Social Stratification

Social stratification is a process in which social inequalities exist in the form of structural
hierarchical strata, placed one above the other. According to Sutherland and Maxwell social
stratification is defined as a process of differentiation that places some people higher than the
others. Stratification is viewed as a social process as well as a method devised by sociologists to
understand inequality in the society. It has four sub processes.

or

The division of society into classes forming a hierarchy of prestige and power is a universal
feature of social systems. Sociologist have distinguished four main types of social stratification
namely, Slavery, estates, caste and social class and status.

CHARACTERSTICS OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION:

According to M.M Tumin mentioned below are some characteristics of stratification:

1. It is social: stratification is social in the sense that it represents socially constructed

differentiations rather than biological differences. For example, a professor in the university has
a status and social positions which is based on his education, skills and experience and not on his
physical features.

2. It is ancient: Stratification is ancient because it has been since the advent of humans on the
earth. It was found even in the hunting and wandering bands as age and sex were main
determinants of differentiations in the then society.

3. It is universal: stratification is omni-present. Sorokin says all organised societies are stratified.

4. It is diverse: stratification system is found everywhere in different forms. 5. It is

consequential: The stratification systems have two main consequences namely life chances and
life styles.

TYPES OF STRATIFICATION:

The division of society into classes forming a hierarchy of prestige and power is a universal
feature of social systems. Sociologist have distinguished four main types of social stratification
namely, Slavery, estates, caste and social class and status.
1. Slavery System:

In the earliest stages of civilization classes did not exists as the savage were not in position to
place his superiority over the others because then the life was very tough and they had a hand to
mouth existence. The two sexes enjoyed almost equal rights according to Hobhouse. In other
words, equality of ranks prevailed among the ancient tribes. The distinction of rich and poor did
not exist as property was too limited to create differences of wealth. But as savage tribe
experienced growth and development and their culture grew especially in military might, the first
result was the conquered of enemies. A slave was sold, pawned, exchanged or put to death.
Slavery is an extreme form of inequality wherein some individuals are literally owned by others
as property. We have two example of slavery systems; firstly, the societies of ancient world
especially Greece and Rome and secondly, the southern states of the U.S.A. in 18th and 19th
century. Slave had an out and out inhuman existence in this system. Every slave has his master
and he have unlimited power over his slaves. The slaves have no political rights and he is
socially despised. Slavery has always economic basis. Nieboer holds that slavery is an industrial
system. The emergence of slavery system is synchronized with the rise of aristocracy which
thrived upon slave labour. The reformative steps finally led towards the eradication of slavery
system.

Estates system:

Estates is a type of stratification that existed in Europe during middle ages. This system has a
long history. They were part of many traditional civilizations. This system consisted of three
main divisions namely the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners. In England and France these
three divisions were found. These estates were similar to social classes in two respects. Firstly,
each estate had a distinctive life-style. Secondly, these estates were hierarchically arranged with
clergy at the top, commoners at the bottom and the nobles occupied intermediary position.
However, it is important to note that the clergy was called First Estate only with respect to the
idea that the church is supreme.

3. Caste System:

Caste is associated with the cultures of the Indian subcontinent and the Hindu belief in rebirth.
The Indian caste system is unique among systems of social stratification. Caste is related with
economic differences which is reflected by the effective caste groups or four varnas of Brahmins,
Kshatriya, Vaishyas and Sudras.

4. Class:

A Social class system is radically different from other systems of stratification. Social classes are
de facto groups. They are relatively open and closed. Classes are more economic groups. Classes
features the industrial societies which develop since 17th century. Class differs in many respects
from slavery, estates and castes. We can define a class as a large-scale grouping of people who
share common economics resources and this typically influences their life-styles. The major
bases of class differences are wealth and occupation.

Classes differ from earlier versions of stratification in many ways

1. Classes are not established by legal or religious provisions. Memberships to classes is not
hereditary. In comparison with other types of stratification class systems are more fluid/ open
and the boundary between classes are never clearly defined. There are no formal restrictions on
inter-marriage between people belonging to different classes.

