What Do Sociologists Mean by Social Stratification?
What do sociologists mean by social stratification? Discuss its consequences for society and for individuals living within it. Illustrate and support your response with sociological argument and evidence.
Sociologists have varying views on social stratification, therefore their approach to how it can impact society and individuals results in very different concepts. This piece of work will identify and discuss the key points which are significant to the sociological debate.
Social Stratification is ‘a system by which society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy’ (Macionis & Plummer: 2006:190). Stratification involves the layering of society into strata where a hierarchy emerges. Social stratification involves the classification of people into groups based on shared socio-economic conditions, which results in inequalities within society with individual and social, political, economic and ideological consequences.
All stratification systems will have five common features. Social stratification will continue throughout generations and individuals within each society must believe in the system for it to function. It can be found in societies all over the world but levels of inequality will differ from one society to another. Stratification is a characteristic of society, not just a reflection of inequality between individuals yet it produces shared characteristics within each strata; each member of society will identify with the group they subjectively or objectively belong. There are two types of social stratification, open and closed. Within open systems, an individual’s social position will be ascribed at birth; however some degree of social mobility is possible. Within a closed system, the social position of an individual is again ascribed at birth but there will be little or no opportunity to change that social position.
The functionality of social stratification is interpreted differently by the various theoretical perspectives of sociology.
Sociologists have varying views on social stratification, therefore their approach to how it can impact society and individuals results in very different concepts. This piece of work will identify and discuss the key points which are significant to the sociological debate.
Social Stratification is ‘a system by which society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy’ (Macionis & Plummer: 2006:190). Stratification involves the layering of society into strata where a hierarchy emerges. Social stratification involves the classification of people into groups based on shared socio-economic conditions, which results in inequalities within society with individual and social, political, economic and ideological consequences.
All stratification systems will have five common features. Social stratification will continue throughout generations and individuals within each society must believe in the system for it to function. It can be found in societies all over the world but levels of inequality will differ from one society to another. Stratification is a characteristic of society, not just a reflection of inequality between individuals yet it produces shared characteristics within each strata; each member of society will identify with the group they subjectively or objectively belong. There are two types of social stratification, open and closed. Within open systems, an individual’s social position will be ascribed at birth; however some degree of social mobility is possible. Within a closed system, the social position of an individual is again ascribed at birth but there will be little or no opportunity to change that social position.
The functionality of social stratification is interpreted differently by the various theoretical perspectives of sociology.
Bibliography: (Macionis & Plummer): Sociology: A Global Introduction: 2006 (Davis & Moore): American Sociological Review: 1945 (Macionis & Plummer): Sociology: A Global Introduction: 2005 (Taylor et al): Sociology in Focus: 2002 (Tumin, Melvin): American Sociological Review: 1953 (Karl Marx): The Communist Manifesto: 1848 (Reay): Sociology Review: 2007 http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/politics/class-divides-remain-%241178568.htm: 29:12:12