Sem-2, BA-ENG, Sociology II, Unit IV - Theories of Social Stratification I

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Meaning & Nature • Social Stratification refers to the ranking of individuals and groups in any given society. • Tends to be transmitted from one generation to another. • Hierarchical arrangement and establishment of social categories that may evolve into social groups as well as of statuses and their corresponding roles. • Separating people or objects into categories

THEORIES OF SOCIAL STRATIFICATION

Conflict Theory (Karl Marx) 1. Stratification is the result of the struggle among people for limited rewards and it persists in society because the “haves” are determined (exploiters) and equipped to preserve their advantage by dominating and exploiting the “have nots” (exploited). 2. Class conflict over material privilege and power; those who own the means of production and those who sell their labor

Conflict Theory (Karl Marx) 3. Viewed the: nation or state as an instrument of oppression; religion as a method of diverting and controlling the masses; the family as a devise of keeping wealth and education in the hands of the few. 4. People’s lives are centered on how they deal with the material world. The key issue is how wealth is distributed among the people.

Conflict Theory (Karl Marx) 5. Four ways in which wealth can be distributed – To each according to need. Basic economic needs of all of the people are satisfied. – To each according to want. Wealth is distributed according to what people desire and request. – To each according to what is earned. – To each according to what can be taken- by using whatever means. Everyone ruthlessly attempts to acquire much wealth as possible without regard for the hardship that might be brought on others.

Conflict Theory (Max Weber) 1. People are motivated by self interest. 2. Group conflict is a basic ingredient of society. 3. Those who do not have property can defend their interests less well than those who have property. 4. Economic institutions are of fundamental importance in shaping the rest of society.

Conflict Theory (Max Weber) 5. Those in power promote ideas and values that help them maintain their dominance 6. Only when exploitation becomes extremely obvious will the powerless their dominance.

Functionalist Theory (Kingley Davis and Wilbert Moore) • If all the positions that have to be filled in a society were equally important and everyone were equally capable of doing their jobs, there would be no need of stratification. But this is not the case. Some tasks are clearly more necessary than others, and some require a great deal more talent and training. • Social inequality is viewed as both necessary and constructive.

Similarities of Stratification Theories (Theodore D. Kemper) • Both theories acknowledge that the evaluation of the contributions of jobs to society also determines unequal rewards. • The Marxist theory leans heavily on the significance of power in the distribution of resources; while the functionalists emphasize the necessity of assigning some position or work higher status than others. • Both theories recognize that social power plays a part in determining the unequal distribution of rewards.

Comparison of Stratification Theories Functionalist View Conflict Theory 1. Stratification is universal, 1 Stratification may be necessary and inevitable. universal without being necessary and inevitable. 2. Social organization 2. The stratification (the social system) system shapes social shapes the organizations (social stratification system. system).

Comparison of Stratification Theories Functionalist View Conflict Theory 3. Stratification arises 3. Stratification arises from the societal need from group conquest, for integration, competition, and coordination and conflict. cohesion. 4. Stratification impeded 4. Stratification facilitates the optimal functioning the optimal functioning of society and the of society and the individual. individual.

Comparison of Stratification Theories Functionalist View Conflict Theory 5. Stratification is an 5. Stratification is an expression of expression of the commonly shared values of powerful social values. groups. 6. Power is usually 6. Power is usually legitimately distributed illegitimately in society. distributed in society.

Comparison of Stratification Theories Functionalist View Conflict Theory 7. Tasks and rewards are 7 Tasks and rewards equitably allocated. are inequitably allocated. 8. The economic dimensions is 8. The economic subordinate to other dimension is dimensions of society. paramount in society.

Comparison of Stratification Theories Functionalist View Conflict Theory 9. Stratification systems 9. Stratification generally change systems often through evolutionary change through processes. revolutionary process.

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