Social class is a group of people having the same social status based on characteristics like education, wealth, occupation, and income. There are typically upper, middle, and lower social classes that are hierarchical. Membership in a social class is achieved through individual effort rather than ascribed by birth. Common characteristics of social classes include being a system of social stratification, having a hierarchical order, being an open system where status can change, having a common mode of life, and being based on economic differences. Social classes can be classified based on mode of earning a livelihood, economic conditions, or educational achievements. A social unit is a group that functions together in society, ranging from micro-level individuals and families, to meso-

1. Social Class
Franklin S. Ghoroza

2. Meaning of class
Class is a group of people having the same
social status with respect to certain
characteristic. These characteristics are not
ascribed(given by birth) usually, but are
earned through indivisible efforts.

3. Meaning of Social Class
A social class or social stratum is a grouping
of people into a set of hierarchical social
categories, the most common being the
upper, middle and lower classes. Membership
in a social class can for example be
dependent on education, wealth, occupation,
income, and belonging to a particular
subculture or social network.

4. Definition of Social Class
 Lapiere-
“A social Class is a culturally defined group that is accorded
particular position or status within the population as a whole.”
 Maclver and Page-
“A social class is a portion of community marked off from the rest
by social status.”
 Ogburn and Nimkof-
“A social Class is the aggregate of persons having essentially the
same social status in a given society”

5. Characteristics of social class
 Element of social stratification:
Class is a system of Social Stratification and almost universal.
 Hierarchical:
Classes also have a hierarchical order in relation to each other’s.
 Open system:
Class is an open system, because, a person can change his status by his efforts.
 Class is achieved:
It is not based on birth like caste, but is achieved by individual qualities of efforts.
 Common mode of life:
People of the same social class have usually a common mode of life, and this may
be differentiated from other classes.
 Economic differences:
Class system is based primarily upon economic differences among social groups.

6. Classification of social class
 On the basis of mode of earning livelihood:
1. Business class
2. Professional
3. Labor class
 On the basis of economic conditions:
1. Upper class
2. Middle class
3. Lower class
 On the basis of educational achievements:
1. Uneducated
2. Less educated
3. Highly educated

7. Social unit
A person or a group of persons, as a family,
functioning as a unit in society.
A social unit is a group of individuals forming a
cohesive structure based on shared relationships,
values, goals, or identity. It can include various
forms such as families, tribes, communities,
organizations or societies, and it is fundamental to
the structure of social organization and
interactions.

8. Levels of Social Unit
 Micro-level:
The smallest unit of analysis in the social sciences is an
individual in their social setting. At the micro level, the
research population typically is an individual in their social
setting or small group of individuals in particular social
context.
EXAMPLES:
1. Person
2. Citizen

9. Contd..
 The Meso-level:
This indicates a population size that falls between the micro- and
macro levels, such as community or an organization. This can also
be referred as designed to reveal connection between micro- and
macro- levels.
EXAMPLES:
1. Clan
2. Tribe
3. Community
4. Village, town

10. Contd…
 Macro level:
It generally trace the outcomes of interactions, such as
economic or other resource transfer interactions over a large
population. Also referred to as global level.
EXAMPLES:
1. Nation
2. Society
3. Global

11. Thankyou!