Social stratification involves ranking individuals and groups within a society into categories of relative prestige and status. There are two main types: open stratification which allows for social mobility, and closed stratification which restricts mobility based on ascribed characteristics. In rural India, social stratification occurs along lines of land ownership and is classified into large farmers, medium farmers, small farmers, marginal farmers, and agricultural laborers. Caste also plays a role, with higher castes typically owning more land. While the system was once closed, modern trends like education, industrialization, and laws have introduced some changes and opened up social mobility.

1. RURAL SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION

2. Gradational (hierarchical) status of
persons or groups in a society
Ranking of people / groups into
socially superior or inferior positions.
In equality status of people / group
What is social stratification?

3.  Ogburn and Nimkoff
Social stratification is the process in
which individuals or groups are ranked in a
mere or less enduring hierarchy of status
 J.S Rucek and R.L Warren
Social stratification is the vertical division
of society into different social status levels.
These social levels may be social classes or
castes.

4. Social standing / position of an individual /
group in relation to others
There are two types of social status
a) Achieved status: It is the position of an individual
/ group secured by his / her / their efforts /
competence. Eg: IAS officer, Doctor, Scientist
b) Ascribed Status: It is the position accorded to an
individual or group on certain social factors like
caste. Age, religion, race, sex, etc., which are beyond
his / her / their control. Eg: caste, status.
Social Status

5. Types of social stratification
Open social stratification
Ample scope to change one’s status through
efforts, which could be mostly seen in industrially
advanced societies. Eg: Social classes
Closed social stratification
 No scope for changing one’s status which is
ascribed at birth on certain social factors, which
are beyond the control of a person. This be
mostly seen in traditional societies.
Eg: Caste system of an India.

6. Social Class
Two major forms of social stratification
1. Social class
2.Caste system
Social class
 It is a group of persons having more or less similar
status.
 It is a portion of the community marked off from the
rest on the basis of social status as superior or inferior.
 Social class is a status group.

7. Social class are found in the
form
1. Upper class.
2. Middle class.
3. Lower class.
In Rural society the class structure is based on
the extent of land processed by people
 Large farmers.
 Medium farmers.
 Small farmers.
 Marginal farmers.
 Agricultural laborers.

8. Features/Characteristics of social class
1. Social class is a status group
 The basis of a social class is the social status of relative superiority
or inferiority, which determines the degree of prestige and influence,
which the social class enjoys in a society.
2. Social class is culturally a homogenous group
 The members of a social class have a similar attitudes, beliefs,
mannerism, dress pattern, use similar modes of conveyance. This
helps the class to maintain its distinct position in society.
3. Predominance of class consciousness
 Class consciousness refers to the feeling of having similar social
position. The members of a social class constitute of something of an
in-group because of similarity in status and modes of living. They
recognize one another as social equals and distinguish in number of
ways between themselves and the members of other classes.
4. Social class involves social distance
 Social distance refers to lack of free interactions among the members
of group. social class system promotes free interactions among the
members of different social classes. This is known as the social
distance in caste system.
5. Social class is an open system
 Social class system is always open since, there is a scope for the
people to move upward or downward in their class status based on
their efforts.

9. Agrarian class structure in India
Based on the extent of land holdings
1. Large farmers
 10 acres or 4 hectares.
 Higher caste groups in the village community.
 Economically well off and therefore they take
active part in the political, social and economic
spears of village.
 Play only the supervisory role and get their
agriculture works done by the hired laborers.
 Adopt modern agricultural technology and hence
they get good returns.
 Very good contact with the development agents
and they reap almost all developmental benefits.

10. 2. Medium farmers
 Land between 5 and 10 acres (2 and 4 hectares) i.e., more
than 5 acres and less than 10 acres).
 Belong to high and middle level caste groups.
 Relatively well off and hence exert good influence on the
village socio – economic and political life.
 They do their agriculture works on their own and they use
hired laborers only at the time of emergency.
 Medium farmers have relatively good contacts with
development agents and they know about development
programs meant for rural people and they get relatively
better benefits from the programs.
 Both the large and medium farmers constitute about 20 % of
rural population and own 80 % of the land.

11. 3. Small and Marginal farmers
 Small farmers own 2.5 to 5 acres (1-2 hectares).
 Medium farmers own less than 2.5 acres (<1 hectares).
 Both small and marginal farmers generally belong to the
middle and low-level caste groups.
 These farmers are in the state of poverty in view of the low
returns from the impoverished lands.
 They are economically poor and hardly wield any influence
in the village socio economic and political life.
 These farmers attend to their agricultural works on their own
and in times of emergent agricultural operations they
engage mutual labor.
 They hardly have access to the development agents and
therefore, they are for most of the times do not get their due
share of development benefits.
 Both the small and marginal farmers constitute 80 % of the
rural pollution and own 20 % of land holdings.

12. 4. Agricultural laborers
 No land
 Work as laborers in the fields of large and medium
farmers.
 They derive livelihood from wage labor.
 These labors generally belong to the low caste
groups like scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and
other backward caste groups.
 They are very poor and hence they hardly influence
the village socio economic and political life.
 These laborers are mostly working as bonded
laborers with the large farmers.
 They also have no access to the development
agents / agencies and hence they do not get their
due share of development benefits.

