Social Stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of individuals in terms of power and wealth is referred to as social stratification. The term stratification is derived from the word “strata” which means the rock layers that are created by natural processes. Mostly this term is used to refer the classification of individuals on the basis of their shared socio-economic conditions. This emphasizes the concept of class which brings forth the inequalities in terms of social, political, ideological and economical dimensions.

There are three main classes are usually found in the modern western societies. They are upper class, middle class and the lower class. The kinship and castes also influences stratification. Max Weber comments that the social class which is mainly pertained to the material wealth is different from the status class which mainly focuses on variables like prestige, honor and religion.

The reason that social stratification is mostly found in developed societies bring forth a new concept that stratification is needed in order bring out a proper social structure. This has been the argument of the proponents of structural-functionalism. On the other hand, Talcott parsons commented that the universal value consensus is the base for the achievement of stability and social order in a country. In contradiction to this view, Marxism and other conflict theories quotes the lack of social mobility and the inaccessibility of resources that are found in the stratified societies.

Karl Marx principles separate the capitalist mode production into two as the base and the superstructures. The relations between the employer and the employee, the property relations, and the division of labour form the base in which people are involved in producing the necessities of life. The capitalist system puts the ruling class to own the system in which the working class is given their own labour power. This wage labour has been an offer for them to survive. The superstructure is constituted on the base of these relations. Various bourgeoisie approaches have resulted in the situation status quo consciously or unconsciously. This made Karl Marx to believe that the capitalist mode would result in revolutionary consciousness and thereafter an egalitarian communist society would emerge.

Max Weber argued that the possibility of effective communism is low since it demands high level of bureaucratization and social control than that of the capitalist society. This made Max Weber to come up with three component theory of social stratification. He introduced three independent factors namely class, status and power which would determine an individual’s economic position, prestige and ability in the society.

Questions:

• What are the three independent factors introduced by Max Weber?
• What is the meaning of the word “strata”?