Social Stratification
Differentiation is the law of nature. It
is true in the case of human society. Human society is not homogeneous
but heterogeneous. Men differ from one another in many respects. Human
beings are equal as far as their bodily structure is concerned. But the
physical appearance of individuals, their intellectual, moral,
philosophical, mental, economic, political and other aspects are
different. No two individuals are exactly alike. Diversity and
inequality are inherent in society. Hence, human society is everywhere
stratified.
All societies arrange their members in
terms of superiority, inferiority and equality. The vertical scale of
evaluation, this placing of people in layers is called stratification.
Those in the top stratum have more power, privilege and prestige than
those below. Thus, stratification is simply a process of interaction of
differentiation whereby some people come to rank higher than others are.
Definition of Social Stratification:
According to Ogburn and Nimkoff ''The
process by which individuals and groups are ranked in a more or less
enduring hierarchy of status is known as stratification".
Gisbert says, "Social stratification is
the division of society into permanent groups of categories linked with
each other by the relationship of superiority and sub-ordination"
Melvin M. Tumin defines social
stratification and refers to arrangement of any social group or society
into a hierarchy of positions that are unequal with regard to power,
property, and social evolution and of psychic gratification".
According to Lundberg, "A stratified
society is one marked by inequality by differences among people that are
evaluated by them is being 'lower' and 'higher'.
According to Raymond W. Murry ''Social
stratification is a horizontal division of society into 'higher' and
lower' social units".
Characteristics of Social Stratification:
According to M.M..Tumin the main attributes of stratification are follows".
1. It is Social:
Stratification is social in the sense it
does not represent biologically caused inequalities. It is true that
such factors as strength, intelligence, age and sex can often serve as
the basis of strata are distinguished. But such differences by
themselves are not sufficient to explain why some statuses receive more
power, property and prestige than others. Biological traits do not
determine social superiority and inferiority until they are socially
recognized and give importance. For example the manager of an industry
attains a dominant position not by his strength nor by his age but by
having the socially defined traits. His education, training skills,
experiences, personality, character etc. are found to be more important
than his biological qualities.
Further as Tumin has pointed out, the stratification system
(i) is governed by social norms and sanctions,
(ii) is likely to be unstable because it may be disturbed by different factors and
(iii) is intimately connected with the
other system of society such as practical family, religious, economic,
education and other institutions.
2. It is Ancient:
The stratification system is quite old.
According to historical and archaeological records, stratification was
present even in the small wandering bands. Age and sex were the main
criteria of stratification then, women and children last was probably
the dominant rule of order. Difference between the rich and poor,
powerful and humble, freemen and slaves was there in almost all the
ancient civilizations. Ever since the time of Plato and Kautilya social
philosophers have been deeply concerned with economic, social and
political inequalities.
3. It is Universal
The stratification system is a worldwide
phenomena. Difference between the rich and the poor or the 'haves' and
the 'have nots' is evident everywhere. Even in the non-literate
societies stratification if very much present. As Sorokin has said, all
permanently organized groups are stratified.
4. It is in Diverse Forms:
The stratification system has never been
uniform in all the societies. The ancient Roman society was stratified
into two strata-the partricians and the plebians. The ancient Aryan
society into four Varnas the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the
Sudras, the ancient Greek society into freemen and slaves, the ancient
Chinese society into the mandarins, merchants, farmers and the soldiers
and so on. Class, caste and estate seem to be the general forms of
stratification to be found in the modern world. But stratification
system seems to be much more complex in the civilized societies.
5. It is Consequential:
The stratification system has its own
consequences. The most important, most desired, and often the scarcest
things in human life are distributed unequally because of
stratification. The system leads to main kinds of consequences.
(i) Life chances and
(ii) Life-style refers to such things as
infant mortality, longevity, physical and mental illness,
childlessness, marital conflict, separation and divorce. Life-styles
include such matters as the mode of housing residential area, ones
education means or recreation relationship between the parents and
children, the kind of books, magazines and TV shows to which one is
exposed ones mode of conveyance and so on. Life chances are involuntary
while life-styles reflect differences in preferences tastes and values.
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