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Origin of Social Stratification
Origin of Social Stratification
Industrialized Societies
The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain in the mid-1700s, when the
steam engine came into use as a means of running other machines. The
rise of industrialization led to increased social stratification. Factory owners
hired workers who had migrated from rural areas in search of jobs and a
better life. The owners exploited the workers to become wealthy, making
them work long hours in unsafe conditions for very low wages. The gap
between the “haves” and the “have-nots” widened.
Postindustrial Societies
The rise of postindustrial societies, in which technology supports an
information-based economy, has created further social stratification. Fewer
people work in factories, while more work in service industries. Education
has become a more significant determinant of social position. The
Information Revolution has also increased global stratification. Even though
new technology allows for a more global economy, it also separates more
clearly those nations who have access to the new technology from those
who don’t.