STUDY UNIT 11:The concept of stratification and the various kinds of stratification

Question 1

state the relationship between inequality and stratification

Answer 1

inequality refers to the fact that some
people are better off than others. Giddens (2001:282) defines stratification as
“structured inequalities between different groupings of people”. The keyword
here is “structured”. It implies a measure of stability and regularity in these
inequalities which are perpetuated over time and, often, from one generation
to the next.
Stratification is closely linked to what is referred to as scarce resources in a
society, that is, economic power, property, status, money (wealth), minerals,
land and even water. Not everyone has access to all the scarce resources.

definition of stratification
as “an enduring (social) pattern based on the ranking of groups or categories
of people into social positions according to their access to desirables (scarce
resources)”. Thus the concept of stratification remains the basis for us as
sociologists in our studies of inequality in society.

Question 2

provide different types of stratification

Answer 2

slavery, caste, estate and class. In our society the
most important type of stratification is class, but this is not true of all societies.
In different societies one tends to find different types of stratification

Question 3

discuss slavery

Answer 3

Slavery is the
system that makes some people the property of others In 1833 slavery was abolished in all colonies under British control.
However, in some countries in the contemporary world forms of child labour,
the use of child soldiers and the use of women for sexual purposes without
compensating (or remunerating) them still amount to forms of modern-day
slavery.

Question 4

what is caste

Answer 4

there are two main characteristics
•• There are rigid rules regulating and limiting social contact between the
groups making up the caste system.
•• The system has a religious basis, in the sense that it is given legitimacy by
some interpretations of Hinduism. However, it is important to remember
that the caste system has also been criticised by prominent and devout
Hindus themselves.

Question 5

discuss estate

Answer 5

Estates are traceable to the system of feudalism. They formed part of centralised
state structures governed by kings and emperors. According to Giddens
(2001:282) the highest estate under feudalism consisted of the aristocracy
and gentry, followed by the clergy and the “commoners” (serfs, merchants
and artisans). All of these strata exercised different obligations and rights to
each other

Question 6

discuss how class is different to other types of stratification mentioned

Answer 6

Class is not established by law. The location of a particular person within a
particular class is not prescribed by the law. Class is a social construct and
it is found in social systems and even structures. However, it is sometimes
possible for individuals to improve their class position. Class position cannot,
therefore, be inherited in the same way as slavery or caste, where the children
of slaves are born into slavery and the children of the lower castes are born
into those castes, and there is no possibility of changing their status

movement from a “lower” class
to a “higher” class is known as upward social mobility. Because one can to
some extent, improve one’s status through education and hard work, one’s
class position is achieved to a greater extent than it is given class systems operate through
impersonal, rather than personal, connections. Giddens also explains how
social relationships became more impersonal and anonymous in modern
industrial societies and how people’s lives have come to be dominated by
large-scale organisations.