13. Determinants of social class
1. Income and wealth
2. Education
3. Occupation
These three factors are highly correlated with
each other i.e., if a person is high on one of
these factors, he is likely to be high on the
others. Education is associated with good
jobs; good jobs are associated with high
incomes and good occupation.

14. Caste system in India
 The word caste has been originated from the Spanish
word “casta” which means race or kind or a complex
of hereditary qualities.
 The Portuguese had first used the word casta to a
section of population in India know “Jaati”.
 The British’s used an English term called “caste” as
equivalent to “Jaati” where the people were being
identified.
 Caste pervades (encompasses) the entire garment
(fabric) of the social life be it marriage, occupation,
political, education or religious aspects of life. This is
why caste is called be all and end all of Indian social life.
 M N Srinivas, the pioneer of Rural sociology in India said
that if one wants to have comprehensive knowledge of
Indian social life, he has to study the caste in addition to
other dimensions of social life.

15. Meaning of caste
M N Srinivas defines caste as groups
of people which often (but not always)
have association with hereditary
occupation who maintain their distinct
position in society by eating or
marrying among themselves minimize
contacts with members of other out
groups.

16. Features of Indian caste system
G S Ghurye
1.Segmental division of Indian society
 Castes has been divided into number of sub castes and
each one has their own ways of living. In view of this,
Indian society is called multi caste society.
 According to an estimate there are about 10,000 castes
and sub castes in India and the membership of which is
determined by birth of an individual into them.
 If one is fortunate enough to have birth into higher caste
he or she is given status and privileges. While if a person
is born into a low caste his status will be low and
privileges will also be less.
 A person lives with in the caste, because it offers heartiest
nearest help at times of crisis and also provide sense of
belongingness and security (emotional).
.

17. 2. Social and religious hierarchy
 The castes found in Indian society are stratified
i.e., ranked into superior and inferior positions
based as ritual purity.
The high caste is believed to be more pure and less
polluted and hence, they enjoy higher status.
 The low caste is considered as low pure and more
polluted and gives low status.
Higher the caste more are the privileges and
opportunities, lower the caste less are the privileges
and opportunities

18. 3. Caste endogamy
 Every caste has certain norms which insist the members to
marry with in the sub caste or caste.
 This is known as caste endogamy.
 This is insisted upon the members of the caste in order to
maintain racial and ritual purity.
 The violation of this results in ridicule, gossip, mockery,
excommunication from the caste.
4. Restrictions on feeding and social intercourse
 In every caste there are certain norms which defines as to
what food should be eaten by the members and from whom
they accept the food.
 Generally, the members of each caste eat the food among
themselves or from higher caste, this does not results in any
defilement of the caste but members of that caste should not
accept the food from other castes, this is because of possible
defilement.
 The inter caste marriage is not allowed and this is
“commensality taboo”.

19.  The caste also have norms which specify who should have
interaction with whom generally the high caste avoid or minimize
interaction with the members of low castes in order to maintain
their distinct status in the society.
 However the changes are now occurred in this regard we find the
members working together, traveling together, rubbing each others
shoulder without consideration of the caste. This is the changing
aspect of the caste. Eg: A Brahmin will accept “pakka” food i.e.,
food prepared in ghee from other community, but he can accept
“Kachcha” food at the hands of no other caste. In Kerala – A nair
may approach Namboodiri Brahmin but must not touch him.
5. Lack of unrestricted choice of occupation
(Restricted choice of occupation)
 Traditionally speaking every caste has its own hereditary occupation
 a violation of this is dealt with seriously.
 However, there has been change in this regard as the members of
the different caste groups have taken to other secular and
economically remunerative occupation as against their traditional or
caste based occupation, this is tolerated and accepted.

20. 6. Civil and religious disabilities and privileges
 The civil and religious facilities such as the entry
into public temple, drawing of water from public
well, burying of dead body in burial ground
construction of houses in any part of the
community are being used by the higher caste and
hence they are considered to be privileged sections
of the Indian society.
This is because of their higher caste status. These
facilities are deprived to the low caste people
particularly Harijanas (SC/STs) consequently they
face disabilities in Indian society.

21. Demerits of caste system
 Segregation of Hindu society and an obstacle to the national unity
 Against to the social progress
 Undemocratic: denies equal right to all.
 Untouchability: Acc to Gandhiji untouchability is a hate fullest
expression of caste-induced slavery, child marriage, and dowry
Merits of caste system
 Spirit of co-operation.
 Maintains racial purity
 Cultural diffusion / transfusion and political.
 Stable organization stabilizer.
 Provided for social solidarity and co-operation
 Division of labor.

22. Some of the factors which introduced
changes in caste system (Modern trends of
caste system)
 British administration and reform movement:
Movements like Arya samaj, Brahma Samaj were
started by leading persons like Rajaram Mohan Roy,
Devendranath Tagore, Dayanand Saraswathi and
others.
 Industrialization and modern civilization.
 Modern education system.
 Political agitation or national struggle.
 Increased importance of wealth.
 Amendment to Indian constitution and the rule of
social legislation.