SOCIAL STRATIFICATION:

Without exception modern societies such as our own are socially stratified. This means that they contain social groups (i.e. families, classes or ethnic groups) that have unequal access to important advantages, such as economic resources, power and prestige.

Such inequalities have not always existed, however. During most of human history, more equalitarian societies were the rule.

Such equalitarian societies have some differences in advantages based on age, gender or particular ability but all the families within them have the same access to rights and advantages. Such equalitarian societies have some differences in advantages based on age, gender or particular ability but all the families within them have the same access to rights and advantages.

Based upon customs or rules that confer or deny unequal access to economic resources, power or prestige, anthropologists have a model of three different kinds of societies: Based upon customs or rules that confer or deny unequal access to economic resources, power or prestige, anthropologists have a model of three different kinds of societies:

Equalitarian society Equalitarian society Rank society Rank society Class society Class society

Equalitarian societies are unstratified; no social group has unequal access to economic resources, power or prestige. Equalitarian societies are unstratified; no social group has unequal access to economic resources, power or prestige.

Rank societies are partly stratified; social groups do not have very unequal access to economic resources or power but they do have unequal access to prestige. Rank societies are partly stratified; social groups do not have very unequal access to economic resources or power but they do have unequal access to prestige.

Class societies are stratified; social groups have unequal access to economic resources, power and prestige. Class societies are stratified; social groups have unequal access to economic resources, power and prestige.

Such stratified societies may range from somewhat open class systems to more rigid caste systems where caste membership is assigned at birth and unlikely to change throughout life. Such stratified societies may range from somewhat open class systems to more rigid caste systems where caste membership is assigned at birth and unlikely to change throughout life.

Slavery has existed in many societies throughout human history. Slavery has existed in many societies throughout human history.

Although slavery has taken many forms (war captives, debt slavery and mercantile slavery), slaves are those who at the very least do not own their own labor. Although slavery has taken many forms (war captives, debt slavery and mercantile slavery), slaves are those who at the very least do not own their own labor.

Within a society composed of people from widely divergent backgrounds and different physical features, racism is often associated with social stratification. Within a society composed of people from widely divergent backgrounds and different physical features, racism is often associated with social stratification.

“Race” is not a scientifically useful device for classifying humans. “Race” is not a scientifically useful device for classifying humans.

“Racial” classifications are social categories to which individuals are assigned, by themselves and others, on the basis of supposedly shared biological traits. “Racial” classifications are social categories to which individuals are assigned, by themselves and others, on the basis of supposedly shared biological traits.

In multi-ethnic societies ethnic differences are usually associated with inequalities in wealth, power and prestige. In multi-ethnic societies ethnic differences are usually associated with inequalities in wealth, power and prestige.

Why does social stratification exist? Why does social stratification exist?

Three hypotheses: Three hypotheses:

Social stratification develops when economic productivity increases and surpluses are produced. Social stratification develops when economic productivity increases and surpluses are produced.

Social stratification develops when people are invested in land or technology and cannot easily move away from political leadership they dislike. Social stratification develops when people are invested in land or technology and cannot easily move away from political leadership they dislike.

Social stratification develops when there is population pressure on resources in rank societies. Social stratification develops when there is population pressure on resources in rank societies.