Social Stratification

Introduction :Social Evaluation of  biological attributes’s difference , like age, sex & race or social attributes like difference in distribution of Social rewards like wealth, prestige & power etc, in terms of superiority & inferior leads to social inequality & hence its socially created & it universal phenomenon. If social inequity manifest itself without hierarchy c/l social differentiation but if in the form of a hierarchy involving ranking of groups, then is k/n as Social Stratification. 

Meaning of Social Stratification – Thus social stratification can be defined as ways adopted by a society to rank its members in a hierarchy on the bases of class, status & power. 

Definition of Social Stratification – Gisbert, Social Stratification is the the division of society into permanent groups or categories linked with each other by relationship of superiority & subordination.” 

Irrespective of its nature it has some common features throughout the world.

1. Ranking of individuals & groups in a hierarchy of status. Ex – In India it is done as Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra and untouchables in that order with Brahmin having highest social status. 

2. Inequalities are institutionalized and legitimized by society.
3. Bases of inequalities vary from time to time and geographically. E.g. Caste based  societies in India and class based in western countries. 
4. Stratification is a universal phenomenon existing in simple, complex and peasant societies.
5. Stratification is social in nature and does not include biologically caused inequalities.
6. Members of various strata tend to have common life style and may display a characteristic of common identity which distinguishes them from other strata.
7. social groups & individuals have unequal access to advantage in terms of economic resources, power and prestige

Dimensions of Social Stratification

Acc to Max Weber societies are stratified in the three separate dimensions of class, status & power. These are christened as “Weber’s Triumvarate” however there is also possibilities that these dimension can coincide. 

Forms of Social Stratification

In terms of time & space most familiar bases are caste, class and estate. So, generally subdivided into three types 

1. Caste based stratification – The Caste System :
   • A caste system is a normatively closed system with a sole reliance on ascription of status. The whole society is organised into hierarchical arranged group, membership of which is determined by birth.
   • This system of stratification exist in one or another form in different societies of world.  Ex in India divides society in Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra and untouchable strata., Social stratification in American society, European society
   • On the face of it caste system looks rigid with low caste mobility as it is based on birth, in other words ascribed status, But in present context it is no more rigid as it used to be in past.
   • Urbanisation, industrialisation, westernisation, modernisation & sanskritisation are some of the important process making caste system to change & to adopt to the new situations & demand. 

• Class based stratification – The Class System :
  • It is aa system of stratification based on economic criteria dividing society into higher and lower class. E.g. European countries.
  • Social class may be defined as category of individual sharing a common economic status. 
  • Status ranking of a class within a society is based on the subjective criteria & associated values which differ from society to society. 
  • For ex – In some societies, higher value is given to education, while in other technical profession may be considered a highly esteemed. 
  • Although class system is achieved status but social-ethnic & sexual differences can play their role in an individual’s ability to achieve. 
• Estate based stratification – The Estate System :
  • is based on power and various strata were clergy, aristocracy and commoners. 
  • Estate system is normatively closed system with restricted mobility. 
  • It may be taken as synonymous with feudalism whereby status is determined by birth, land & physical force. 
  • E.g. Brazil and Latin American countries with system of big land holding. But recently land reforms have brought an end of estate system in various countries.
  • The feudal estates of medieval Europe had 3 imp components. Clergy, aristocracy & commoners. 

Other bases of social stratification are gender, ethnicity, family background, kinship bonds, educational status etc.

• Slavery is another type of social stratification.

Three types of societies based on social stratification

1. Egalitarian or unstratified societies: There is no stratification based on unequal access either to economic resources, power or prestige. E.g. Foragers in Mbuti and Australian aborigine tribes.
2. Rank based societies (Partially stratified) : Here there is no unequal access to economic resources and power but access to prestige differs. E.g. Samoans of Tahiti. 
3. Class societies (fully stratified): Here there is unequal access to all three i.e. economic resources, power and prestige. E.g. US, India etc.

Characters & Advantage

• Power plays important role in maintaining social stratification.
• Maintaining group solidarity and cultural identity, political consolidation and economic cooperation are some of the advantages of social stratification.

Disadvantage

• But its ill effects are more such as economic inequalities, untouchability, oppression of lower caste and class, deprivation, poverty, detrimental to democracy and hampers social communication between different communities.

Conclusion :  Hence Social Stratification is one or another way by which Society try to differentiate one from another to establish hierarchy. Some systems are disintegrating like estate, some are changing according to time like caste but stratification remains a universal features of very society with vital effect on social life of a person.