SOCIAL STRATIFICATIONSocial StratificationSocial StratificationSocial StratificationApproachesSocial StratificationConcept of StatusRoles of BehaviorSocial StatusIDEOLOGYCONFLICTSYSTEMS OF STRATIFICATIONCASTE SYSTEMUntouchablesCLASS SYSTEMSLAVERYSOCIAL STRATIFICATIONProblems of Social PositionSocial Stratification• Division of society into 3 or more classes of people• Classes do not share equally in basic resources, influence and prestigeSocial 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 stratificationSocial 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, CONFLICTSocial Stratification• We want to know:– How do such systems contribution to social integration and ORDER– How do such systems reflect conflict and stimulate social CHANGEConcept of Status• Contains an element of RANK ORDER• summed up in the word HIERARCHY• Status is social position occupied by the individualRoles 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 birthIDEOLOGY• Accompanied by beliefs that obscure or legitimize inequality–ex. • Democratic ideals = U.S. • Egalitarian myths = U.S.S.R.• Religion = Indian CasteCONFLICT• Stability will be maintained if there is a feeling that the differences between groups is FAIR• Can lead to Conflict if exchange is considered UNFAIRSYSTEMS OF STRATIFICATION• Rank Societies– people divided into hierarchy or order groups• Non-ranked Societies– least stratified– people tend to treat each as equalsCASTE SYSTEM• Ascribed Status• Occupationally specific• Marriage within castes• Fixed for life - Closed system• ex. India’s caste systemUntouchablesCLASS SYSTEM• Developed with world economic system• based on economic wealth– socioeconomic status• Difficult to define - “nearly equal”• Open system• ex. America’s class systemSLAVERY• Most extreme form of social stratification• Ownership of people and their labor• Associated with economic production strategies– sedentary