Social Stratification

Social Stratification

By Gina Saneishi

Stratification is the division of society into classes that have unequal amounts of wealth, power, and prestige. Karl Marx and Max Weber studies these dimensions of stratification in great detail.

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Key Terms​

​social stratification

• social class

• bourgeoisie

• proletariat

• income​

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• wealth

• power

• prestige

• False consciousness​

Dimension of Stratification

• Social stratification is the creation of layers of people who possess unequal shares of scarce resources.

• ​Income, wealth, power, and prestige are the most important resources.

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Dimension of Stratification

Each layer is considered a social class, or a segment of a population whose members hold similar amounts of scarce resources and share values, norms, and an identifiable lifestyle.

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The Economic Dimension

Karl Marx believed that the economy determined the nature of society and predicted that capitalist societies would be reduced to two social classes:

• The bourgeoisie is the class that owns the means of production.​

• The proletariat is the class that labors without owning the means of production.​

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• Marx also noted the unequal distribution of economic resources.​

• ​Income inequality exists and is growing within the United States.

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The Economic Dimension

​These definitions must be considered when discussing this gap:

• Income is the amount of money received within a given time period by an individual or group.

• Wealth refers to all the economic resources possessed by an individual or group.​

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The Economic Dimension

The Power Dimension

• Power is the ability to control the behavior of others, even against their will.

• Marx believed that those who own and control capital have the power in a society.

• Weber argued that while having money helps, economic success and power are not the same

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The Power Dimension

The following can also increase power:​

• Expert knowledge

• Social positions 

• A large group of supporters or skill at organizing resources

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The Prestige Dimension

​Prestige is recognition, respect, and admiration attached to social positions.

• It is defined by your culture and society.

• It is voluntarily given.

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• People with similar levels of prestige share similar lifestyles.

• An occupation usually dictates a level of prestige.​

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The Prestige Dimension

Multiple Select

Which characteristic do you think determines a person’s social class?

• Wealth

• Power

• Fame

• Location

Multiple Choice

What is social stratification?

• People who are very social

• the creation of layers of people who possess unequal shares of scares resources

• the creation of equal shares

• the creation of layers of people who have power

Multiple Choice

What is social class?

• a group of people within a society who possess the same socioeconomic status

• a group of people who have different socioeconomic status

Multiple Choice

What is bourgeoisie?

• is the creation of layers of people who possess unequal shares of scarce resources.

• is the class that labors without owning the means of production.

•  is the class that owns the means of production.

Multiple Choice

What is proletariat?

• is the creation of layers of people who possess unequal shares of scarce resources.

• is the class that labors without owning the means of production.

•  is the class that owns the means of production.

Multiple Choice

What is Income?

• is the amount of money received within a given time period by an individual or group

• refers to all the economic resources possessed by an individual or group.

• is the ability to control the behavior of others, even against their will

Multiple Choice

What is wealth?

• is the amount of money received within a given time period by an individual or group

• refers to all the economic resources possessed by an individual or group.

• is the ability to control the behavior of others, even against their will

Multiple Choice

What is power?

• is the amount of money received within a given time period by an individual or group

• refers to all the economic resources possessed by an individual or group.

• is the ability to control the behavior of others, even against their will

Multiple Choice

What can increase power?

• Expert knowledge

• Social positions

• A large group of supporters or skill at organizing resources

• All three

Multiple Choice

What is prestige?

• It is defined by your culture and society.

  It is voluntarily given.

• It is your life

• it is your goaI

• It is a persons power

Explanations of Stratification

​Each of the three perspectives—functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism—explains stratification in society in a different way.

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Functionalist Theory of Stratification

According to the functionalists, stratification assures that:

• the most qualified people fill the most important positions

• these qualified people perform their tasks competently

• they are rewarded for their efforts

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Conflict Theory of Stratification

• According to the conflict theory, inequality exists because some people are willing to exploit others.

• ​This is based on Marx’s ideas regarding class conflict—the people with the power are able to control everyone else because they can easily spread their ideas.

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Marx used the term false consciousness to refer to the working-class acceptance of capitalist ideas and values.

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Conflict Theory of Stratification

Symbolic Interaction and Stratification

• According to this perspective, American children are taught that a person’s social class is the result of talent and effort.

• ​Therefore, people’s self-concepts help preserve the status quo.

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Multiple Choice

According to the functionalist, stratification assures that...

• the most qualified people fill the most important positions

• these unqualified people perform their tasks incompetently

• they are not rewarded for their efforts

Multiple Choice

According to the conflict theory

• the most qualified people fill the most important positions

• these qualified people perform their tasks competently

• inequality exists because some people are willing to exploit others. 

Multiple Choice

What is false consciousness?

• refers to the working-class acceptance of capitalist ideas and values.

• these qualified people perform their tasks competently

• inequality exists because some people are willing to exploit others. 

Multiple Choice

What is symbolic interaction and stratification?

• refers to the working-class acceptance of capitalist ideas and values.

• American children are taught that a person’s social class is the result of talent and effort.

• inequality exists because some people are willing to exploit others.