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Chapter 13

Chapter 13. Social Stratification. What We Will Learn. To what extent do the societies of the world vary in terms of the equitable distribution of power, prestige, and wealth? How do class systems differ from caste systems?

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Chapter 13

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  1. Chapter 13 Social Stratification

  2. What We Will Learn • To what extent do the societies of the world vary in terms of the equitable distribution of power, prestige, and wealth? • How do class systems differ from caste systems? • What are the different ways of interpreting systems of social stratification?

  3. Social Inequality • Max Weber’s criteria for measuring social inequality: • Wealth - the extent to which they have accumulated economic resources • Power - the ability to achieve one’s goals and objectives even against the will of others • Prestige- social esteem, respect or admiration that a society confers on people

  4. Three Types of Societies • Based on levels of social inequality: • Egalitarian - no individual or group has appreciably more wealth, power, or prestige than any other. • Rank - unequal access to prestige or status but not unequal access to wealth or power. • Stratified societies - considerable inequality in all forms of social rewards (power,wealth, and prestige).

  5. Egalitarian Societies • No individual or group has more wealth, power, or prestige than any other. • Everyone, depending on skill level, has equal access to positions of esteem and respect. • Found most readily among geographically mobile food collectors • Ju/’hoansi of the Kalahari region • Inuit • Hadza of Tanzania

  6. Rank Societies • Unequal access to prestige but not to wealth or power. • Fixed number of high-status positions, which only certain individuals can occupy. • Others are excluded regardless of skills, wisdom, industriousness, or personal traits. • Found most prominently in Oceania and among Native Americans of the Northwest.

  7. Stratified Societies • Considerable inequality in power, wealth, and prestige. • Closely associated with the rise of civilization approximately 5,500 years ago. • As societies become more specialized, the system of social stratification becomes more complex.

  8. Class Versus Caste • In class systems an individual can change his or her social position dramatically within a lifetime. • Caste societies have no social mobility, membership in a caste is determined by birth and lasts throughout one’s lifetime.

  9. U.S. Class Structure

  10. U.S. Class Structure

  11. Hindu Caste Society • Social boundaries are strictly maintained by caste endogamy and notions of ritual purity and pollution. • Caste system has persisted for 2,000 years and enables the upper castes to maintain a monopoly on wealth, status, and power.

  12. Race • Race - classification based on physical traits. • Ethnicity - classification based on cultural characteristics. • There are no pure races. • Different populations have been interbreeding for thousands of years, resulting in a continuum of human physical types.

  13. Forms of Interracialand Interethnic Relations • Pluralism: two or more groups live in harmony and retain their own heritage, pride, and identity. • Assimilation: a racial or ethnic minority is absorbed into the wider society. • Legal protection of minorities: the government steps in to legally protect the minority group.

  14. Forms of Interracialand Interethnic Relations • Population transfer: physical removal of a minority group to another location. • Long-term subjugation: political, economic and social repression for indefinite periods of time. • Genocide: mass annihilation of groups of people.

  15. Social Stratification: Theories • Functionalist • Class systems contribute to the well-being of a society by encouraging constructive endeavor. • Conflict • Stratification systems exist because the upper classes strive to maintain a superior position at the expense of the lower classes.

  16. Quick Quiz

  17. 1. A distinguishing characteristic of social inequality is ________, or the extent to which people have accumulated economic resources. • wealth • Status • prestige • power

  18. Answer: a • A distinguishing characteristic of social inequality is wealth, or the extent to which people have accumulated economic resources.

  19. 2. At the low end of the inequality continuum are _______ societies, which maintain a high level of equality among the group's members. • caste • egalitarian • ranked • stratified

  20. Answer: b • At the low end of the inequality continuum are egalitarian societies, which maintain a high level of equality among the group's members.

  21. 3. ______ societies have unequal access to prestige, status, wealth, and power. • Egalitarian • Stratified • State • Rank

  22. Answer: b • Stratified societies have unequal access to prestige, status, wealth, and power.

  23. 4. In _______ societies, membership is determined at birth, and social mobility is not possible. • caste • stratified • egalitarian • rank

  24. Answer: a • In caste societies, membership is determined at birth, and social mobility is not possible.

  25. 5. ________ occurs when a minority group is absorbed into the wider society. • Pluralism • Assimilation • Population transfer • Genocide

  26. Answer: b • Assimilation occurs when a minority group is absorbed into the wider society.

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