Social stratification
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This document defines social stratification as the division of society into hierarchical social classes. It identifies characteristics such as status, wealth, and prestige as social desirables that determine social mobility and stratification. Social mobility refers to the ability of individuals to change their social class, either upwardly or downwardly, within systems of stratification like class, caste, estate, or slavery. Inequality in areas like capital, ethnicity, and disability status can have consequences like disparities in life chances and outcomes. Responses to inequality range from allowing it to continue to socialist or reformist approaches that redistribute resources to address injustice.
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Social stratification
- 1. 6-1
- 2. ObjectivesObjectives Define Social Stratification Identify characteristics of the system of stratification Promote protection of humanity, dignity, rights, and the common good. 6-2
- 3. SocialSocial StratificatioStratificatio nn Division or classification of members of society into different status Development of hierarchy among social groups Exists in all societies* 6-3
- 4. HowHow dodo youyou define yourdefine your status?status? Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd 6-4 Walang Wala Mahirap Ayos lang Medyo Mayaman Mayama n May Kaya POORPOOR MIDDLEMIDDLE CLASSCLASS RICHRICH
- 5. SocialSocial DesirablesDesirables 6-5 Refers to factors that are somewhat accepted or desired in a certain society.
- 6. SocialSocial DesirablesDesirables 6-6 Refers to factors that are somewhat accepted o desired in a certain society. Power – capacity to influence others Wealth – accumulated economic capital Prestige – capacity to influence others
- 7. SocialSocial MobilityMobility 6-7 refers to the ability of people in a society to change their social class. POO R RICRIC HH
- 8. 6-8 SocialSocial MobilityMobility refers to the ability of people in a society to change their social class. • movement between social classes • can be upward or downward
- 9. 6-9 SocialSocial MobilityMobility Identify which of the ff. situations leads to upward or downward mobility promotionpromotion
- 10. 6-10 SocialSocial MobilityMobility refers to the ability of people in a society to change their social class. HORIZONTAL • movement from one status to another with the same category
- 11. 6-11 SocialSocial MobilityMobility refers to the ability of people in a society to change their social class. HORIZONTAL A person who is a factory worker may get a new job in another factory that pays more. He/she would still be considered working class, but they might be able to afford a nicer house or to take a more costly vacation with the money earned from the new job.
- 12. 6-12 SocialSocial MobilityMobility • May cause family problems. • Moving, travelling. • May result in financial burdens. • May also create false expectations. • May lead to disappointments. • Stress and psychological conditions. • Higher incidences of suicide, depression, psychosis.
- 23. CONSEQUENCES OF MATERIAL INEQUALITY • Position in class structure has effect on belief systems, behaviours, voting patterns, lifestyles, and, most importantly, life chances (e.g., health, longevity, educational attainment, criminality) • Increasing inequality may mean more social unrest among the poor But more opposition today from better-organized, better-funded middle class* Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd 6-23
- 24. RESPONDING TO INEQUALITY • Two views: 1. Inequality is inevitable and need not be addressed (tends to be espoused by the well-off) 2. Inequality is unjust and needs to be addressed (tends to be espoused by the poor): i. Socialist response: Overthrow capitalism ii. Reformist response: Government redistribution of wealth to the poor (e.g., through pensions, minimum- wage legislation, unemployment insurance, etc.)* Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd 6-24
Editor's Notes
- Children from poorer families typically do not do as well in school as more affluent children, are more likely to drop out before completing high school, and are less likely to go on to higher education Such effects of poverty are largely responsible for the perpetuation of class inequalities from one generation to the next For a variety of reasons, including better nutrition, access to better health care, and less hazardous working conditions, those who are situated higher in the economic hierarchy are typically healthier than the poor On average, the poor do not live as long as those who are better off Similarly, when dealing with the criminal justice system, those with greater access to and control over economic resources tend to fare better; the poor are consequently overrepresented in jails Life-chances are a function of position in the class structure: Those higher up in the economic hierarchy enjoy a better quality of life For society, increasing inequality may mean more unrest among the poor; but there is more opposition today from better-organized middle class than from the poor
- Reactions to, and recommendations about, inequality reflect personal values and political orientation A large part of the problem lies in the fact that any serious effort to redistribute the wealth and income from the well-off to the poor would probably be opposed by the former