Social Stratification

Social Startification
The basic component of social organization,

which refers to the ranking of iindividuals and groups in any given society. It is the hierarchal arrangement and establishment of social categories, as well as May be viewed as: status and their corresponding roles.

Social Structure May be viewd as the differentiation of status and social roles into ranked orders Social process It may be viewed as splitting up of society into social categories that develop into social groups Social problem
cooperating,competing, conflicting - for and of strong It involves bitter feelings of discontent demands for equality or social justice.

Concepts in social stratification

Attribution.

Stereotype
Self-fulfilling prophecies Social Comparisons A fair world Just world hypothesies

 Differentiation
Refers how things or people can be

distinguished from one another. (e.g. Skin, colors of hair)

Stratification
Refers to the ranking of things or people, separating

them into categories.

Dimensions of Stratification
Wealth and income.
The income of any family depends on what its

members earn and what they own. WEALTH what people own, and is often inherited. INCOME how much people get; the amount of money a person or group receives.

Inequalties of Power
ability to control ones own life (personal power) And to control or influence the actions of others (social power) Power is a fundamental and inherent element in all human interaction

 Inqualities of prestige
The social recognition that a person or group

receives from others. The esteem, respect, or approval that is granted by an individual Provides people with a sense of worth and respect, a feeling that somehow they are accepted by others.

Theories of Social Stratification

Conflict Theory
Stratification is the result of struggle among

people. Exploiters- strives to maintain its advantage over subordinate groups. In a capitalist society, the struggle takes place between:
Bourgeosie-capitalist who own the means of

production Proletariat- the workers who sell their labor

Four Ways of Wealth Distribution

To each according to needbasic economic needs of all the people are satisfied. Material needs not included 2. To each according to wantdistributed according to what people desire and request. Material needs now included. 3. To each according to what is earned- people who live according to this system become themselves the source of their own wealth. 4. To each according to what can be taken- by using whatever means. In this system, everyone ruthlessly attempts to acquire as much wealth as possible
1.

Functionalist Theory
Kingsley Davis elaborated the idea that

stratification plays an important function in society, joined by Wilbert Moore. Their argument simply states that the different jobs that have to be filled in the society are not equally important and not everyone is equally capable to them that is why stratification exists .

The Functionalist View 1. Stratification is necessary, universal and inevitable. 2. Social Organization shapes the stratification system. 3. Stratification arises from the societal need for integration, coordination, and cohesion. 4. Stratification facilitates the optimal functioning of society and the individual

The Conflict View 1. Stratification may be universal without being necessary and inevitable 2. The stratification system shapes social organizations 3. Stratification arises from group conquest, competition and conflict 4. Stratification impedes the optimal functioning of society and the individual

5. Stratification is an expression 5. Stratification is an expression of commonly shared social values of the values of powerful group

6.Power is usually legitimately distributed in society

7. Tasks and rewards are equitably allocated

6. Power is usually illegitimately distributed in society

7. Tasks and rewards are inequitably allocated

8.The economic dimension is subordinate to other dimension of society 9. Stratification systems generally change through evolutionary process

8. The economic dimension is paramount in society

9. Stratification systems often change through revolutionary process

Typical of the Class System according to Fichter:

1.

The Upper Class

Great wealth Recognize one another Recognized by others by reputation

and lifestyle Have influence in the societys basic economic and political structure Usually isolates itself from the rest of the society

Typical of the Class System according to Fichter:

2. The Upper-Middle Class
Made up of successful business and

professional people Usually below the top in the organizational hierarchy They often have a college education, own property, and have money savings Active in civic groups

Typical of the Class System according to Fichter:

3. The Lower-Middle Class
Usually high school or vocational education

graduates with modest incomes Lesser professionals, clerical and sales workers, and upper-level manual laborers Emphasize respectability and security Politically and economically conservative

Typical of the Class System according to Fichter:

4. The Working Class
Blue-collar workers Keep the countrys machinery going Live adequately but with little left over for

luxuries Very much involved with their extended families Many have not finished high school

Typical of the Class System according to Fichter:

5. The Lower Class
At the bottom of the economic

ladder They have little in the way of education or occupational skills Unemployed or underemployed Often have many problems Have little knowledge of world events Not involved with their communities

Indicators of Social Mobility

1.

Power
Max Weber: ability to attain goals, control events,

and maintain influence over others even in the face of opposition. In poor countries, its usually attributed to people who have the wealth and position People Empowerment a movement aimed at liberating the poor people from their poverty, and the powerless people from their situation

Indicators of Social Mobility

2. Prestige
Consists of the approval and respect on individual

or group receives from other members of society 2 kinds of prestige:

Esteem - open to all

- consists of the appreciation and respect a person wins in his or her daily interpersonal relationships Honor - more difficult to achieve - acquire prestige simply by virtue of their positions and social statuses

Indicators of Social Mobility

3. Wealth
Sometimes referred as Economic Indicator Total economic assets of the individual or a family

Social Mobility
Is the movement of an individual or a group within

a stratification system that changes the individuals or groups status in society. Types of social mobility:
Vertical mobilityrefers to the movement of

individuals from lower to higher status ina social stratification system.

Upward mobility promotion in rank in army Downward mobility demotion

Horizontal mobility movvement that involves a

change in status with no change in social class.

changing in ones occupation, marrying into a

certain family and other.

Social Mobility
Physical Mobility known as Geographical

Migration, the movement of people from one geographical spot to another.

Forced relocation of large groups of people,

dispossession of unwanted people, voluntary permanent migration.

Role Mobility individuals only perform one

action at a time which result in a shifting from role to role.

Factors Affecting Social Mobility

Hardwork
True to society adopting the open system of stratification Rags to Riches success stories

Social Structure
Sometimes serve as an enhancing or deterring factor During the period of expansion, the number of professional and technical jobs increases In times of need, one who is on the lower class but with skills can rise to the social ladder

Societal Norms and Values

The value people place in education and other factors can lead individuals to advancement to higher social strata

Level of Education
By obtaining higher education, one can be able to climb up the social ladder and be able to move away the poverty line

Marriage
Marriage to someone with higher social stratum can pull the other to his/her social stratum In Filipino context, when a a girl marries a rich man, it is not only the girl who climbs the social ladder but also her family

Luck
Filipinos believe in swerte that it is one way for them to move to a higher social stratum This is the primary reason why games of luck such as raffles, sweepstakes, etc., are
very popular in the country