Stratification:Stratification:Class and CasteClass and Caste

Social StratificationSocial Stratification

Results from inequal distribution of goodsResults from inequal distribution of goods Distribution depends on cultural values, Distribution depends on cultural values,

organization of production, and access to organization of production, and access to societal goalssocietal goals

Inequality ingrained in industrialized state Inequality ingrained in industrialized state societiessocieties

Social StratificationSocial Stratification

Why is stratification found in state societies?Why is stratification found in state societies? Functionalism – cultural institutions support Functionalism – cultural institutions support

the structure of societythe structure of society Society benefits because the class system Society benefits because the class system

ensures all necessary jobs will be filledensures all necessary jobs will be filled For example, doctor’s income high because For example, doctor’s income high because

extensive trainingextensive training However, inequality not always justified, eg However, inequality not always justified, eg

nurses, teachers – lots of training, little pay nurses, teachers – lots of training, little pay

Social StratificationSocial Stratification

Conflict theory – inequality is a natural Conflict theory – inequality is a natural source of conflict and changesource of conflict and change Struggle for goods, have vs have-not, hegemony Struggle for goods, have vs have-not, hegemony

and forceand force

Social StratificationSocial Stratification

Criteria of stratificationCriteria of stratification Power – ability to control resourcesPower – ability to control resources Wealth – accumulation of resources or ability to Wealth – accumulation of resources or ability to

produce resourcesproduce resources Prestige – social honor or respectPrestige – social honor or respect

Occupational power, income, value to societyOccupational power, income, value to society

Ascription and AchievementAscription and Achievement

Ascribed status – born into, sex, race, Ascribed status – born into, sex, race, kinship, caste - closed systemkinship, caste - closed system

Achieved status – earned , marital status, Achieved status – earned , marital status, profession, skills, class - open systemprofession, skills, class - open system

Ascription and AchievementAscription and Achievement

Ascribed status – born into, sex, race, kinship, Ascribed status – born into, sex, race, kinship, caste - closed systemcaste - closed system

Achieved status – earned , marital status, Achieved status – earned , marital status, profession, skills - open systemprofession, skills - open system

Open system – class – social mobilityOpen system – class – social mobility

Social Class in the U.S.Social Class in the U.S.

Upward social mobility = the American dreamUpward social mobility = the American dream With hard work you can have a better lifeWith hard work you can have a better life Assumes equal opportunity Assumes equal opportunity

Gap between classes growingGap between classes growing More billionaires, everyone else slow to improveMore billionaires, everyone else slow to improve Now takes 5 generations to escape povertyNow takes 5 generations to escape poverty

Life chances – opportunity to fulfill potential , Life chances – opportunity to fulfill potential , directly linked to social class positiondirectly linked to social class position

Social Class in the U.S.Social Class in the U.S.

Life chances built on material basis of class Life chances built on material basis of class Income to cover basic needs, food, clothing, Income to cover basic needs, food, clothing,

shelter, health care, educationshelter, health care, education Opportunity to participate in social culture in Opportunity to participate in social culture in

comfort and securitycomfort and security

Income inequality increasingIncome inequality increasing

Social Class in the U.S.Social Class in the U.S.

Debt accumulation contributes to inequalitiesDebt accumulation contributes to inequalities Gap between rising costs and stagnant Gap between rising costs and stagnant

incomes covered by credit card debtincomes covered by credit card debt Problem worst in African-American and Problem worst in African-American and

Latinos because with less collateral and Latinos because with less collateral and savings, traditional banks won’t lend, driving savings, traditional banks won’t lend, driving them to predatory lendersthem to predatory lenders

Social Class in the U.S.Social Class in the U.S.

Debt accumulation contributes to inequalitiesDebt accumulation contributes to inequalities Gap between rising costs and stagnant Gap between rising costs and stagnant

incomes covered by credit card debtincomes covered by credit card debt Problem worst in African-American and Problem worst in African-American and

Latinos because with less collateral and Latinos because with less collateral and savings, traditional banks won’t lend, driving savings, traditional banks won’t lend, driving them to predatory lendersthem to predatory lenders

CasteCaste

While class is achieved, cast is ascribedWhile class is achieved, cast is ascribed Belong to caste of parentsBelong to caste of parents Marry member of own casteMarry member of own caste Castes are rankedCastes are ranked Cast found in South Asia, West Africa, Cast found in South Asia, West Africa,

traditional Europe (peasants and nobility), traditional Europe (peasants and nobility), and Indiaand India

Caste in IndiaCaste in India

In India caste system reinforced by HinduismIn India caste system reinforced by Hinduism Brahmins – priests and scholarsBrahmins – priests and scholars Kshatriyas – rulers and warriorsKshatriyas – rulers and warriors Vaisyas – merchantsVaisyas – merchants Shudras – workers and atrisansShudras – workers and atrisans Harijans – untouchables, named children of God Harijans – untouchables, named children of God

by Ghandiby Ghandi Dalits – leather tanners, latrine cleanersDalits – leather tanners, latrine cleaners

Caste in IndiaCaste in India

Castes do not eat together, high castes will Castes do not eat together, high castes will not accept food from lower castesnot accept food from lower castes

Dalits are segregated, do not draw water Dalits are segregated, do not draw water from same wellsfrom same wells

Jajmani – client-patron relationships between Jajmani – client-patron relationships between artisan and serving casts and landownwersartisan and serving casts and landownwers

Caste in IndiaCaste in India

Traditional forms of maintaining caste boundaries Traditional forms of maintaining caste boundaries are not legal in India, constitution protects all are not legal in India, constitution protects all human rightshuman rights

But unofficial economic sanctions and force will be But unofficial economic sanctions and force will be used against those who try to break out of casteused against those who try to break out of caste

Elite believe lower castes are content with their role Elite believe lower castes are content with their role in life but protest movements and attempts to break in life but protest movements and attempts to break down caste indicate lower castes feel they are down caste indicate lower castes feel they are being exploitedbeing exploited

Caste in IndiaCaste in India

Lower castes that have accumulated wealth, Lower castes that have accumulated wealth, eg leather tanners when demand for shoe eg leather tanners when demand for shoe leather increased, may try to raise status as leather increased, may try to raise status as a group by claiming purer origin, taking on a group by claiming purer origin, taking on practices of higher castepractices of higher caste

New occupations have weakened caste New occupations have weakened caste boundaries but people still tend to marry in boundaries but people still tend to marry in castecaste