SOCIOLOGY - STRATIFICATION
Men have long dreamed of an egalitarian society, a society in which all members are equal. No one will be
placed in a position that will be higher or lower, superior or inferior in relation to other. No one will suffer
the indignity of being related to a position which commands little respect. Wealth will be distributed equally
among the population. The rich and poor, have and have-not’s will be a thing of the past. In an egalitarian
society, the phrase’ power to the people’ will become reality. No longer will some have power over others.
Exploitation and oppression will be the concepts of the history which have no place in the description of
contemporary social reality
Social inequality is a universal phenomenon in all societies. It can exist either in form of a hierarchy of
groups or individuals or it may exist without the creation of a hierarchy. In the former case it is called social
hierarchy. While in the latter case it is known as social differentiation for in almost all societies men and
women are treated unequally. If social inequality manifests itself in the form of a hierarchy involving
ranking of groups then it is known as social stratification, thus social stratification is a particular case of
the social inequality. Social stratification is essentially a group phenomenon
Equality:
“Equality” has been one of the cherished values of the people since times immemorial. But social
inequality has been the fact of human group life. J.J. Rousseau, one of the intellectuals behind the
French Revolution of 1789, had recognized this fact when he said that “men are born free and equal
but everywhere they are in chains”. The quest for equality and the struggle against inequality and
injustice continue even today.
Broadly the term equality refers to “the state of being equal in some respect”. Equality or social
equality refers to a condition in which members of a group or society have equal access to, wealth,
prestige, or power.
Though the term ‘equality’ has political, legal and philosophical overtones, most of the sociological
discussions have focused on equality as an aspect of social context. Ever since the time of the French
Revolution and the growth of liberal democracies in Europe, equality has usually been interpreted
mostly as political equality. For example, liberal democracy assumes that equality means equality
between individuals as citizens. Here, equality includes constitutional rights, that is, the fundamental
Rights, the right to hold political office, the right to exercise all civic rights, etc.
Social Equality Emphasizes the Fair Distribution of Income and Wealth: The liberal democratic
concern with individual equality does not give prominence for equality of income and wealth. The
, critics have argued that the unequal distribution of income and wealth undermine all the other
attempts at equality. Because, the holders of material wealth or resources, always have an advantage
over other citizens. Sociologists have demonstrated how material resources affect people’s life
chances. For example, they have shown how material resources have been affecting child’s progress
in the educational system. Such an access to material resources also affects one’s access to education
and legal representation.
Equalitarian Objectives of welfare Still Remain Unfulfilled: Various empirical researches have
clearly shown that DESPITE THE attempts to provide various social services to the needy people
particularly in the fields of education, housing, health care, income maintenance, etc. inequalities
have persisted and, in some cases, actually increased. It is surprising to note that the western
experience with the liberal democracies has revealed that the equalitarian objectives of welfare are
not acceptable to the majority.
Inequality: UN has defined Inequality as “The state of not being equal, especially in status, rights &
Opportunities”
We can say that there are two types of inequality:
o Natural and
o Man Made
So far as the natural inequality is concerned with reference to age, sex, height, weight etc. the man
made inequality may be horizontal or vertical e.g. different occupational groups perform different
activities but when these groups become social groups in the sense that they are placed hierarchically
and they have interaction within the group and at the inter-strata level, then such type of inequality
is called social inequality.
Usage of the Concept of Social inequality in the Analysis of Social Stratification: The term social
inequality refers to the socially created inequalities. Stratification is a particular form of social
inequality. It refers to the presence of social groups which are ranked one above the other in terms
of the power, prestige and wealth their members possess. Those who belong to a particular group or
stratum will have some awareness of common interest and common identity. They will share a
similar life-style which will distinguish them from the members of other social strata. Hindu society
in traditional India was divided into five main strata: four Varnas and fifth group, the out caste or
untouchables. These strata are arranged in a hierarchy with the Brahmins at the top and untouchables
at the bottom. Such inequality has been perceived by the earlier thinkers in different terms like
economic, political, religious etc.
, PLATO was one of the first to acknowledge that inequality is inevitable and to suggest ways in which
the distribution of money, status and power could be altered for the betterment of both the individual
and the society.
