Stra%ca%on

Mr. Jus%n G. See

Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Ateneo de Manila University

What is Social Stra*ca*on?

A system by which a society ranks categories
of people in a hierarchy.
Based on control over basic resources
Based on 4 principles:

4 Principles of Social Stra%ca%on:

1. It is a trait of society, not of the individual.

2. It carries over from genera%on to genera%on.

4 Principles of Social Stra%ca%on:

3. It is universal, but variable.

4. It involves not just inequality but beliefs as
well.

SYSTEMS OF STRATIFICATION

Systems Of Stra%ca%on
Stra%ca%on systems are classied as open or
closed
Open system: boundaries between levels in
hierarchies are exible and posi%ons are
inuenced by achieved statuses
Closed system: boundaries between levels in
hierarchies are rigid, and posi%ons are set by
ascribed status
No system is completely open or closed

Social Mobility
The movement of individuals or groups from
one level in a stra%ca%on system to another
Intergenera*onal mobility is the social movement
experienced by family members from one
genera%on to the next
Intragenera*onal mobility is the social movement
of individuals within their own life%me

Caste System
A caste system is social stra%ca%on based on
ascrip*on/ birth.
India's caste system was based on occupa%on
Apartheid in South Africa was based on race

Caste System of India:

It determines the direc%on of a persons life.
Endogamous marriage
People marry others of the same rank

It keeps people in the company of their own

kind

Class System
Social stra%ca%on based on both birth and
individual achievement
Horizontal and ver%cal mobility are both
possible
Ex: US Class System

Func%onalist Perspec%ve on
Stra%ca%on

Func%ons of Stra%ca%on
Davis-Moore Thesis = social stra%ca%on has
benecial consequences for the opera%on of
society
Some posi*ons are more important for the
survival of society than others.
The most important posi*ons must be lled by
the most qualied people

Func%onalist Perspec%ve
The posi%ons that are the most important and
that require scarce talent, extensive training, or
both, must be highly rewarded

Unequal rewards benet society as a whole.

Conict Perspec%ve on
Stra%ca%on

Karl Marx

Marxian Model of the Class Structure

According to Marx, income and wealth are
determined by a rela%onship to the means of
produc*on

Marxian Model of the Class Structure

Capitalist class (bourgeoisie) consists of those who
own the means of produc%on (land, factories, mines,
etc.)
Working class (proletariat) consists of those who
must sell their labor in order to survive

Marxian Model of the Class Structure

The capitalist class exploits the working class
Workers experience aliena*ona feeling of
powerlessness and estrangement

Marx s View of Stra%ca%on

Marxian Model of the Class Structure

Class conict: the struggle between the
capitalist class and the working class
Marx predicted an end to capitalism when the
workers realized they were oppressed and
overthrew the capitalists

Why No Worker Revolu*on?

(Dahrendorf, 1959)
1. Fragmenta%on of the capitalist class.
2. A higher standard of living.
BEFORE: Blue Collar
NOW: White Collar

3. More worker organiza%ons.

4. Greater legal protec%ons.

Max Weber: Class, Status, Pwer

Max Weber's View of Class

Weber s three elements of class:
Wealth: the value of all of a person s or
family s economic assets, including income,
personal property, and income-producing
property
Pres*ge: the respect or regard with which a
person or status posi%on is regarded by others
Power: the ability of people or groups to
achieve their goals despite opposi%on from
others

Weber s Mul%dimensional Approach to Social

Stra%ca%on

Socioeconomic Status
Sociologists oeen use the term socioeconomic
status (SES) to refer to a combined measure
that afempts to determine class loca%on by
classifying individuals, families, or households
in terms of factors such as income,
occupa%on, and educa%on

Symbolic Interac%onist
Perpec%ve on Stra%ca%on

Interac%onist Perspec%ve on
Stra%ca%on:
People interact primarily with others of the
same social standing.
The products we consume all say something
about social posi%on.
Conspicuous Consump*on
Buying/ using products because of the
statement they make about social posi%on.