1. Social Stratification
Class
Hierarchy

2. - all societies have some type of stratification (hierarchy, class)
Social Stratification is:
the division of society into different layers based on unequal power relationships.
- all societies have some type of
stratification (hierarchy, class)

3. Three Types of Power:
Economic power – control of material
resources
- inherited wealth
- businesses
- property

4. Political Power
– control over human resources, ie: labor
- markets
- laws
- publicly funded institutions

5. Ideological Power
– control over ideas, beliefs
- knowledge or information that guides social action
i.e. religion

6. Class – members of a class must have shared characteristics and act together as a group
- wealth - education
- income - race/ethnicity
- property - gender
- occupation - age
- urban/rural location
- political status

7. Usually an individual ranks fairly consistently in most characteristics
i.e. – white male, Ontario, lawyer,
university, $200,000./year,
home owner, etc.

8. Consistent stratification tend to perpetuate inequality
one group usually benefits and dominate society
difficult to change class based on just a few characteristics
i.e. a lottery winner
* we can achieve material wealth and eventually move up the ladder in one to two generations

9. Looking at Hierarchy at a Global Level
If there were 100 people on this earth, 16 people would control 59% of the world’s wealth
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