The society that Plato envisioned is explicitly meant to be class-structured, so that all citizens belong
to one of three classes:
o (i) (a) ruling (b) non-ruling (ii) Auxiliaries or the workers.
o He eliminated inheritance of class status and provided equality of opportunities regardless
of birth.
However, To Plato, inequalities could be coercive and legitimate and legitimate inequality is
instrumental for social progress.
Aristotle was clearly concerned with the consequences of inequality in birth, strength and wealth. He
talked about three classes: (i) Very Rich, (ii) Very Poor, and (iii) Moderate.
Aristotle supported limited citizenship based on gender &wealth.
Machiavelli asked who is fit to rule and what form of rule will produce order, happiness, prosperity
and strength. He saw tension between elite and the masses. He preferred democratic rule. About the
selection for ruling positions he advocated inequality in situation is legitimate so long as there has
been equality of opportunity to become unequal.
Thomas Hobbes saw all men equally interested in acquiring power and privileges, which leads to
chaotic conditions, unless there is a set of rules by which they agree to abide. These rules constitute
“Social Contract”, under which people give the right to one man to rule, who has collective desire
and will. The sovereign can be removed if he fails to come up to the maintenance of equality for
safety of all men.
Max Weber emphasized the existence of three types of groups based on different forms of inequality
and the fact that they may be independent of one another. Weber suggested three types of market
situations (i) labour market, (ii) money market, and (iii) commodity market. Weber termed the second
from of inequality social honour or prestige and the third form of inequality for Weber was power.
As exemplified by caste, social stratification involves a hierarchy of social groups. Members of a
particular group have common identity, like interests, and similar life-style. They enjoy or suffer
from the unequal distribution of rewards in societies as members of different social groups.
Social stratification however is only one form of social inequality. It is possible for social inequality
to exist without social strata. It is stated that a hierarchy of social groups has been replaced by a
hierarchy of individuals. Although many sociologists use the term inequality and social stratification
interchangeably, social stratification is seen as a specific form of social inequality.
, Some Salient Aspects of Social Inequality:
Social Inequality is the Result of Differentiation: All societies differentiate among their members.
Some people who have certain characteristics are treated differently from other, people. Every
society for that matter differentiates between the old and the young and between males and females.
Society treats its members in different ways on various grounds such as skin colour, religion, physical
strength, or educational achievement. The result of this differentiation is nothing but inequality.
Social Inequality is Universal: In no society of the world all people has equal recognition. It is in
this simple sense; inequality is universal in human societies. Thus, in all societies known to us, large
or small, modern or extinct, there have been distinct differences in the statuses of the individual
members. Social inequality is apparent when a society values male over females, the rich over the
poor, Christians over Muslims, or Brahmins over the Dalits or Whites over Blacks, and so on. It goes
without telling that those with the higher status have a superior access to whatever rewards the society
offers. At the same time, those with the lower status are deprived of these advantages.
Social Inequality is Normally Built into the Social Structure: In all the modern societies, social
inequality takes a much elaborate and structured form in which different categories of people have
different statuses. In these societies, inequality is built into the social structure, and unequal statuses
are passed down from generation to generation. Like the layers of rock, people in these societies are
grouped into “strata”. People in anyone stratum have a different access to social rewards than people
in any other stratum, so the society as a whole is said to be stratified.
Social Inequality is a Source of Social Conflict and Social Change: Inequality Is one of the most
pressing social problems of the present-day society. Throughout history, social inequality has been a
source of tensions, revolutions and social change. It has generated bloody conflict between slave and
master, peasant and noble, worker and capitalist, poor and rich. Ever since Karl Marx brought the
issue of social inequality to the fore front of political debate with his Communist Manifesto in 1848,
these tensions and conflicts have assumed global ‘importance. Social inequality is strongly related
to various other problems of our society such as - social instability, economic ups and downs, political
conflicts, potential violence, status insecurities, fear and uncertainties, and so on.
