inequalities.
Socil stratification- it is a particular form of social inequality. Refers
to the presence of social groups which are ranked one above the other,
usually in terms of the amount of power, prestige and wealth that their
members possess
Caste system is an eg of social stratification
One social strata is dffrnt to another social strata in terms of culture,
habits, customs, traditions , life style
Hindu society is divided into 4 varnas or caste- fifth group is outcaste
AKA untouchable
Untouchables those who were considered as unclean , impure
Social stratification- involves hierarchy of caste groups. Members of
stratum have a common identity. Social stratification is only one form
of social inequality. Members of each stratum have a tendency to
develop their own subculture I.e certain norms, attitudes and values
that are distinct to them as social group.
FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
Functionalists assume that there are certain basic needs or functional
pre requisits which must be met if society is to survive
TALCOTT PARSONS
argued that stratification systems deprived their existence from
common values.
Believed that order, stability and cooperation in society are based on
value consensus i.e a general agreement b/w members considering
what is good and worthwhile
Those who perform successfully in terms of society values will be
ranked highly, and shall receive a variety of rewards.
Stratification- inevitable part of all human societies
Stratification systems are just, right and proper, since they basically an
expression of shared values
Social stratification is inevitable since it derives it authorivey from
shared values which are a necessary part of all social systems
Functional because groups in society w/o social inequality, members of
society would not be able to effectively cooperate and work together
KINGSLEY DAVIS AND WILBERT MOORE
All social systems share certain functional prerequisites which should
be met if the system is to survive and operate efficiently
They argue that all social systems share some functional prerequisites
which must be met of the system is to survive and operate efficiently
One such prerequisite is effective role allocation and performance i.e
all roles must be filled, and they must be filled by those best able to
perform them and necessary training for them be undertaken and the
roles are performed with due diligence
All societies need some mechanism for ensuring effective role
allocation and performance. Social stratification is this mechanism
which they see as a system that attaches unequal reqards and
privileges to different positions in society.
Nutshell- these 2 regard ss as a functional necessity for all societies
Imply that social inequality is an inevitable feature
They see ss as a solution to the problem of placing and motivating
inndividuals in the social structure
MARXISM PERSPECTIVE
Radical alternative to functionalist views.
Relationship b/w major social classes is one of mutual dependence and
conflict
Political power derives its authority from economic power
Power of ruling class- arises from its ownership and control of all
material resources and factors of production
Argued that class struggle was deriving force of social change.
He then basically talks about the inequality created by a
WEBERIAN PERSPECTIVE
Saw class in economic terms
Argues that classes develop on market economies, where individuals
compete for economic gain
Class is a group of individuals who share a similar position in a market
economy and by virtue of that fact receive similar economic rewards.
Major class division is b/w those who own the factors of production and
thos who do not.
WEBEER does not agree completely with MARX when it comes to
analyzing class
He felt that factors other than the ownership or non ownership of
property are significant in the formation of classes.
Webber argues that the white collarmiddle class expands rather than
contracts, as capitalism develops
He maintains that a rational bureaucratic administration is required to
effectively handle a capitalist economy
He saw an expansion of the white collar middle class rather than its
polarization
He rejects the Marxist view that political power derives its authority
from economic power
Argued that class forms only 1 possible basis for power and the
distribution of power in society is not necessarily linked to the
distribution of class inequalities.
MARX VS WEBER- Marx attempted to reduce all forms of inequalities to
scoail class and argued that classes formed the only significant social
groups in society. But, weber argued that the evidence provides a more
complex and diversified picture of social stratification
GLOBAL STRATIFICATION
Increasing income inequality b/w the rich and the poor
First world, second world and third world countries.
Concentration of wealth in the hands of a few prevailing problems in
almost every country. Quality of life differs significantly around the
world as economic productivity is the lowest in those regions where
population growth is the highest
Low income societies distribute their wealth very unequally. Social
inequality is greater in agrarian societies than in industrial societies.
