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?

What are the different ways of interpreting systems of social stratification?

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

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).

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

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.

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.

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.

U.S. Class StructureClass Income Education Occupation %

Capitalist $1,000,000Prestige

universitiesCEOs, investors 1

Upper middle

$100,000Top

colleges /postgraduate

Upper managers 14

Middle $55,000High school

/some collegeteachers, civil

servants30

U.S. Class StructureClass Income Education Occupation %

Working $35,000 High schoolClerical, sales,

factory30

Working poor

$22,000Some high

schoolService, laborers

13

Underclass$10,000 or

lessSome high

schoolUnemployed 12

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.

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.

Forms of Interracialand Interethnic Relations

1. Pluralism: two or more groups live in harmony and retain their own heritage, pride, and identity.

2. Assimilation: a racial or ethnic minority is absorbed into the wider society.

3. Legal protection of minorities: the government steps in to legally protect the minority group.

Forms of Interracialand Interethnic Relations

4. Population transfer: physical removal of a minority group to another location.

5. Long-term subjugation: political, economic and social repression for indefinite periods of time.

6. Genocide: mass annihilation of groups of people.

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.

Quick Quiz

1. A distinguishing characteristic of social inequality is ________, or the extent to which people have accumulated economic resources.

a) wealth

b) Status

c) prestige

d) power

Answer: a A distinguishing characteristic of social

inequality is wealth, or the extent to which people have accumulated economic resources.

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

a) caste

b) egalitarian

c) ranked

d) stratified

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.

3. ______ societies have unequal access to prestige, status, wealth, and power.

a) Egalitarian

b) Stratified

c) State

d) Rank

Answer: b Stratified societies have unequal

access to prestige, status, wealth, and power.

4. In _______ societies, membership is determined at birth, and social mobility is not possible.

a) caste

b) stratified

c) egalitarian

d) rank

Answer: a In caste societies, membership is

determined at birth, and social mobility is not possible.

5. ________ occurs when a minority group is absorbed into the wider society.

a) Pluralism

b) Assimilation

c) Population transfer

d) Genocide

Answer: b Assimilation occurs when a minority

group is absorbed into the wider society.