1. Social Stratification
Lecture 8
Social Stratification

2. Social Stratification
An attribute of society
Doesn't reflect individual differences, but society’s structure
Persists over generations
Social mobility happens slowly
Involves not just inequality, but beliefs
Ideologies justify existence of social stratification

3. The Caste System Birth determines social position in four ways:
Occupation
Marriage within caste
Social life is restricted to “own kind”
Belief systems are often tied to religious dogma
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4. Class Systems Social mobility for people with education and skills
All people gain equal standing before the law
Work involves some personal choice
Meritocracy: Based on personal merit
The greater mobility of class systems produces less status consistency
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5. Caste and Class Systems
Aristocratic England: Caste-like system of aristocracy
First estate: Church leaders
Second estate: Aristocracy
Third estate: Commoners
The United Kingdom Today
Caste elements still evident
Commoners control the government
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6. The Davis-Moore Thesis
The greater the importance of a position, the more rewards a society attaches to it
Democratic societies offer little incentive for people to try their best
A society considered more important must reward enough to draw talented people
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7. Karl Marx: Class and Conflict
Most people have one of two relationships with the means of production
Bourgeoisie own productive property
The proletariat works for the bourgeoisie
Capitalism creates great inequality in power and wealth
Oppression would drive working majority to organize and overthrow capitalism
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8. Stratification and Interaction
Differences in social class position can affect interaction
People interact primarily with others of similar social standing
Conspicuous consumption
Buying & using products because of the "statement" they make
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9. Stratification and Technology: A Global Perspective
Hunting and gathering societies
Horticultural, pastoral, & agrarian societies
Industrial societies
The Kuznets curve
Greater technological sophistication generally
Is accompanied by more pronounced social stratification
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10. Income Inequality in Global Perspective
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11. Stratification and Technology: A Global Perspective
Inequality in the United States
Income, Wealth, and Power
Occupational Prestige
Schooling
Ancestry, Race, and Gender
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13. Social Classes in the United States
The Upper Class
Upper-Uppers
Lower-Uppers
The Middle Class
Upper-Middles
Average-Middles
The Working Class
About 1/3 of the population (sometimes called Lower-middle class)
The Lower Class
20% of our population
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14. Median Annual Income, U.S. Families, 1950–2010
Average family income in the United States grew rapidly between 1950 and Since then, however, the increase has been smaller.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2011).
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15. Mean Annual Income, U.S. Families, 1980–2010
(in 2010 dollars, adjusted for inflation)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (2011).
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16. Social Mobility The American Dream: Still a Reality?
For many workers, earnings have stalled
More jobs offer little income
Young people are remaining at home
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17. Sources
Conley, Dalton May Ask Yourself: An Introduction to Thinking Like a Sociologist (Second Edition). New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Macionis, John J Society: The Basics (Twelfth Edition). Boston, MA: Pearson