Social Inequalities are not Necessarily based on Natural or Biological Inequalities: Many
stratification systems are accompanied by beliefs which state social inequalities are biologically
based. For example, Whites claim biological superiority over Blacks, and see ‘this as the basis for
Men have long dreamed of an egalitarian society, a society in which all members are equal. No one will be
placed in a position that will be higher or lower, superior or inferior in relation to other. No one will suffer
the indignity of being related to a position which commands little respect. Wealth will be distributed equally
among the population. The rich and poor, have and have-not’s will be a thing of the past. In an egalitarian
society, the phrase’ power to the people’ will become reality. No longer will some have power over others.
Exploitation and oppression will be the concepts of the history which have no place in the description of
contemporary social reality
Social inequality is a universal phenomenon in all societies. It can exist either in form of a hierarchy of
groups or individuals or it may exist without the creation of a hierarchy. In the former case it is called social
hierarchy. While in the latter case it is known as social differentiation for in almost all societies men and
women are treated unequally. If social inequality manifests itself in the form of a hierarchy involving
ranking of groups then it is known as social stratification, thus social stratification is a particular case of
the social inequality. Social stratification is essentially a group phenomenon
Equality:
“Equality” has been one of the cherished values of the people since times immemorial. But social
inequality has been the fact of human group life. J.J. Rousseau, one of the intellectuals behind the
French Revolution of 1789, had recognized this fact when he said that “men are born free and equal
but everywhere they are in chains”. The quest for equality and the struggle against inequality and
injustice continue even today.
Broadly the term equality refers to “the state of being equal in some respect”. Equality or social
equality refers to a condition in which members of a group or society have equal access to, wealth,
prestige, or power.
Though the term ‘equality’ has political, legal and philosophical overtones, most of the sociological
discussions have focused on equality as an aspect of social context. Ever since the time of the French
Revolution and the growth of liberal democracies in Europe, equality has usually been interpreted
mostly as political equality. For example, liberal democracy assumes that equality means equality
between individuals as citizens. Here, equality includes constitutional rights, that is, the fundamental
Rights, the right to hold political office, the right to exercise all civic rights, etc.
Social Equality Emphasizes the Fair Distribution of Income and Wealth: The liberal democratic
concern with individual equality does not give prominence for equality of income and wealth. The
, critics have argued that the unequal distribution of income and wealth undermine all the other
attempts at equality. Because, the holders of material wealth or resources, always have an advantage
over other citizens. Sociologists have demonstrated how material resources affect people’s life
chances. For example, they have shown how material resources have been affecting child’s progress
in the educational system. Such an access to material resources also affects one’s access to education
and legal representation.
Equalitarian Objectives of welfare Still Remain Unfulfilled: Various empirical researches have
clearly shown that DESPITE THE attempts to provide various social services to the needy people
particularly in the fields of education, housing, health care, income maintenance, etc. inequalities
have persisted and, in some cases, actually increased. It is surprising to note that the western
experience with the liberal democracies has revealed that the equalitarian objectives of welfare are
not acceptable to the majority.
Inequality: UN has defined Inequality as “The state of not being equal, especially in status, rights &
Opportunities”
We can say that there are two types of inequality:
o Natural and
o Man Made
So far as the natural inequality is concerned with reference to age, sex, height, weight etc. the man
made inequality may be horizontal or vertical e.g. different occupational groups perform different
activities but when these groups become social groups in the sense that they are placed hierarchically
and they have interaction within the group and at the inter-strata level, then such type of inequality
is called social inequality.
Usage of the Concept of Social inequality in the Analysis of Social Stratification: The term social
inequality refers to the socially created inequalities. Stratification is a particular form of social
inequality. It refers to the presence of social groups which are ranked one above the other in terms
of the power, prestige and wealth their members possess. Those who belong to a particular group or
stratum will have some awareness of common interest and common identity. They will share a
similar life-style which will distinguish them from the members of other social strata. Hindu society
in traditional India was divided into five main strata: four Varnas and fifth group, the out caste or
untouchables. These strata are arranged in a hierarchy with the Brahmins at the top and untouchables
at the bottom. Such inequality has been perceived by the earlier thinkers in different terms like
economic, political, religious etc.
, PLATO was one of the first to acknowledge that inequality is inevitable and to suggest ways in which
the distribution of money, status and power could be altered for the betterment of both the individual
and the society.