Gender inequality in poor societies= women are kept away from jobs ,
which typically means that they have many children.
An expanding population slows down jeconomic development, if there
is no job creationGlobal power relationships = some nations enrich
themselves through the political and economic control tthat they have
over other nations
AS per the theory of modernization , Industrial Revolution did not
sweep away poverty throughout the world , as not every society wants
to adopt new technology
Doing so requires a cultural environment that emphasizes the benefits
of material wealth and new ideas
Tradition is the greatest barrier to economic development
In some countries, a strong family system and a reverence for the past
dissuades people from adopting new technology
MODERNIZATIONG
AS per Modernization theory, high income countries play 4 imp rolesin
global economic development
1) controlling population( by exporting birth control tech)
2) Increasing food production
3) Introducing Industrial Technology
4) Providing foreign aid
ROSCOWS STAGES OF MODERNIZATION
Traditional stage:- Past traditions, customs and practices are
honouredNo individual freedom/change.Traditional,old fashioned
method of dong things
TAKE OF STAGE- once the grip of traition and past practices is shaken
off, people start to use their talent and skill This sparks economic
growth and a market emerges..Greater demand for goods more job
creation- people ready to take more risks- more profit
DRIVE TO TECHNOLOGICAL MATURITY-use of industrial technology
extinguishment of traditional methods. GREAter production- greater
job creations- reduction in poverty
HIGH MASS CONSUMPTION- Economic development raises standaards
of living leads to mass production mass consumptions
DEPENDENCY THEORYModel of economic and social development
that explains global inequality in terms of the historical exploitation of
poor nations by rich ones.
This analysis follows the social
conflict approach..It states that
global poverty exists due to the role played by rich nations, who for
centuries have systematically impoverished low income countries and
made them dependent on rich ones
DIPARKAR GUPTA ARTICLE- HIERARCHY AND DIFFERENCE
India most stratified of all societies. CASTE system- different forms of
subordination- leads to social stratification
Economically also india is highly stratified
Eg- of inequalities- slums at the border of residential areas.Basic
argument social stratification is synonymous with income inequality.
Scoial Stra- includes a lot more than just the caste system..SS does
not only mean differentiation, it means differentiation that is made
socially visible.THIS is done through rituals, dress codes, marriage
practices and a host of other phenomena that separates one caste
from another
M N SRINIVAS ARTICLE EVOLUTION of caste in india
Roots of the caste system = in the rig veda.INITIAL division among
the Aryans= Brahmins=priests and scholars occupying the highest
position.
Kshatriyas= warriors and rulers..Vaishyas= people who were looking
TOWARDS the end of the Rig Veda, shudras emerged as the 4th caste,
their duty was to serve the other 3 varnas..Development of
unntouchability = hinted to the elaboration of the notions of purity and
impurityThere was an emergence of a jati system all over the
country,JATI being a local, hereditary and endogamous unit practicing a
traditional occupationThere is uncertainty as to how the JATI
system emerged and spread all over the country..CASTE system
the status, the lower castes people imitate the life style of the upper caste
people.
2. Sanskritization is a process of cultural change towards twice-born castes.
Sanskritization is a process in which the lower castes adopt the cultural patterns
of the higher castes, to raise their status in the caste hierarchical order. In some
societies the lower caste people followed not only the customs of the Brahmins
but also the customs of the locally dominant castes like Kshatriyas and Vaisyas
to raise their status.
3. Sanskritization is helpful in the social mobility of lower caste:
In this process a caste is only trying to change the status and not the social
structure.
4. Sanskritization process also followed by the tribal:
Sanskritization process is not only confined to the caste people of Hindu society,
it is also found among the tribal society.
5. The concept of Sanskritization has also given rise to De-sanskritization. There
are some instances in modern times, some of the higher castes are imitating the
behaviour pattern of lower caste, and for example Brahmins have started taking
meat and liquor. This process is called De-sanskritization .