2. Contrary to the other type of stratification an individual’s class is achieved and not ascribed
one. Here social mobility is much more common in comparison with other systems. In the caste
system individual mobility from one caste to another is impossible.

3. Different classes of individuals differ from one another with respect to their possession of
material resources. Here economic inequality predominates.in other types of stratification
system, non-economic fact as religion in the case of Indian caste system, are generally more
important.

4. In other types of stratification system inequalities find expressions in personal relationships of

duty and obligation between slave and master; serf and lord or lower and higher caste
individuals. By contrast class system operates mainly through large scale connections of an
impersonal type.

Importance of social stratification

Social Stratification provides motivation for different positions, particularly those which
carry higher statuses and rewards. By distributing resources unequally, society motivates
people to work harder and better in order to achieve a higher status.

Social stratification refers to the way people are ranked and ordered in society. In Western
countries, this stratification primarily occurs as a result of socioeconomic status in which a
hierarchy determines the groups most likely to gain access to financial resources and forms of
privilege.

All societies have important tasks that must be accomplished and certain positions that must be
filled.

Some positions are more important for the survival of society than others.

The most important positions must be filled by the most qualified people.

The positions that are the most important for society and that require talent, extensive training, or
both must be the most highly rewarded.

Increased opportunity for conflict: When people are divided intoclasses based on their abilities or
experience, they may be more likely to fight each other than they would be if they were all
united under one banner

Improved communication: Socially stratified groups may be better able to communicate their
ideas effectively than unstratified groups do because they have a degree of cohesion and
groupthink (a type of cognitive distortion that helps people think coherently). This allows them
to make better decisions about how to deal with challenges and threats, which can lead to
increased success in business, politics, and other areas of life.

More effective activism: It is easier for unstratified groups not only to share information but also
to work together towards common goals when there is some form of solidarity among them (ie.,
when they feel like they have something in common). This process is often more successful than
trying to work separately as individuals because it makes collective action much more likely to
achieve results.

QUESTION TWO

Social control has been defined as "the way in which the entire social order adheres and
maintains itself- how it operates as a changing equilibrium" (MacIver & Page) , "the patterns of
pressure which a society exerts to maintain order and establish rules" (Ogburn and Nimcoff), the
process by which social order is (i) established, and (ii) maintained" (Landis), "a collective. term
for those processes, planned or unplanned, by which individuals are taught, persuaded, or
compelled to conform to the usages and life values of groups"(Roucek).

Thus social control may be defined as any social or cultural means by which systematic and
relatively consistent restraints are imposed upon individual behaviour and by which human
beings are persuaded and motivated to behave in accordance with the traditions, patterns and
value framework thought necessary for the smooth functioning of a group or society.

Social control operates at three levels: group over group-when one group determines the
behaviour of the other group; the group over its members. when the group controls the conduct
of its own members, and individuals over their fellows- when the indi~iduals~influence the
responses of other individuals

Social Control: In Modern Society and Future!

It is evident from what has been said so far that social control through ages has not been
exercised through one and the same methods. Their relative efficiency varies with changes in the
social organisation and life-value of the group. In primitive societies generally informal means
like convention, usage, custom and tradition were employed for controlling individuals and
groups.

In the middle ages since feudal customs and the church had the greatest authority, the whole
social life was controlled by the church. With the passage of time the authority of the church
diminished and the power shifted from it to the king.

Now the kings became the great controlling agencies who began to rule the state by what was
called the divine Right of Kings. Later on there came the period of laissez-faire and the control
of the state over the individual became steps with the march of technical advance and economic
transformation new social problems cropped up which again necessitated control by the state.

This time, he however, the state represented not the will of the autocratic ruler but the collective
will, the will of the community. A large number of associations, economic, social and political
gained birth which henceforward began to greatly control the social life.