The society that Plato envisioned is explicitly meant to be class-structured, so that all citizens belong
to one of three classes:
o (i) (a) ruling (b) non-ruling (ii) Auxiliaries or the workers.
o He eliminated inheritance of class status and provided equality of opportunities regardless
of birth.
However, To Plato, inequalities could be coercive and legitimate and legitimate inequality is
instrumental for social progress.
Aristotle was clearly concerned with the consequences of inequality in birth, strength and wealth. He
talked about three classes: (i) Very Rich, (ii) Very Poor, and (iii) Moderate.
Aristotle supported limited citizenship based on gender &wealth.
Machiavelli asked who is fit to rule and what form of rule will produce order, happiness, prosperity
and strength. He saw tension between elite and the masses. He preferred democratic rule. About the
selection for ruling positions he advocated inequality in situation is legitimate so long as there has
been equality of opportunity to become unequal.
Thomas Hobbes saw all men equally interested in acquiring power and privileges, which leads to
chaotic conditions, unless there is a set of rules by which they agree to abide. These rules constitute
“Social Contract”, under which people give the right to one man to rule, who has collective desire
and will. The sovereign can be removed if he fails to come up to the maintenance of equality for
safety of all men.
Max Weber emphasized the existence of three types of groups based on different forms of inequality
and the fact that they may be independent of one another. Weber suggested three types of market
situations (i) labour market, (ii) money market, and (iii) commodity market. Weber termed the second
from of inequality social honour or prestige and the third form of inequality for Weber was power.
As exemplified by caste, social stratification involves a hierarchy of social groups. Members of a
particular group have common identity, like interests, and similar life-style. They enjoy or suffer
from the unequal distribution of rewards in societies as members of different social groups.
Social stratification however is only one form of social inequality. It is possible for social inequality
to exist without social strata. It is stated that a hierarchy of social groups has been replaced by a
hierarchy of individuals. Although many sociologists use the term inequality and social stratification
interchangeably, social stratification is seen as a specific form of social inequality.
, Some Salient Aspects of Social Inequality:
Social Inequality is the Result of Differentiation: All societies differentiate among their members.
Some people who have certain characteristics are treated differently from other, people. Every
society for that matter differentiates between the old and the young and between males and females.
Society treats its members in different ways on various grounds such as skin colour, religion, physical
strength, or educational achievement. The result of this differentiation is nothing but inequality.
Social Inequality is Universal: In no society of the world all people has equal recognition. It is in
this simple sense; inequality is universal in human societies. Thus, in all societies known to us, large
or small, modern or extinct, there have been distinct differences in the statuses of the individual
members. Social inequality is apparent when a society values male over females, the rich over the
poor, Christians over Muslims, or Brahmins over the Dalits or Whites over Blacks, and so on. It goes
without telling that those with the higher status have a superior access to whatever rewards the society
offers. At the same time, those with the lower status are deprived of these advantages.
Social Inequality is Normally Built into the Social Structure: In all the modern societies, social
inequality takes a much elaborate and structured form in which different categories of people have
different statuses. In these societies, inequality is built into the social structure, and unequal statuses
are passed down from generation to generation. Like the layers of rock, people in these societies are
grouped into “strata”. People in anyone stratum have a different access to social rewards than people
in any other stratum, so the society as a whole is said to be stratified.
Social Inequality is a Source of Social Conflict and Social Change: Inequality Is one of the most
pressing social problems of the present-day society. Throughout history, social inequality has been a
source of tensions, revolutions and social change. It has generated bloody conflict between slave and
master, peasant and noble, worker and capitalist, poor and rich. Ever since Karl Marx brought the
issue of social inequality to the fore front of political debate with his Communist Manifesto in 1848,
these tensions and conflicts have assumed global ‘importance. Social inequality is strongly related
to various other problems of our society such as - social instability, economic ups and downs, political
conflicts, potential violence, status insecurities, fear and uncertainties, and so on.
Social Inequalities are not Necessarily based on Natural or Biological Inequalities: Many
stratification systems are accompanied by beliefs which state social inequalities are biologically
based. For example, Whites claim biological superiority over Blacks, and see ‘this as the basis for
