shared values which are a necessary part of all social systems. It is functional because it serves to integrate various groups in society • According to functionalist power and prestige differentials are essential for the coordination and integration of division of labour. Inequalities of power and prestige benefit all members of society since they serve to promote collective goals which are based on shared values

Social stratification A Conflict Perspective • This perspective looks stratification as a mechanism whereby some exploit others • In all stratified societies, there are two major social classes: a ruling class and a working class • The power of the ruling class comes from its ownership and control of the forces of production (like land, labor, tools, technologies etc) • The ruling class exploits and oppresses the working class. As a result there is conflict between two classes • The various institutions of society such as legal, political, religious etc are the instruments of ruling class domination

Various Aspects of Social Stratification 1) Social Class • This is the principal type of stratification found in almost all the modern complex societies. So class stratification is universal in nature • Definition • A social class is the aggregate of persons having essentially the same social status in a given society -Ogburn and Nimkoff • A social class is any portion of the community marked off from the rest by social status -MacIver and Page • Thus it is clear that social class is a segment of society with all the members of all ages and both the sexes who share the same general status

Various Aspects of Social Stratification Characteristics of social class 1) Class- A status group • Class is related to status so social class is a status group 2) Achieved status • Status in the class system is achieved. Thus class system provides scope for changing or improving one’s status • Income, occupation, wealth, education, life styles etc decides the status of an individual 3) Class system is universal • Class system appears in all the modern complex societies • It was almost present in all the preindustrial societies (except hunting and gathering society)

Various Aspects of Social Stratification 4) Mode of feeling • In a class system there are three modes of feeling • Feeling of equality: in relation to members of own class • Feeling of inferiority: in relation to those who occupy the higher status in the hierarchy • Feeling of superiority: in relation to those who occupy lower status in the hierarchy 5) Element of Prestige • Each social class has its own status (position) in society and status is associated with prestige (reputation) • Position of class in the social set up arises from the degree of prestige attached to the status • Eg: status and prestige of ruling class or rich class in every society is superior than that of common class

Various Aspects of Social Stratification 6) Social class- an open group • Social class are open groups • They represent an open class system in which vertical social mobility is possible (i.e. upward and downward movement of individuals possible)

Various Aspects of Social Stratification 2) Caste • The term ‘caste’ is derived from the Spanish (also Portuguese) word ‘caste’ meaning ‘breed’ or ‘lineage’ • Portuguese used the term ‘caste’ first to denote divisions in the Indian caste system • It also signifies ‘race’ or ‘kind’ • Sanskrit, caste is Varna(colour) • The popular equivalent of caste is ‘Jati’ • A caste system is one in which an individual’s rank and its associated rights and obligations are ascribed on the basis of birth in to a particular group

Various Aspects of Social Stratification • The caste stratification of Nepalese society(Hindu)was divided into four main varnas mainly: the Brahmins, the Kashtriyas, the Vaishyas and the Shudras • The varna system which was prevalent during vedic period was mainly based on the division of labour and occupation • Present caste system is the degenerated form of original Varna system Definitions • Caste is a system of stratification in which mobility up and down the status ladder, at least ideally may not occur -Green • When a class is somewhat strictly hereditary, we may call it a caste -Cooley

Various Aspects of Social Stratification Characteristics of Caste 1) Caste is Particular • Caste system with all its peculiarities is found in Nepal and India hence not universal 2) Ascribed status • Caste is the status ascribed from birth but not achieved 3) Closed system • It restricts social mobility

Various Aspects of Social Stratification 4) Purity and Impurity • Some castes are called pure while others are called impure. Impure caste are regarded as ‘untouchables’ 5) Endogamous group • Every caste member has to marry within the group selecting the life partner from his or her caste. Intercaste marriage are not allowed 6) Complexity • Caste system is a complex system. More than 2800 castes and sub castes are found in India. Similarly about 125 caste and ethnic groups are found in Nepal

Various Aspects of Social Stratification 3) Gender • Gender is socially or culturally constructed whereas sex is determined by nature • The gender of a man is masculine and a female is feminine • Gender refers to the socially constructed or culturally determined roles that men and women play in their day-to-day lives • It is the social construction of the sex

Various Aspects of Social Stratification Definitions • Gender is seen as the process by which individuals who are born into biological categories of male or female become the social categories of men and women through the acquisition of locally defined attributes of masculinity and feminity-N. Kabeer • Gender refers to the socio-cultural definition of man and woman, the way societies distinguish man and woman and assign the social roles -Kamala Bhasin

Various Aspects of Social Stratification • The construction of gender and gender roles vary from society to society. Gender roles are encouraged in children from a very early age • There is no law that binds a girl to behave in a particular way or force a boy to perform certain functions • However since most people in a society have certain ideas of what is feminine and what is masculine, boys and girls grow up performing these roles. For eg Nepalese girl are generally encouraged by her parents to learn cooking and other household activities but not the boys.

Various Aspects of Social Stratification • Characteristics of gender 1) Socio-cultural role of society • Gender implies the distinct role to be played by male and female in particular society 2) It is dynamic • Changes in gender roles takes place from time to time based on need of the society 3) Socialization helps to understand gender roles • When socialization takes place through family, school and association males and females realize their own role in a given society

Various Aspects of Social Stratification 4) Deals with differences • Gender deals with the differences between male and female according to socio-cultural role 4) Ethnicity • The term ethnicity signify self consciousness to a group of people united or closely related by shared cultural practices like language, religious belief, food, clothing etc • Eg: Red Indian in USA, Tamil in Srilanka, Rai, Magar,Gurung, Tamang, Tharu etc in Nepal are ethnic groups

Various Aspects of Social Stratification • Definitions • An ethnic group generally conceived to be one whose members shares distinctive social, cultural, tradition and maintain with the group from generation -MacIver and Page • Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) defines indigenous (ethnic) groups in Nepal as • First settlers prior to the formation of Gorkha and Nepal state • Dominated group and no representation in state organs • Not included in the Hindu caste system • Language, culture and religion different from the rulers • Listed by Nepalese Government Indigenous Act 2002 • NEFIN has identified 59 indigenous (ethnic) groups in Nepal

Various Aspects of Social Stratification Features of Ethnic group • This is a collective identity (gathering of a group) • Ethnic people have their own language, tradition, culture and civilization • Ethnic people have their own homeland or geographical settlements • Ethnic people might have their own oral or written history • Ethnic people have we feeling

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Social Stratification