Stratification and Differentiation – Key Concepts and Study Guide 1 of 54 2026-03-28
Stratification and
Differentiation – Key
Concepts and Study Guide
StratificationGuidehttps://www.stuvia.com/dashboard!@_)#*)(@$)($@*($@)($@*_
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Terms in this set (116)
Stratification System of ranking people in a social hierarchy.
Stratification is done through differentiation - this creates inequalities.
Differentiation Criteria for categorisation e.g. income, class, gender
Definitions of Stratification Crompton:
-hierarchical system that seeks to justify inequality
Giddens:
- structured inequalities between groups of people
Closed Stratification System - System with little room for social mobility between stratum.
- Status is therefore ascribed.
Open Stratification System - System with opportunity for social mobility between stratum.
- Status is therefore achieved.
Stratification and Differentiation.pdf 2 Stratification and Differentiation.pdf
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Systems of Stratification (1) SLAVERY: e.g. USA Southern plantations
- Division between powerful freemen and oppressed slaves, based on
ethnicity, relatively closed system.
(2) AGE SET: e.g. Australia's Aboriginals
- Older = more important, closed system.
(3) CASTE: e.g. India
- Division based on religion, stratums; Brahims = most power, wealth,
status vs Untouchables = least power, wealth, status, ascribed, but can
be changed through reincarnation.
Systems of Stratification (continued) (4) CLASS: e.g. UK, USA, Germany
- Divisions between unequal levels of power, wealth, status, open
system, achieved by merit - but birth can affect position.
(5) GENDER:
- Closed system
(6) ESTATE:
- Relatively closed but occasional social mobility.
Stratification and Differentiation.pdf 3 Stratification and Differentiation.pdf
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Measuring Class: Occupational Scales Class I Professional (top - e.g. accountants VS. Class V Unskilled
(bottom - e.g. ticket collectors.
Criticisms
- Inaccurate; job status changed over time.
- Some occupations became deskilled and disappeared.
- Doesn't account for unemployed.
- Use male head of household to classify whole families.
(1) REGISTRAR GENERAL 1901:
Measuring Class: Occupational Scales - Ranks jobs by social desirability and status.
- Considers autonomy in workplace, amount of control employee has
over position.
- This scale created an intermediate class.
- Based on occupation of male head of household.
- Higher professionals vs semi- and unskilled workers.
(3) HOPE-GOLDTHORPE
Stratification and Differentiation.pdf 4 Stratification and Differentiation.pdf
Stratification and
Differentiation – Key
Concepts and Study Guide
StratificationGuidehttps://www.stuvia.com/dashboard!@_)#*)(@$)($@*($@)($@*_
and Differentiation – Key Concepts and Study Guide.pdf 1 Stratification and Differentiation – Key Concepts and Study Guide.pdf
,Stratification and Differentiation 2 of 54 2026-03-28
Terms in this set (116)
Stratification System of ranking people in a social hierarchy.
Stratification is done through differentiation - this creates inequalities.
Differentiation Criteria for categorisation e.g. income, class, gender
Definitions of Stratification Crompton:
-hierarchical system that seeks to justify inequality
Giddens:
- structured inequalities between groups of people
Closed Stratification System - System with little room for social mobility between stratum.
- Status is therefore ascribed.
Open Stratification System - System with opportunity for social mobility between stratum.
- Status is therefore achieved.
Stratification and Differentiation.pdf 2 Stratification and Differentiation.pdf
,Stratification and Differentiation 3 of 54 2026-03-28
Systems of Stratification (1) SLAVERY: e.g. USA Southern plantations
- Division between powerful freemen and oppressed slaves, based on
ethnicity, relatively closed system.
(2) AGE SET: e.g. Australia's Aboriginals
- Older = more important, closed system.
(3) CASTE: e.g. India
- Division based on religion, stratums; Brahims = most power, wealth,
status vs Untouchables = least power, wealth, status, ascribed, but can
be changed through reincarnation.
Systems of Stratification (continued) (4) CLASS: e.g. UK, USA, Germany
- Divisions between unequal levels of power, wealth, status, open
system, achieved by merit - but birth can affect position.
(5) GENDER:
- Closed system
(6) ESTATE:
- Relatively closed but occasional social mobility.
Stratification and Differentiation.pdf 3 Stratification and Differentiation.pdf
, Stratification and Differentiation 4 of 54 2026-03-28
Measuring Class: Occupational Scales Class I Professional (top - e.g. accountants VS. Class V Unskilled
(bottom - e.g. ticket collectors.
Criticisms
- Inaccurate; job status changed over time.
- Some occupations became deskilled and disappeared.
- Doesn't account for unemployed.
- Use male head of household to classify whole families.
(1) REGISTRAR GENERAL 1901:
Measuring Class: Occupational Scales - Ranks jobs by social desirability and status.
- Considers autonomy in workplace, amount of control employee has
over position.
- This scale created an intermediate class.
- Based on occupation of male head of household.
- Higher professionals vs semi- and unskilled workers.
(3) HOPE-GOLDTHORPE
Stratification and Differentiation.pdf 4 Stratification and Differentiation.pdf