And today social control is so vast and widening that man finds himself at every step of life
under control of some agency or the other. Whether this control is necessary or desirable, is a
question which has given rise to the great controversy of man versus the Stale. However, if we
remember that there is no contradiction between the interests of society and the individual, then
the controversy of Man versus Society loses all its significance.

Social Control in Modern Society:

In modern times social control is mostly exercised through an appeal to reason. Modern society
does not favour the use of force though coercive methods are quite often used in making the
individuals obedient to the system. Man’s behaviour today is controlled by showing him through
education and propaganda the consequences of his action. All discussions and talk about the
values of family planning, or the evils of drinking are the examples of modern type of control.

Appeal to feelings is not greatly resorted to in modern times. It was only in primitive societies
that people behaved according to the social pattern because they feared that any deviation from
the prescribed modes would annoy gods and bring curse on them. People do not believe much in
supernatural forces today.

However, social suggestion as to what people will say and desire to win commendation exercise
control over man’s behaviour in modern society. Leadership has become a great controlling force
in modern times. The leader controls the mob mentality in times of crisis and excitement.

Social Control in Future:

The present society is a highly complex society as compared to the past one and it is to become
still more complex in future. The social problems which an individual has to face are becoming
so complicated that it is beyond the power of a single individual to cope with them.
Consequently, he must join with someone in working for the goal that he desires. The individual
is impotent before the mighty forces of society and this fact has led to a significant multiplication
of the voluntary agencies of social control— committees, clubs, associations, institutes, bureaus,
and co-operations.

The disintegrating forces present in the modern society are likely to give rise to great social
control to secure uniformity of conduct. The theory of ‘laissez-faire’ has collapsed. It is now
generally held that intelligent collective planning alone can solve the present day social
problems. The superiority of the human mind over the blind forces of nature has been
established.

Society is not the result of forces operating automatically and regardless of man’s efforts. In
contrast to the theory of “evolutionary determinism’ the conception of ‘social Telesis’ proposed
by L.F. Ward has greater strength. The more and more increasing control of the government and
expanding budgets show that in future social control is further increase than decrease. Moreover,
in recent times we have come to possess more and more knowledge of the methods of social
control.

New agencies of social control have come into being. In totalitarian states, social control has
reached maximum point. Every man’s life is under state direction and regulation. In democracies
too, social control is no less vast. A number of regulatory agencies and voluntary bodies have
cropped up to influence people’s behavior. The increasing complexity of culture will increase
rather than diminish the need for effective social control.

Importance of social control in a society

Social control is also required to bring compatibility in thoughts, ideas, behaviour patterns,
attitudes and perceptions of the individuals, because devoid of it, society cannot function
effectively.

Social control provides social security to the people. Human beings are so helpless and weak that
their existence is not possible without the help of others. Social control keeps a check on the
forces endangering the safety and security of the people and prepare them to face the realities of
the world

Social control is badly needed to bring the selfish nature of man under control because normally,
nobody feels happy being controlled, subordinated and directed by others

Social control is also required to preserve our society's healthy traditions and pass them down
from generation to generation. Traditions are the safe keepers of our culture and heritage. People
are motivated and compelled to follow traditions through social control.

Social control is also necessary to maintain the healthy traditions of our society and to transfer
them from one generation to another. Traditions are the safe custodians of our heiitage and
culture. Through social control people are motivated and compelled to follow the traditions.

The unity in group can only be maintained by the effective system of social control. The group
members belong to different socio-cultural backgrounds and want to achieve different personal
objectives. To keep all the members united by striving towards group goals is made feasible by
social control which does not allow selfish interests of the individuals to come in the way of
group goals

Conclusion

Social Stratification has a significant role in human societies and it can have a positive or
negative impact. depending on the situation. By understanding the role social stratification plays
in human societies, we can better understand how it affects our lives and organizations.
Additionally, by studying the benefits of social stratification, we can better assess how to create
societies that are successful in the long run.
References

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