Definition and the different types of social stratification.
Define social stratification. Discuss the various forms of social stratification.
Definition and the different types of social stratification.
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Social stratification :-
Social stratification is the division of people in society into higher and lower levels. That is, social stratification is the arrangement of individuals in society according to their social position, status and role.
L. Kreisberg: Social stratification is a fixed system of inequality, built on rules and structures.
Ogburn and Nimkoff: The process by which individuals and groups are more or less permanently arranged in order of status is called social stratification.
Geisbert: Social stratification is the division of society into permanent groups or classes interrelated by superiority and subordination.
Melvin Tumin: Social stratification refers to the progressive division of a group or society based on differences in power, property, social evaluation, emotional satisfaction.
Sorokin: Social stratification is the hierarchical division of the population, with the upper class at one end and the lower class at the other.
Chinoy: Chinoy said in his book ‘Society: An Introduction to Sociology’, in every society some people are high, some are low, some people rule and some people are ruled and exploited. High - low, rich - poor, powerful - powerless - these contrasts are the essence of social stratification.
Different Types of Social Stratification:-
Although social stratification is eternal, variations in stratification are observed at different levels of social development. There are three bases of social stratification – (a) economy based, (b) status based and (c) power based. Sociologists divide these forms of stratification into several categories. Namely - 1. Slavery, 2. Feudal system , 3. Class system, 4. Caste system and 5. power
1. Slavery:-
An extreme example of social stratification is slavery. In ancient Europe, according to this custom, there were two classes of people in society - slaves and masters. According to social custom, slaves had no land , property or human rights. Slaves were considered property of the master. All ancient civilizations of the world were founded on slavery.
Three characteristics of slavery can be mentioned -
First: The slave was the property of the master. The supreme authority of the master over the slave was recognized.
Secondly :- Slaves had no rights in social and political spheres. Slaves were hated in society.
Third: - The slave had to provide labor compulsorily.
Later in antiquity public opinion developed against slavery and gradually the system was abolished.
2. Feudal system:-
Social stratification centered around the feudal system can be observed in medieval Europe. The term is derived from acquisition and ownership of land. A land owner carried certain status for unequal distribution of land. Three characteristics are observed in the medieval feudal system.
First: The people of the society were divided into three classes. In the first class were the priestly community, they were called the First Estate; The second class was the elite community and the third class was the common people. This third class of people was collectively called the Third Estate. These three classes remained distinct in their occupations and lifestyles.
Secondly - The rank of each class was regulated and defined by law. All were not equal in the eyes of the law. The elites and the common people received different punishments for the same crime. Other statutory rights also differed.
Thirdly, only the first class people enjoyed political rights in the feudal system. Common people had no political rights. Feudalism was prevalent in ancient India apart from medieval Europe. But in India the feudal system was different. However, feudalism came to an end with the advent of capitalism. Instead of feudalism, the class system became one of the bases of social stratification.
3. Class System :-
As a result of the development of industrial civilization, the population of the society was divided on economic basis. The term class is used in different senses in sociology. According to Max Weber, a class is a group of people who have equal access to utility and standard of living. Class is determined by a person's financial status and property rights. Byerstedt divided social class based on rank.
In modern industrialized society status-based classes are dominant. Class based on status is based on consumption and lifestyle. In this case, lifestyle, behavior, speech, thoughts, feelings, and dress code as determinants of social class or status. Feelings, education, furniture, exchange - etc. are all important.
According to Lenin, a class is a mass which has a special relationship with mass production and absorbs surplus value.
4. Caste system:-
Along with the class system, the caste system is an age-old feature of Indian society. According to Professor Majumdar and Madan, caste refers to a closed group. In fact caste is an intramarital group. The members of this group have to follow certain restrictions or rituals in the social sphere.
The caste system divides the population of Indian society into four main groups according to occupation. Namely - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
In this regard, some features of the caste system are noteworthy -
(a) Membership determined by birth.
(b) Social stability.
(c) Hereditary occupation or profession.
(d) Intermarriage or strictness of marriage.
(e) Difference in status.
(f) Specific customs and prohibitions.
5. Power :-
State and politics are centers of power. Power is the ability to control a person by the application or display of physical force. Power is now the most important basis of social stratification. Pareto divides society into groups based on power, among others - rulers, ruled, common people - etc.
Pareto analyzed the relationship between the ruler and the ruled in society with the help of elite theory. Karl Marx and Max Weber considered power as an indicator of social status. Pareto, Mosca and Mitchells explain according to their elite theory that in all societies a minority of individuals dominates the majority.
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