1. Social Inequality and Stratification
Chapter 13
Social Inequality and Stratification

2. Chapter Outline Systems of Equality and Inequality
Castes in Traditional India
Classes in Industrial Societies: The United States
Maintaining Inequality
Theories of Inequality

3. Inequality
The extent to which culturally valued material and social rewards are allocated disproportionately to individuals, families, and other groups.

4. Basic Types of Inequality
Egalitarian - few differences in the rewards received by families or other kinds of kin groups within a society.
Ranked - limited number of high-ranking positions or titles.
Stratified - major differences in access to rewards between families or kin groups. 

5. Egalitarian Societies
Example: mobile foragers
Frequent seasonal movements make it difficult to transport possessions.
Reciprocal sharing prevents individuals from becoming wealthier than their band mates.
Families have the right to visit and exploit the resources of many areas. 

6. Ranked Societies Example: Tikopia
Tikopia's 1,200 persons were divided into four patrilineal clans, each with it's own chief.
Each clan was divided into patrilineages.
The chief and nobility of each clan had little more wealth than any one else and no power over land or ocean resources.

7. Stratified Societies
Marked inequalities in access to wealth, power and prestige.
Inequality is based on unequal access to resources such as the land and tools people need to make their living.
Unequal access to rewards has a strong tendency to be heritable throughout the generations.

8. Class and Caste
Class - System of stratification in which membership in a stratum can be altered and intermarriage between strata is allowed.
Caste - Stratification system in which membership in a status is hereditary, strata are endogamous, and contact or relations between members of different strata are governed by laws, norms or prohibitions.

9. Castes in Traditional India
Brahmins (priests and scholars)
Kshatriyas (nobles and warriors)
Vaishas (merchants and artisans)
Shudras (farmers, craftspeople and laborers)
Untouchables

10. Wealth As the Basis of Class Ranking in America
Wealth is more measurable than other indications of class membership.
Wealth is the single biggest indication of benefits citizens are receiving.

11. Wealth As the Basis of Class Ranking in America
Extremely high wealth is correlated with ownership of productive resources.
Wealth determines people’s access to political power.

12. Distribution of Household Income in the United States, 2003
Percentage of Income Earned By
Amount Earned, 2002 (nearest thousand)
Poorest fifth
3.4
>$18,000
Second fifth
8.7
$18,000-34,000
Third fifth
14.8
$34,000-53,000
Fourth fifth
23.4
$53,000-84,000
Richest fifth
49.8
Over $84,000
Top 5% (2002)
21.9
Over $150,000

13. Maintaining Inequality - Theories
The elite use wealth and power to organize armed forces stronger than that of the opposition.
Ideologies that justify the status quo of inequality.

14. Ideology
Ideas and beliefs that legitimize and reinforce inequalities in stratified societies.
Secular ideology
An ideology that does not rely on the will of supernatural powers but justifies inequality on the basis of its society wide benefits.

15. Theories of Inequality
Functionalist
Societies offer unequal rewards to individuals with the scarcest talents.
Conflict
Inequality is based on control over productive resources.

16. Quick Quiz

17. 1. An egalitarian society:
refers to the fact that all men are created equal
refers to few differences in access to rewards between families and/or kin groups
means that females and males receive equal or nearly equal rewards
all of the above

18. Answer: b
An egalitarian society refers to few differences in access to rewards between families and/or kin groups.

19. 2. The major difference between class and caste is that the latter:
are endogamous groups
are theoretically hereditary
prevent intercaste contact
all of the above

20. Answer: d
The major difference between class and caste is that castes are endogamous groups, are theoretically hereditary, and prevent intercaste contact.

21. 3. In the U.S., the most widely accepted approach to stratification uses the concept of:
economic class
status groups
religion
occupational prestige

22. Answer: a
In the U.S., the most widely accepted approach to stratification uses the concept of economic class.