SOCIAL STRATIFICATION Problems of Social Position Social Stratification Division of society into 3 or more classes of people Classes do not share equally in basic resources influence and prestige Social Stratification Related to economic production systems Kin based family and descent groups Class based socio economics Specialization of labor tends to increase the potential for stratification Social Stratification Results from the unequal distribution of goods and services within a society Asks the question Who gets what and Why Approaches Two main theoretical perspectives functions it makes to social order STABILITY contributions it makes to change CONFLICT Social Stratification We want to know How do such systems contribution to social integration and ORDER How do such systems reflect conflict and stimulate social CHANGE Concept of Status Contains an element of RANK ORDER summed up in the word HIERARCHY Status is social position occupied by the individual Roles of Behavior Set of expected behaviors ex Gender roles what is masculine or feminine Social Status Achieved Status achieved during one s lifetime Ascribed Status ascribed by birth IDEOLOGY Accompanied by beliefs that obscure or legitimize inequality ex Democratic ideals U S Egalitarian myths U S S R Religion Indian Caste CONFLICT Stability will be maintained if there is a feeling that the differences between groups is FAIR Can lead to Conflict if exchange is considered UNFAIR SYSTEMS OF STRATIFICATION Rank Societies people divided into hierarchy or order groups Non ranked Societies least stratified people tend to treat each as equals CASTE SYSTEM Ascribed Status Occupationally specific Marriage within castes Fixed for life Closed system ex India s caste system Untouchables CLASS SYSTEM Developed with world economic system based on economic wealth socioeconomic status Difficult to define nearly equal Open system ex America s class system SLAVERY Most extreme form of social stratification Ownership of people and their labor Associated with economic production strategies sedentary agriculture