Presentation on Social Inequality and Stratification

1. Presentation onSocial Inequality and Stratification www.AssignmentPoint.com

2. Social Inequality and Stratification • The term social inequality describes a condition in which members of a society have different amounts of wealth, prestige or power. Some degree of social inequality characterizes every society. • When a system of social inequality is based on hierarchy of groups, sociologists refer to it as stratification. www.AssignmentPoint.com

3. Stratification means a structured ranking of entire groups of people that perpetuates unequal economic rewards and power in a society. • Stratification is a crucial subject of sociological investigation because of its influence on human interactions and institutions. www.AssignmentPoint.com

4. Concepts related with stratification • To understand stratification system we need to go through some concepts. • Ascribed status: it is a social position that can be assigned to a person without regard for that person’s unique talents. www.AssignmentPoint.com

5. Ascribed status is the social status a person is given from birth or assumes involuntarily later in life. For example, a person born into a wealthy family has a high ascribed status. Also when a person's position in society is fixed (or ascribed to him or her by others) on the basis of family background or genetic inheritance. Racial, ethnic, and religious differences, as well as gender, often serve as the basis for ascribed status. Other people that are born into ascribed status are people born into royalty. Since the child came into the world with their care givers having royal lineage, the child has inherited those royal blood lines as well. www.AssignmentPoint.com

6. The various factors which determine ascribed status are: • Age • Kinship • Sex • Race • Group • Caste www.AssignmentPoint.com

7. Achieved status: An achieved status is a social position a person takes on voluntarily that reflects personal ability and merit. • Achieved status is a sociological term denoting a social position that a person acquires on the basis of merit. It reflects personal skills, abilities, and efforts. Examples of achieved status are being an Olympic athlete, being a criminal, or being a college professor. Status is important sociologically because it comes with a set of rights, obligations, behaviors, and duties that people occupying a certain position are expected or encouraged to perform. www.AssignmentPoint.com

8. Achieved status VS Ascribed status • Ascribed status is a position assigned to individuals or groups based on traits beyond their control, such as sex, race, or parental social status. This is usually associated with "closed" societies. Achieved status is distinguished from ascribed status by virtue of being earned. Many positions are a mixture of achievement and ascription; for instance, a person who has achieved the status of being a doctor is more likely to have the ascribed status of being born into a wealthy family. This is usually associated with "open" societies or "social" class societies . www.AssignmentPoint.com

9. Income: Income refers to salaries and wages. • Wealth: Wealth is an inclusive term encompassing all of a person’s material assets, including lands, stocks, and other types of property. www.AssignmentPoint.com

10. Systems of stratification • Slavery : • The most extreme form of legalized social inequality for individuals or groups is slavery. The evidence for slavery predates written records. It can be found in almost all cultures and continents. Slavery can be traced to the earliest records, such as the rules of Hammurabi in Mesopotamia (~1800 BC), which refers to slavery as an already established institution. www.AssignmentPoint.com

11. Caste: • Castes are hereditary systems of rank, usually religiously dictated, that tend to be fixed and immobile. • Castes membership generally determines one’s occupational or role as a religious functionary. www.AssignmentPoint.com

12. The caste system in India long has been an extreme example of a stratification structure based on ascribed status. Each level in the stratification structure is known as a caste. Everyone is born belonging to a specific caste. The caste of the parents thus generally determines the status of their children, regardless of ability or merit. The ranks of the caste system include: www.AssignmentPoint.com

13. Brahmins- These is the highest rank of the whole caste system. The Brahmins consist of all priests, scholars, and enlightened people that have been through many lives. • Kshatriyas- These are the rulers, warriors, and those concerned with the defense and administration of the well-being of their town or village. www.AssignmentPoint.com

14. Vaishyas- These people consisted of all the traders, merchants, and people involved in agricultural production . • Sudra- These people are the lowest of the caste system. Hindu religion believes this class is where first life starts. The sudras spend most of their time being the laborers and servants for the other castes. • Untouchables- The untouchables are the lowest of the low. They are so low that they do not have a place in the caste system. The jobs of these people include the cleaning of dead bodies. www.AssignmentPoint.com

15. Classes : • A class system is a social ranking based primarily on economic position in which achieved characteristics can influence social mobility. Usually individuals are grouped into classes based on their economic positions and similar political and economic interests within the stratification system. www.AssignmentPoint.com

16. British Social Hierarchy: If viewed as a hierarchy from the ground up a current model would be as such (below is only a basic model, other factors such as home, attitude, clothing, speech, mannerisms, and family ties etc also affect social standing, although the main factors are wealth and perceived wealth.) • Upper class: Generally holders of titles of nobility and their relatives, some with very high levels of inherited wealth. They will often have attended the most famous of Britain's schools, such as Eton and Harrow. www.AssignmentPoint.com

17. Upper middle class: Generally professionals with advanced university degrees and usually with a public school education. A significant proportion of their wealth is often from inheritance. • Middle class: Similar to the upper middle class but usually from a less establishment-based background and education. Generally professionals with a university degree. Will typically own their own home and earn well above the national average. www.AssignmentPoint.com

18. Lower middle class: May not hold a university degree but works in a white collar job and will earn just above the national average. • Upper working class: Generally does not hold a university degree and works in skilled or well experienced role such as supervisor, foreman, or skilled trade such as plumber, electrician, joiner, train driver. • Working class: Generally has low educational attainment and works in a or blue collar profession, in fields such as industrial or construction work. Some examples would be a , lorry driver, production labourer. Disappearing fast due to and automation. www.AssignmentPoint.com

19. Lower working class: Generally works in low/minimum wage occupations, such as cleaner, shop assistant, bar worker. Often employed in the personal service industry. • Underclass: dependent on state benefits for income. May have an unstable family/ home life. www.AssignmentPoint.com